I am a 76 yr old Army brat. I say that with great pride. I traveled with my family to multiple assignments world-wide and saw first hand the pride the military showed the USA. To have that pride put into question by a President hurts my soul. I hope all military men and women will stand up for our Constitution and not one man. If nothing else the Nurenberg trials showed us the falsehood of folloing orders blindly - now is not the time for lack of courage.
Thank you, Donna Ferrari! Well said. I am finding that very few that I know support my posts on Facebook from Substack. I wonder whether they cannot wrap their mind around this heinous administration as an enemy of their lives in the USA - or do these same people believe they will be on the “included” roll call if this administration does get to rule us indefinitely
Col Vindman I believe we are beyond this. I don’t believe the midterms will be allowed to stand. He is going to say “rigged” and use ICE and the national guard against protestors …it’s too late, I fear. This is why they have hired a federal police force! They are treating US Citizens just as poorly as immigrants! Our current democratic leaders are not understanding what’s happening and are under-reacting!
Absolutely yes they are under reacting to this administration. There is NO compromising with them. They treat you as the enemy. And, surely, you are. They had better start acting like it!
I truly wish this could be read as the opening story on every news network. It should also be read at every single Commanders Call (but then, Pistol Pete wouldn't allow that would he?). I took my oath of enlistment as sacrosanct. It has no expiration date. I'm 72 now, but it still applies. How dare these two and their sycophants do this to our country? I'm furious. Everyone should be furious. I'm truly concerned about what lies ahead.
The country is waiting for the Generals and Admirals who were able to talk to each other directly when Hegseth commanded all of the back for one day. We are praying for them to overthrow this government, cleaning up the branches, having a Republican and a strong Democrat leading together till elections will be held again. Dr Vindman, I see you believe that there will be regular elections in 2026 and 2028. I do not think so anymore. The Maga leadership is working hard to undermine and even cancel the elections. They are working forcefully to find a reason to declare Martial Law and cancel elections.
We are not living in normal times.
The strongest hand representing Democracy - the Military sworn in to follow the US Constitution - will prevail if they decide to take over and clean up.
By the way: all corporations that received/downloaded data illegally about Americans from the government need to be nationalized immediately after take over.
Education system needs to be changed concerning American Democracy to grow roots already in children.
Laws about endless money in politics revoked.
A welfare system established that supports reeducation of Americans who will lose their jobs to AI to avoid further radicalization. Millions will lose them.
I think you were just reading my mind! My husband and I were just talking about this and when I came across your post I went OK we are not the only ones that believe this. It must happen or democracy as we have known it is gone!! Both of our fathers fought in World War II against fascism, and we cannot let that be in vain! I am afraid we are not gonna have any more elections he’s gonna declare martial law. and if his military follows that we’re screwed, but we do have hope with the generals and admirals and the good in the military. So please, Dr. Vindman if you see this know how scared every day Americans are because that person in the White House is pure evil!
Every Marine swears an oath, not to a man, not to a party, but to the Constitution of the United States. That oath is sacred. It means your loyalty belongs to the rule of law and the freedom it protects, even when commanders, politicians, or crowds forget. The day a Marine’s loyalty shifts from the Constitution to a personality, the Republic begins to die.
General Smedley Butler warned us of that danger nearly a century ago. He had fought for the flag, bled for it, and then saw how easily power could twist a soldier’s purpose. His message still cuts true: the greatest threat to America will never come from abroad, it will come from within, when obedience outruns conscience.
So remember who you are. You are not the weapon of any man’s ambition. You are the keeper of the line — the line that separates a Republic from a regime. Stand your post with clear eyes and an unbending heart. Semper Fidelis means faithful forever, to the Constitution, or to nothing at all.
The duty to not follow illegal orders was established at Nuremberg, made manifest in the Geneva Conventions (to which the US not only lead the development but signed and ratified, making it the law of the US*), and was re-emphasized in the aftermath of My Lai. During my service time, this was emphasized at the mandatory yearly Laws of Armed Conflict training. I pray current service members remember and honor their oath, and their duty to not follow illegal orders.
