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submitted 2 days ago by NightOwl@lemmy.ca to c/canada@lemmy.ca
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[-] rumimevlevi@sh.itjust.works 4 points 7 hours ago

So he may do it

[-] DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 7 points 12 hours ago

We need people at the top who will resist when the shit hits the fan. They should tread lightly to hang on to their position.

I condemn the ones who resign out of principle, they are the very people we need to stay in.

[-] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 1 points 6 hours ago

Why do you think so many generals and admirals got fired under trump?

[-] ProudCanadianCitizen@lemmy.ca 4 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago)

Paparo, who serves as U.S. commander for the Indo-Pacific region, visibly took issue with the question. He said: “I find that scenario to be absolutely and utterly preposterous.”

He added: “I follow the orders of the commander-in-chief, but that is a needlessly emotional question.”

Look at his left chest - a billboard of medals and citations. He didn't get those by giving the wrong answer, or by basing his statements or actions on his personal opinion. His 'preposterous' statement would be a statement of fact, not a statement of opinion. Here are some of the facts that are behind the factual 'preposterous' statement.

Any order that comes down the chain of command, keeps going down the chain of command. At every step of the way, the officers would have the option to follow the order by 'advancing to the rear'.

From Google AI: Presumption of Legality: Routine orders carry a legal presumption of lawfulness, and a soldier must obey normal commands. However, that presumption breaks down when an order directs an overt, clear violation of domestic or international law (such as targeting unresisting civilians).

Also: The defense of "just following orders" (historically known as the Nuremberg defense) is not legally valid in the US military. If a soldier carries out an order that a person of "ordinary sense" would know is illegal—such as executing a surrendered enemy combatant—the soldier can be criminally prosecuted alongside the officer who gave the command.

Also: The Supremacy Clause: Article VI of the Constitution states that treaties made by the United States are part of the "supreme law of the land."

Treaty Conflicts: If the U.S. has a formal treaty or defense pact with an ally, attacking that ally could violate U.S. treaty commitments, which hold the status of federal law.

Since both countries are members of NATO, any order to attack Canada from the Commander-in-Chief could easily be interpreted up and down the chain of command as an illegal order. This would put every soldier in the predicament of possibly being prosecuted for obeying such an order, right up and down the entire chain of command. It also presents the possibility of the POTUS being charged and convicted of the crime of issuing an illegal order. Thus, answering the question as stated is factually 'preposterous'. The POTUS could not, as Commander-in-Chief, be reasonably seen as being able to give a legal order to attack Canada.

But it is also very clear that he is indirectly accusing Trump of being needlessly emotional in even insinuating the possibility that Trump could give such an illegal order.

[-] cantstopthesignal@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago)

Dude, if you commander orders you to invade Canada, hate to break it to you, but that's lawful. Now if they tell you to use chemical weapons or target civilians you can push back on that. The law they are referring to is United States law and a couple of conventions like the Hague and Geneva conventions which cover war crimes. Other international law doesn't count. Nato treaties don't mean boo when it comes to the lawfulness of orders, nor should they.

[-] ProudCanadianCitizen@lemmy.ca 2 points 7 hours ago

No it is not. The Supreme Court of the United States made that perfectly clear. The NATO treaty is the Law of the Land. The POTUS can not ignore it. America can not by law attack a country that has a peace treaty.

[-] fake@sh.itjust.works 1 points 5 hours ago

Since when did they give a shit about things like law?

[-] mHtt@lemmy.ca -2 points 9 hours ago

Americans need pads to play football, should tell you everything you need to know how they feel about violence...

[-] blaggle42@lemmy.today 4 points 7 hours ago

This comment makes no sense. And, especially with the recognition over the last 10 years that football players experience super high rates of brain trauma/damage, this comment seems... hmmm... .

[-] mHtt@lemmy.ca 0 points 7 hours ago

it made no sense... to you.

[-] stringere@sh.itjust.works 1 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

Nah mate, you had a shit take and they pointed out the flaw in your "point".

[-] titanicx@lemmy.zip 1 points 8 hours ago

I'm just going to say you may say this, however there's been many comments about rugby players talking about how the speed and the level of impact is much higher with American football because of the fact that they are wearing pads and it becomes a much more violent hard-hitting overall. Even though rugby is much more fast-paced and typically those players may have a lot more stamina there's never been much comment about the lack of violence in American sports. So while your comment on the surface seems haha. If you actually know anything about both sports it really doesn't work.

[-] mHtt@lemmy.ca -2 points 7 hours ago

ok, sure. Americans also sit in trailers with xbox controllers launching hellfire missiles at strangers around the other side of the planet and go home calling themselves 'veterans.'

[-] Bluedragon012@lemmy.world 5 points 18 hours ago

You better disobey or we'll make sure that no one in the armed forces get any rights. We'd shoot you on sight along with anyone else that didn't refuse the shitter in cheif. Behave and use your neglected moral compass.

[-] SirMaple__@lemmy.ca 18 points 1 day ago
[-] samus12345@sh.itjust.works 24 points 1 day ago
[-] ProudCanadianCitizen@lemmy.ca 2 points 10 hours ago

He very clearly stated what he would do. He found the scenario 'preposterous', meaning 'not possible'. He could not have stated with any more clarity that he and most of the American military officers above and below him would consider such an order as not legal. Further, he all but came right out and said that Trump, by his statements on the matter, are needlessly emotional.

There can be no doubt that his response was as strong a rebuke of Trump's posturing as could be allowed.

[-] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 points 18 hours ago

I'm not sure actually, because had he said he wouldn't, they probably would have just discharged him.

[-] ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 21 points 1 day ago

No matter what he says he would. You don't become a General by refusing orders.

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[-] grte@lemmy.ca 57 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Have they said no to any of the USA's other illegal invasions? Don't count on the bravery of Americans who tell you they would resist. Count on drones.

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[-] Jason2357@lemmy.ca 39 points 1 day ago

What a stupid ragebait headline. Of course a geneneral is not going to even suggest they would disobey a hypothetical lawful order. Why would someone end their career for some journalists gocha question?

Says nothing about his private thoughts or what he would actually do. Zero information value.

[-] rumba@lemmy.zip 2 points 13 hours ago

If anything, I'd give him credit for not saying yes. Hell in the current climate that might get you removed.

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[-] orioler25@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 day ago

I get everyone is making jokes here, but that is serious. Even if many of you genuinely believe Canada could contend with something like a US invasion, I don't think most of us could bear the cost of even a short conflict. How many of you are already having a hard time affording to live here or have dependents?

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this post was submitted on 03 Sep 2026
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