Bush's Martial Law Act of 2007

[Yznhymr]

Originally Posted by glatt

If you were in the military or law enforcement, and he suspended elections and declared martial law, would you follow his orders, or shoot him in the back?

Under the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice), the military is required to follow all Lawful Orders. If the Commander in Chief submits an unlawful order, that would be interrpreted as such by Sr. Military Officers such as the Chief of Staff, and the orders would not be passed down to the enlisted men that would actually carry out the order. However, if the Commander in Chief did submit a Lawful Order, then each person assigned the specific orders are required to carry them out, and failure to do so would bring about a court martial, or some other punishment as outlined in said UCMJ.

[Griff]

Hmmmm... seems like an inordinately large number of high ranking officers have left the service lately.You know, the ones who said bad things about the Bush administration's policies... no connection there

[xoxoxoBruce]

When they went to a professional army the wheels were in motion. Now the big push is to replace them, with robots, autonomous machines, drones and anything else that can't tell the difference between Tehran and Chicago.

Most of the top military brass have been replaced with lap dogs that go along to get along and not jeopardize their pension by rocking the boat.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by Yznhymr

Under the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice), the military is required to follow all Lawful Orders. If the Commander in Chief submits an unlawful order, that would be interrpreted as such by Sr. Military Officers such as the Chief of Staff, and the orders would not be passed down to the enlisted men that would actually carry out the order. However, if the Commander in Chief did submit a Lawful Order, then each person assigned the specific orders are required to carry them out, and failure to do so would bring about a court martial, or some other punishment as outlined in said UCMJ.

I've never been in the military, but don't you swear an oath to uphold the Constitution when you join?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Considering their priorities now, that was probably replaced with don't ask/don't tell.

[Yznhymr]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Considering their priorities now, that was probably replaced with don't ask/don't tell.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by glatt

I've never been in the military, but don't you swear an oath to uphold the Constitution when you join?

Why yes you do.


The wordings of the current oath of enlistment and oath for commissioned officers are as follows:

"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God." (Title 10, US Code; Act of 5 May 1960 replacing the wording first adopted in 1789, with amendment effective 5 October 1962).

"I, _____ (SSAN), having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God." (DA Form 71, 1 August 1959, for officers.)