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CarlW's avatar

Recently Mark Kelly was investigated for advising soldiers to disobey illegal orders. Hegseth and Trump called Kelly seditious. When I was in the army 60 years ago it was drilled into us during boot camp that you do not carry out illegal orders. I can understand Trump being unaware of this, but isn't Hegseth a veteran? Here Grant's refusal to obey an illegal order burnishes his reputation.

Harley "Griff" Lofton's avatar

It isn't a matter of knowing the rule. Hegseth does not agree with it and want's to change that rule.

Kelly didn't advise anybody--- he just reminded them of what the rule is. Stating facts is now sedition. God help us! Thank you for your service then and now witnessing to the truth.

Michael's avatar

The reading of General Grant's autobiography should be required reading by our military leaders. Just my humble opinion.

Steven Hill's avatar

Interesting article, and perhaps more timely than we currently realize in these scary times. Though in revisiting the tug of war between Gen Ulysses Grant, President Andrew Johnson and the Radical Republicans controlling Congress post-Civil War, historians have let us down in their telling of that story. Consider this:

"In truth, the South won the Civil War, not the North"

https://democracysos.substack.com/p/april-lessons-in-truth-the-south

And Trump is the heir to that toxic legacy. Read it and weep.

Steven Hill

Larry Garber's avatar

Excellent review of a not well known historical episode, which has much relevance for today.

Vladan Lausevic's avatar

I have a feeling that many Trump supporters are sad beause the Union won the war

Harley "Griff" Lofton's avatar

I am not confidant that the chain of command has not already become so corrupted that we can count on them to do the right thing when the time comes.

Larry M's avatar

Minor correction: at the time the order of succession put the Senate president pro tempore above the Speaker in the line of succession, so Benjamin Wade would have been President. It's believed that Johnson survived impeachment to prevent Wade from being a President.

Harley "Griff" Lofton's avatar

Interesting. We learn new details everyday. Thanks for that! It brings another nuance to the history.

Richard Thornton's avatar

The day they do what trump wants is the day the revolution begins. Bring it on Trump. Trump will lose.