Publicly, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has been highly critical of the six Democratic lawmakers who released a video last week urging military service members to disobey illegal orders, calling the lawmakers the “Seditious Six” and categorizing their message as “despicable, reckless, and false.”

That criticism has particularly focused on Sen. Mark Kelly, the member of the group who had the longest tenure in the military and who achieved the highest rank of captain in the Navy.

Hegseth has attacked Kelly by name, unlike the other lawmakers. He mocked Kelly for a picture of him in uniform — “you can’t even display your uniform correctly” — and wrote that Kelly’s “conduct brings discredit upon the armed forces and will be addressed appropriately.”

Behind closed doors, Hegseth is weighing his options to punish Kelly for participating in the video, ones that range from reducing the retired US Navy captain’s rank and pension to prosecuting him under military law, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Read the rest here.

I believe this was a political stunt giving the illusion of wrong doing happening in our Military. I thought I heard some of these Politicians say “what you feel” are unlawful. Feelings are one thing but orders are orders and there is already a process in place to handle “unlawful orders”. It’s called the chain of command.

1 hour ago, Ann said:

It’s called the chain of command.

Yes and they can deny an order handed down from God Himself if it’s illegal.

Though I have no doubt some in Congress are concerned about Dipshit’s saber rattling with Venezuela, I also can’t help but think this video was also produced to poke the bear.

However investigations and whatever else the lapdog Pete is threatening reeks to high Heaven of a violation of the first amendment. Not that this administration has proven to be very concerned about that ( except when it benefits them. )

1 hour ago, Chris said:

Yes and they can deny an order handed down from God Himself if it’s illegal.

Though I have no doubt some in Congress are concerned about Dipshit’s saber rattling with Venezuela, I also can’t help but think this video was also produced to poke the bear.

However investigations and whatever else the lapdog Pete is threatening reeks to high Heaven of a violation of the first amendment. Not that this administration has proven to be very concerned about that ( except when it benefits them. )

True, the first amendment guarantees the right to free speech. However, free speech doesn’t mean you can shout fire in a crowded theater when there’s no fire. With the way things are today, I have no doubt there could be possibly some individuals in the military who, hearing politicians say you can ignore what you “feel” is an illegal order, would take it upon themselves to decide what is a legal or illegal order. Statements like that are just irresponsible, in my opinion.

Truthfully, I’m beginning to wonder if both sides of the isle don’t deliberately do and say stupid crap knowing the other side will jump on it for the social media likes. I’ve seen some pretty stupid videos of singing, dancing, etc. by our so called representatives and quite frankly, it’s embarrassing and they all should be ashamed of themselves, every last one of them.

11 minutes ago, Ann said:

speech. However, free speech doesn’t mean you can shout fire in a crowded theater when there’s no fire.

That’s a bit of a stretch in this instance.

12 minutes ago, Ann said:

I have no doubt there could be possibly some individuals in the military who, hearing politicians say you can ignore what you “feel” is an illegal order, would take it upon themselves to decide what is a legal or illegal order.

Well good! It means they’re using critical thinking instead of blindly doing what they’re told.

It’s what keeps innocent people from being killed. It’s that kind of critical thinking that kept the world from being destroyed in the 80s when the Soviets started getting alerts that the U.S. had launched a nuke.

Their response should have been to throw everything they had at us in retaliation. Except one guy, certain it was a false alarm, insisted they hold off.

Good thing he didn’t just follow orders or we wouldn’t be here right now.

Right now this country is being “led” by people with serious inadequacy issues at best. It’s important that someone be there to apply the brakes needs be.

3 hours ago, Chris said:

Well good! It means they’re using critical thinking instead of blindly doing what they’re told.

As a Soldier, Sailor , Airman or Marine you had better be well ,as hell , prepared to defend the critical thought that brings you to deciding and acting on just what constitutes an “ illegal or unlawful order “ ! And just this … when you enter the military you sign a contract and take an oath to protect and uphold the Constitution yes but there are clauses in that Contract one should read carefully before signing …

1 minute ago, Hal said:

As a Soldier, Sailor , Airman or Marine you had better be well ,as hell , prepared to defend the critical thought that brings you to deciding and acting on just what constitutes an “ illegal or unlawful order “

Absolute I agree. And I want our armed services to do exactly that instead of blindly following what could be illegal or unethical orders.

