During an appearance on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher,” former CIA director Michael Hayden said there is a legitimate possibility that the U.S. military would refuse to follow orders given by Donald Trump if he were to become president. Trump has said on multiple occasions that the United States should kill the family members of terrorists in which such actions are barred by the Geneva Convention. Trump also speaks of introducing interrogation methods that are “so much worse” than waterboarding. These kinds of statements are troubling, especially to the military which makes sacrifices to uphold American values and international law.
Hayden remarked that the U.S. military is not required to follow an unlawful order that would be in violation of all the international laws of armed conflict. Perhaps Mr. Trump should think before he speaks through his hat!
Bill Paul
Chicopee