* US Constitution, Article VI: "This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any state to the Contrary notwithstanding." https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/article-6/
Dream on. The public are to divide and to sheepish. The "ruling" party in Congress are mere "hand maids" to the front man (Trump) for the Heritage Foundation and the Zionists
Particularly since the Citizen’s United SCOTUS decision in 2010 one of the Nazi party’s strategies has been has been with their megawealthy business interested coalition to swamp election campaigns with so many dollars that an election win is expected
But despite the Muskrat spending $20M in the weeks before the Wisconsin Supreme Court race to support the Nazi candidate who lost Now the billionaires are at it again outspending the Mamdami campaign $8 to $1 Obviously the billionaires don’t want to see NY city taxes increase under Mamdami This isn’t about disagreement with policy it’s about the megawealthy avoiding paying their fair share And Muskrat, Theil, and their billionaire buddies are planning to use their mega$ to influence future elections so they can harness political power with Cheeto at the helm, pouring millions of dollars into the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races
It’s now gotten to the point of greed Nazi billionaires not wanting to pay their fair share in a society that has given them more than enough to live comfortably And Americans are waking up to the wealth inequality as measured by an ever expanding income gap in the country
This trope about military loyalty to the Constitution rings hollow. It offers no practical guidance to anyone anywhere in the chain of command, and certainly no protection to the citizenry. The Supreme Court will tell you that a presidency such as we currently have is allowed, perhaps even intended by the founders. We are to expect at some point Trump will make an official proclamation suspending the Constitution, and that the military now serves him and him alone? There will ALWAY be some flimsy pretense that is given to claim lawful authority. Which part of the Constitution instructs our servicemen on how to act when it is painfully obvious that a president has betrayed his oath of office and is acting in bad faith? If that alone is sufficient to refuse orders, then you should argue for that. I'll argue for that. I expect our servicemen to refuse to blow boats out of the water on the open seas. I expect National Guardsmen to refuse to deploy to our cities. I expect Marines to refuse to deploy to protect ICE. Right now. If we're not already there, we never will be.
Every Marine swears an oath, not to a man, not to a party, but to the Constitution of the United States. That oath is sacred. It means your loyalty belongs to the rule of law and the freedom it protects, even when commanders, politicians, or crowds forget. The day a Marine’s loyalty shifts from the Constitution to a personality, the Republic begins to die.
General Smedley Butler warned us of that danger nearly a century ago. He had fought for the flag, bled for it, and then saw how easily power could twist a soldier’s purpose. His message still cuts true: the greatest threat to America will never come from abroad, it will come from within, when obedience outruns conscience.
So remember who you are. You are not the weapon of any man’s ambition. You are the keeper of the line — the line that separates a Republic from a regime. Stand your post with clear eyes and an unbending heart. Semper Fidelis means faithful forever, to the Constitution, or to nothing at all.
I am a 76 yr old Army brat. I say that with great pride. I traveled with my family to multiple assignments world-wide and saw first hand the pride the military showed the USA. To have that pride put into question by a President hurts my soul. I hope all military men and women will stand up for our Constitution and not one man. If nothing else the Nurenberg trials showed us the falsehood of folloing orders blindly - now is not the time for lack of courage.
Thank you, Donna Ferrari! Well said. I am finding that very few that I know support my posts on Facebook from Substack. I wonder whether they cannot wrap their mind around this heinous administration as an enemy of their lives in the USA - or do these same people believe they will be on the “included” roll call if this administration does get to rule us indefinitely
Col Vindman I believe we are beyond this. I don’t believe the midterms will be allowed to stand. He is going to say “rigged” and use ICE and the national guard against protestors …it’s too late, I fear. This is why they have hired a federal police force! They are treating US Citizens just as poorly as immigrants! Our current democratic leaders are not understanding what’s happening and are under-reacting!
Absolutely yes they are under reacting to this administration. There is NO compromising with them. They treat you as the enemy. And, surely, you are. They had better start acting like it!