20 minutes ago, Chris said:

Absolute I agree. And I want our armed services to do exactly that instead of blindly following orders.

We are on the same page here , no pun intended lol . Following orders , 🤔 we can have this discussion better in person , I can give you an example of a “ unlawful order “ and the process and the twists and turns one has to face by reporting it or questioning said order .

What are unlawful orders?

An unlawful order is a directive issued by someone in a position of authority that violates the law, a person’s rights, or ethical principles. Following such orders can have legal consequences for both the person giving the order and the one executing it. Here are some examples of unlawful orders:

A superior orders a soldier to engage in war crimes, such as:

Targeting civilians intentionally.

Torturing prisoners of war.

Looting or pillaging property.

A commanding officer orders personnel to suppress lawful protests in violation of First Amendment rights.

Violations of International Laws.

Some other examples may be an Abuse of Authority:

Misuse of resources: A public official orders employees to use government funds or equipment for personal gain.

Harassment or retaliation: A superior orders someone to engage in workplace bullying or to retaliate against a whistleblower.

above are general examples of Illegal orders according to UCMJ. Now, having not served, i tread carefully; essentially anything that violates the Constitution can and is expected to be questioned and NOT blindly followed. The examples in Bold are potentially areas where the current administration have actually issued illegal orders: Bombing of "drug" boats in international waters, FBI director using swat teams for protection details for his girlfriend, Noem using two new G7 jets for personal flights, Hegseth/FBI threatening to recall Kelly in order to put him up for Courts marshal and investigating the others for pointing out what is in the Oath our soldiers take.

while the concern for soldiers just blithely refusing orders because of the video has some merit, where is the concern that these folks and anyone else that doesnt follow lock-step to trumps wishes may be harmed or killed because he has called for them to hanged as traitors? And is the irony of TRUMP calling their actions seditious and traitorous?

im not sure potus/clan really buy into their own argument anyway; they have claimed that the "six" have called for all orders to be ignored, inferred that all of potus orders are to be assumed legal, are equating reminding military of their sworn duty to sedition, yet storming the Capitol, injuring people in the process and damaging property wasnt?

IMHO ALL politicians are scumbags, but this administration truly takes the cake with the detachment from reality, smash & grab opportunism....to sum it up; when MTG is the comparative voice of reason, you know its terrible.

I just read an article in the paper that the video was made in response to concerns about the administration blowing boats out of the water because they’re believed to be drug runners. Also because some, I believe Kelly being one of them, have been contacted directly by members of the Guard, concerned that they may be ordered to do something illegal.

That being the case, I can understand the video being made.

I believe I will be stepping back from engaging in any further discussion on this subject as my view is skewed towards the Enlisted portion of our Military . Copping out … certainly not , as being in the rank and file is , I assure you , a World away from being in the upper Echelon where All orders , Lawful or Unlawful , originate.

15 minutes ago, Hal said:

my view is skewed towards the Enlisted portion of our Military

All good, but honestly that exactly what, or rather who, this is all about.

It sounds as though there’s some concern among at least a portion of those enlisted, particularly now that Trump has better surrounded himself with lackeys who will do whatever makes him happy.

I for one am concerned about what bullshit Trump and his ilk could try and get our troops tangled up in. Or anyone coming after him for that matter.

11 minutes ago, Chris said:

All good, but honestly that exactly what, or rather who, this is all about.

I’ll will leave you with this old saying “ shit flows downhill “ , and it’s not nice being at the bottom of that particular hill I assure you ! And if I am reading the above correctly, those of which you speak are somewhere close to the shitstorm that could turn out to be an unlawful order .

Not to drag this out, but more and more it looks like the concern was, at least in part, pertaining to actions being taken by the military as they blow suspected drug running boats out of the water.

Adam Kinzinger recently posted a video about it:

Substack

Adam Kinzinger (@adamkinzinger)

Emergency Video: Hegseth ordered a war crime

That embed should work.

Also NBC News reported this evening that there is concern and bipartisan calls for this to be looked into further.