Hegseth’s strikes show concerns about unlawful orders have merit

In an op-ed published by USA Today, Frank Kendall explains why he fears U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth are using military force to unlawfully cling to power.

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Six Democratic legislators, all with strong national security experience and credentials, recently took the extraordinary step of sending a video message to officers in the United States military, reminding them of something they already know: They should not follow unlawful orders.

The reaction from the Trump administration has been explosive. The legislators have been called traitors and seditious. President Donald Trump has called for their deaths on social media.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Sen. Mark Kelly, a former astronaut and the only retired military officer in the group, is under investigation for possible court-martial, and the others may be under FBI investigation.

What the hell is going on here?

The above excerpt was originally published in USA Today. Click here to view the full article.

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Author

Frank Kendall

Senior Fellow

Department

National Security and International Policy

Advancing progressive national security policies that are grounded in respect for democratic values: accountability, rule of law, and human rights.