That goes to the crux of what Oath Keepers is about, noting the oath is to the Constitution and the applicability of the Uniform Code of Military Justice as binding law prohibiting a Nuremberg-style “I was only following orders” defense. That’s the legal basis for “Orders we will not obey.”
And that, of course, is used by subversive “progressives” to label Oath Keepers “anti-government extremists” (and worse). [More]
I'm looking for experience-based assessments of how many guys would stand down in spite of commands. Would they be enough to make a significant difference?
2 comments:
No united states military formation in the history of the republic has ever disobeyed an order to attack a civilian , nonmilitary target. Individual Officers who have refused orders to attack civilians INCLUDING US CITIZENS have in every instance been replaced by officers who would carry out those orders and have always faced courts martial for disobeying orders. The US military has been ordered to murder unarmed civilians THOUSNDS of times in the 240 history of the US Army, and HUNDREDS of times in the last 150 years. They have never once failed to carry out those orders, even when the targets were unarmed women and children. "Oathkeepers" is fantasy driven propaganda. The true history of the US Military is far bloodier than that of Nazi Germany , and far more ruthless. --Ray
This was the first piece I've come across that took this issue head on with clarity. I was glad to see it.
I walked away from my Navy career as a Chief the day after the election in 2012. On that day I put in my paperwork asking for immediate transfer to the IRR for the remainder of my enlistment contract, which was up in March of 2013. I am an Oath Keeper, and since the people had spoken in two consecutive elections that they preferred a socialist with dubious qualifications and a record of ignoring the plain text and intent of the Constitution, I could no longer in good conscience serve. It wasn't so much that it was Obama, again, but that the people of this country elected him. They spoke out loud and clear that the Constitution means nothing to them. Why put my life on the line in repeated deployments to the Middle East for a nation of socialist ingrates? Doesn't serving a socialist state make one a socialist - or a tool?
During this time, I had dozens of conversations with brothers-in-arms I respected, friends, fellow Sailors and Marines. Many of them claimed to understand, and wished they could stand with me, except for retirement/benefits/pay/stability/kids/wife... Fill in the blank. Others thought I was nuts because I was a shoe-in to make Senior and Master Chief by retirement, and why would I give that up? After all, it's just a President, and there will be another in four years.
These conversations forced me to point-blank ask these men what they would do if ordered to operate contrary to the Constitution. They all claimed they would not. Frankly, I didn't believe that for a second.
While it is typically a mark of having lost an argument, I find it instructive to examine the rise of Nazism in Germany. It is inconceivable to think that every Soldier and Sailor, police officer and government functionary in Germany suddenly turned into amoral, soulless monsters. They weren't. Most were just people with careers who were in an unfortunate place and time. When the orders came down, and as those orders became more and more outrageous, they were faced with either following them or with certain ruin.
They chose to support their families by doing their duty.
The very sad truth that we as real Oath Keepers need to acknowledge is that our current and former brothers-in-arms will do exactly the same thing. There would be no mass desertions from the Army if the order came down to disarm Americans owning 50 BMG rifles, and then "assault weapons", or whatever the target of the moment was. The soldiers would think about their families, their future, and their next meal before gearing up and mounting up. Police officers making similar claims of fealty to the Constitution are likewise fooling themselves. When the moment came and their mind goes to their wife and children at home, the groceries, and the mortgage, they're going to gear up and mount up. The stuff that our Founding Fathers were made of - the courage, strength of character, principle, and willingness to risk it all for liberty and freedom - is much rarer in today's upholstered lounge chair version of America.
I can live in a world with rose-colored glasses painted by wishful thinking that this view is incorrect, or I can face reality. The reality is our nation is already virtually a lawless country where leaders and elites operate under a separate system, and that those in uniform with weapons will follow orders in overwhelming numbers. The Oath Takers out there who will be truly willing to walk away in order to be an Oath Keeper are in the vast minority.
I hate to paraphrase Secretary Rumsfeld, but we better plan to go to war with the army we have, not the one we think we have.
Thanks again for writing that piece, and I hope my observations are useful as we contemplate the path forward.
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