Show 325 - Who's the Boss?
Summary
Dan Carlin contrasts Bangladesh’s military crackdown with US safeguards, focusing on Democratic lawmakers reminding troops they must refuse illegal orders. He condemns President Trump’s inflammatory response, arguing that the duty to disobey unlawful commands is a critical firewall against tyranny. Citing historical precedents like the Nuremberg Trials and the Keenan case, Carlin asserts that this principle is essential to preserving American democracy and preventing the military from being used against its own citizens.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Bangladesh, 2025, and the 'chaff' of distraction
Democratic lawmakers remind military of duty to refuse illegal orders
Historical context: Nuremberg trials and the 'following orders' defense
The military as the ultimate safeguard of civilian power
Trump's reaction: Calling lawmakers traitors and threatening execution
Constitutional limits on presidential power and the John Yoo memo
The danger of normalizing authoritarian rhetoric and threats
Case study: The My Lai Massacre and the failure to refuse orders
Case study: US v. Keenan and the duty to exercise judgment
Legal precedent: When orders are manifestly unlawful
The Oath of Enlistment and the Uniform Code of Military Justice
Conclusion: Protecting the military's independence from political abuse
Listen ad-free on Castria