If Bush ordered a NUKE on Iran... Would the military oblige?

[RethugAssKicker]

Or do you think the generals would stage a coup?

Unfortunately, I think they would do as told !

[Rick Myers]

1. There would surely be some resignations, but

along the way they would find commanders that would do it!

[kurth]

13. Exactly. It's the National Command Authority

The term National Command Authority (NCA) is used in United States military and government circles to refer to the ultimate lawful source of military orders. The term refers to the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense. Only the NCA can order the use of nuclear weapons, including the Single Integrated Operational Plan (SIOP). Neither individual, by himself, can order that strategic nuclear weapons be used against any country or region...

It must be noted that as a matter of constitutional law, the President represents the unitary executive power of the United States. Therefore, if the Secretary of Defense refuses any order of the President, the President is free to dismiss him, in which case authority devolves to a subordinate. Presumably, the President is legally free to continue to fire subordinates until such time as he reaches an acting Secretary of Defense who agrees with his judgement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Command_Authority

[wakeme2008]

2. Lot depends

During the last couple months Nixon was in the WH, he did not have the launch codes. That came out in Senate hearing at the time. I do not remember who had the real ones but it was not Nixon.

[gimama]

5. wow,that's a fact..

I was un-aware of..! I'd like more on that ..brings up interestin' tho'ts TODAY,doesn't it?

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bryant69]

4. I'm pretty sure they would

It would depend on the circumstances I suspect. If it were a small tactical nuke on a government installation - they would follow orders. If it was an extensive campaign determined to knock Iran back to the stone age, well, they might very well stall and leak to congress.

I don't knwo if they would stage coup - but I doubt that if they did it would go ver ywell.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[havocmom]

14. Air Force has some real zealots. They would be transport for a nuke

wouldn't they? That is the only thing I worry about. The other services are filled with the same sort of folks at the top. Past several years, the AF Academy seems to have had a problem keeping state and religion in separate boxes.

[NoPasaran]

6. I would expect so

And frankly I would not want to live in a country where the military chooses whether or not to obey the civilian leadership. If the President is insane, it is the duty of our political leadership to remove him through constitutional means.

[RethugAssKicker]

9. So you believe in: Follow orders no matter what horrible damage

it may do? Follow orders even though you commander is certainly INSANE ?

[MADem]

12. The alternative is TURKEY

Anytime the generals think the civilians are straying too far from the tenets of Kemal Attaturk, they take over. Ya wake up one morning, and General SoandSo is matter of factly lecturing you on the tee vee, telling you to stay calm, this is a brief coup, we'll turn it back over when we say so. Great system...not really...it works for them, though. I wouldn't want it here, thanks anyway.

Civilian control of the military, in normal circumstances, is a GOOD thing.

We happen to have a fruitcake at the helm. Hopefully, this will be the last fruitcake for many centuries...

The best bet is for thinking military leadership to go to Congress, put their lives, reputations, liberty, on the line, and PROTEST. Not stage a coup, not go on TV and take over, none of that. Someone will have to face the potential fires of courts martial, lifelong imprisonment at best, the death penalty at worst, and go around the nuts in charge.

And if Congress shirks THEIR responsibilities, well, we are done for. They represent us, after all.

[atreides1]

10. I don't agree with your view

First off your view about the current political "leadership" is laughable, the Democrats can't even support a call for Censure, and the Republicans won't shit in their own nest. So you can
forget about that dream involving constitutional means.

As for not wanting to live in a country where the military chooses whether or not to obey civilian leadership, the military in Germany obeyed the civilian leadership, and without question. How many died? MILLIONS!!!!!!

Personally I'd rather take my chances with a responsible military that refuses to obey the orders of a madman, then a military that follows every order without question.

If the civilian leadership told the US military to round up all members of DU as well as their families, how would you really feel then?

[NoPasaran]

15. I'm not saying that I'd like it

But the supremacy of the civilian leadership over the military goes back to the foundation of the republic and abandoning that is a step that once taken would not easily be undone.

[MADem]

16. Well, no offense, but that's absurd. That is an ILLEGAL ORDER

One does have room to wiggle in those sorts of situations.

Carrying out a nuke strike, though, that's a different issue--is it war? Was it legitimately declared?

And as I said above, if our CONGRESS, our REPRESENTATIVES, the ones who are supposed to speak for US on the Hill, can't shut that Monkey up and shout him down, we are done for.

If, however, the military sees that the Monkey is screwing with our Constitution, ignoring the Congress, acting out of turn; they should do all they can to work with Congress and get his ass gone--the officers, as most know, do not take an order to OBEY THE PRESIDENT--only the enlisted do. Officers take the same oath to the Constitution as the Monkey does. And it ain't like they forget about it, because they RETAKE it every time they get promoted. And sign on the line, too.

But they have to check the blocks, be sure they are right, and be prepared to be shot for treason when they are dancing on that thin ice.

[Oversea Visitor]

7. Kiss the Iran issue goodbye

Me think bush going to have some hard talking to do soon.

[madrchsod]

8. no -

powell and another actually wrote a paper during the war college days about the us military overthrowing the government and restoring democracy...

[soldier101]

11. Yes they would oblige

But if ordered to do a "Failsafe" type action (i.e., Bomb NY), they would refuse.

In addition, there are two main choices to Nuke, the Air Force and the Navy, each with multiple methods (bombers, ICBMs, Submarine launches, cruise missiles, etc.).

And no they would not stage a coup, regardless of what he ordered. The military would just refuse to comply. A coup means the military takes over the Government, this type action just not an option for the U.S. Military. They would leave it to congress to remove the President.