Officers Face War Crime Dilemma Over Trump’s Threats
President Trump’s threats to bomb Iranian civilian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, present US military officers with a profound ethical and legal dilemma, as such actions are widely considered war crimes. This places service members in a precarious position, potentially forcing them to choose between obeying orders that violate international law and facing charges of insubordination. Legal experts and former military lawyers emphasize that while service members are trained to follow the chain of command, they also have a duty to disobey “manifestly unlawful” orders. The situation is further complicated by concerns about the president’s volatility and his past actions in purging the military of individuals perceived as resistant.
John Q. Hosedrinker