Can Military Ignore Trump's Illegal Order To Deploy To Border For Political Reasons?

[PaulX2]

It is not a legal order.

There is no legitimate reason.

The real reason is probably criminal in some way.

Crime, Trump doesn't care.

[RainCaster]

1. They pretty much have to go. But...

If asked to shoot, they should refuse. It's a war crime.

[MineralMan]

2. No, although they can protest it.

So far the order is legal. If ordered, for example, to use deadly force against unarmed civilians, I would expect a refusal to act.

[Hoyt]

3. Why do you think the average member of today's military isn't thrilled about this,

especially the white winger who likely joined to fight “terrorism,” or some such?

[Revanchist]

8. Stop being so bigoted against the military

[Hoyt]

19. Stop not recognizing that lot of white wing racists are in today's military. They voted for trump.

[SimpleC]

4. Sadly

As President he has the authority to deploy troops to the border. It is a legal order.

Which I have no issue with.

I'm glad I'm not in the Military in this day and age, especially now during his reign of domestic terror.

I'd have the potential internal conflict of being put in a position where protocol dictates I salute him.

I'd probably be a good soldier and salute as protocol demanded of me, but it would be a sore spot forever stained on my soul.

[2naSalit]

6. I took off

my uniform (not military) a month before the election, that was the only thing I felt good about... that I would never be required to salute him.

[SimpleC]

7. Trump lost ALL my respect

When he was going against McCain and stated war hero's don't get captured.

As a Vet, that burned me deep inside. Commander bone spurs can kiss my ASS...

[2naSalit]

13. I've been aware of

his assholery for decades. I've never had any respect for him.

[Wounded Bear]

16. I use the VA for healthcare...

His picture is on the wall close to the front door.

[sarisataka]

5. No

Because it is a legal order.

And a legitimate reason is not needed.

[moondust]

9. Some commanders

"might" be willing to only take troops who volunteer/want to go and leave objectors behind--provided the unit is large enough to have plenty of volunteers.

[Xolodno]

10. Ordered to deploy.

They have to.

Now, if the commanding officer told the troops to play Uno, Gin Rummy, etc. while they were there....

Or hand out bottles of water once the immigrants crossed....

Or deployed in the place "they thought the immigrants would cross" but didn't...

[DeminPennswoods]

11. Troops are already there.

The new troops can help with stuff like logistics or fix broken vehicles, etc. Same things the troops currently there are doing. They can't arrest people.

[2naSalit]

14. +1

[hack89]

12. It is a legal order. Nt

[TomSlick]

15. I have real problems with this deployment.

Trump can talk about an "invasion" all he wants but it seems to me that (the politics aside) active duty troops are being used to enforce domestic law within the US.

The Posse Comitatus Act (18 U.S.C. § 1385) provides:
"Whoever, except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress, willfully uses any part of the Army or the Air Force as a posse comitatus or otherwise to execute the laws shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both."

Absent Congressional action authorizing it, using the military (the Navy is included by Navy regulation) to enforce US immigration law is a criminal act. I think that "whoever" would include everyone from the President down to a young company commander. In my humble opinion, using military this way is a high crime that would support impeachment.

I haven't heard anything about the Posse Comitatus Act in any of the reporting. Maybe I misunderstood what I was taught in my JAG School classes.

[moondust]

17. +1

I, too, have noticed the total absence of this discussion.

[duforsure]

18. They should surround the White House

And protect this county and the American people from him.