Veterans Criticize Trump’s Politicization of Military Following Accusations of Sedition
David Frakt, a retired Air Force officer and attorney, criticized Trump’s broad use of terms like sedition and treason, arguing that those truly guilty of such behavior were individuals he previously pardoned for their roles in the January 6 riots. He noted that the discourse incites fear among lawmakers and could endanger their safety due to the inflammatory nature of Trump’s comments.
Frakt also highlighted legal concerns surrounding the actions taken by the U.S. government against drug trafficking boats off the coast of Venezuela, labeling these operations as not only unlawful but also “murder, not combat.” He underscored the critical need for adherence to the law, which he believes has been sidestepped in recent military decisions.
Retired Air Force Colonel Don Christensen echoed these sentiments, expressing that Trump’s comments on sedition and unlawful orders were “horribly wrong.” He also criticized Senator Lindsey Graham, who questioned the Democratic lawmakers on their definitions of unlawful orders but failed to denounce Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric, despite his own background in military law
Rachel VanLandingham, a law professor and retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, noted that orders are generally presumed lawful and that merely not agreeing with an order does not preclude liability for disobeying it. The threshold for what constitutes a manifestly unlawful order is exceedingly high, she stated.
She criticized the Democratic video for oversimplifying a complex legal landscape, suggesting that while the legality of specific military actions might be dubious, calling them outright unlawful is irresponsible. VanLandingham argued that more seasoned military leaders should actively engage in discussions about the legal and moral complexities of military orders rather than issuing broad calls to disobey
VanLandingham might be the first person with a reasonable criticism of the video.
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