A former United States general has made the sensational claim military commanders are preparing to disobey their commander-in-chief President Donald Trump’s orders in relation to the current war in Iran.
Over the past days, rhetoric from both Trump and official channels within the Iranian regime has escalated to new levels, with Iran threatening to seize the critically important Strait of Hormuz and Trump issuing a deadline for the « demolition » of Iran, including power plants and other civilian infrastructure, which would be illegal under international law.
Late on Monday, retired general Mark Hertling appeared on the US news channel MS Now’s Deadline: White House podcast, where he incredibly alleged that those in charge of delivering Trump’s orders in relation to his war against the Islamic government of Iran are considering how to defy him.
Gen. Hertling outlined how he trained for 40 years as a soldier and as a commander of US troops and set out the lawful basis for following orders from the very top of the US government.
« You’re primarily loyal to the Constitution. You are also loyal to your superiors if they give… lawful orders, » he said.
« If they start giving unlawful orders you find a way to push back on them and make sure they adjust their approach.
« But you are also loyal to the soldiers who are under your command. »
Hertling explained how those three loyalties are sometimes conflicting and expressed how military chiefs will be seriously considering their positions in relation to Trump’s threats to Iran’s civilian infrastructure, which is against one of the key pillars of the post-WWII Geneva Convention, of which the US is a signatory.
« They will be saying to themselves, ‘I cannot obey an unlawful order, I cannot order things I know are absolutely wrong.' »
The Express reached out to the White House for comment.
Trump invokes God on waging his war
Donald Trump said God approves of the US war in Iran when asked by a reporter at the White House on Monday — answering with a simple « I do. »
« God doesn’t like what’s happening. I don’t like what’s happening. Everyone says I enjoy this. I don’t enjoy this. I don’t enjoy it, » he said.
The exchange came as Trump issued a stark ultimatum to Tehran: reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8pm ET on Tuesday or face the destruction of the country’s bridges and power plants.
« I mean complete demolition, » the president said. « They are going to have no bridges, they are going to have no power plants. »
He warned the strikes would reduce Iran to the « stone ages. »
The ultimatum came a day after Trump took to Truth Social to demand Iran lift its blockade of the waterway. His post read: « Open the f–king strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in hell. »
Iran has until Tuesday evening to respond.
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