I truly wish this could be read as the opening story on every news network. It should also be read at every single Commanders Call (but then, Pistol Pete wouldn't allow that would he?). I took my oath of enlistment as sacrosanct. It has no expiration date. I'm 72 now, but it still applies. How dare these two and their sycophants do this to our country? I'm furious. Everyone should be furious. I'm truly concerned about what lies ahead.
Dr Alexander Vindman.
It is time.
The country is waiting for the Generals and Admirals who were able to talk to each other directly when Hegseth commanded all of the back for one day. We are praying for them to overthrow this government, cleaning up the branches, having a Republican and a strong Democrat leading together till elections will be held again. Dr Vindman, I see you believe that there will be regular elections in 2026 and 2028. I do not think so anymore. The Maga leadership is working hard to undermine and even cancel the elections. They are working forcefully to find a reason to declare Martial Law and cancel elections.
We are not living in normal times.
The strongest hand representing Democracy - the Military sworn in to follow the US Constitution - will prevail if they decide to take over and clean up.
By the way: all corporations that received/downloaded data illegally about Americans from the government need to be nationalized immediately after take over.
Education system needs to be changed concerning American Democracy to grow roots already in children.
Laws about endless money in politics revoked.
A welfare system established that supports reeducation of Americans who will lose their jobs to AI to avoid further radicalization. Millions will lose them.
Any American military action MUST BE LED BY CIVILIAN AUTHORITY.
Every US President has to uphold the Constitution….
Has THE DUTY to. This one is clearly ignoring that duty.
I think you were just reading my mind! My husband and I were just talking about this and when I came across your post I went OK we are not the only ones that believe this. It must happen or democracy as we have known it is gone!! Both of our fathers fought in World War II against fascism, and we cannot let that be in vain! I am afraid we are not gonna have any more elections he’s gonna declare martial law. and if his military follows that we’re screwed, but we do have hope with the generals and admirals and the good in the military. So please, Dr. Vindman if you see this know how scared every day Americans are because that person in the White House is pure evil!
It IS time.
Loyalty’s Line in the Sand
Every Marine swears an oath, not to a man, not to a party, but to the Constitution of the United States. That oath is sacred. It means your loyalty belongs to the rule of law and the freedom it protects, even when commanders, politicians, or crowds forget. The day a Marine’s loyalty shifts from the Constitution to a personality, the Republic begins to die.
General Smedley Butler warned us of that danger nearly a century ago. He had fought for the flag, bled for it, and then saw how easily power could twist a soldier’s purpose. His message still cuts true: the greatest threat to America will never come from abroad, it will come from within, when obedience outruns conscience.
So remember who you are. You are not the weapon of any man’s ambition. You are the keeper of the line — the line that separates a Republic from a regime. Stand your post with clear eyes and an unbending heart. Semper Fidelis means faithful forever, to the Constitution, or to nothing at all.
The duty to not follow illegal orders was established at Nuremberg, made manifest in the Geneva Conventions (to which the US not only lead the development but signed and ratified, making it the law of the US*), and was re-emphasized in the aftermath of My Lai. During my service time, this was emphasized at the mandatory yearly Laws of Armed Conflict training. I pray current service members remember and honor their oath, and their duty to not follow illegal orders.
* US Constitution, Article VI: "This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any state to the Contrary notwithstanding." https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/article-6/
Dream on. The public are to divide and to sheepish. The "ruling" party in Congress are mere "hand maids" to the front man (Trump) for the Heritage Foundation and the Zionists
Cheeto And Nazi Billionaires Buying Elections
Particularly since the Citizen’s United SCOTUS decision in 2010 one of the Nazi party’s strategies has been has been with their megawealthy business interested coalition to swamp election campaigns with so many dollars that an election win is expected
But despite the Muskrat spending $20M in the weeks before the Wisconsin Supreme Court race to support the Nazi candidate who lost Now the billionaires are at it again outspending the Mamdami campaign $8 to $1 Obviously the billionaires don’t want to see NY city taxes increase under Mamdami This isn’t about disagreement with policy it’s about the megawealthy avoiding paying their fair share And Muskrat, Theil, and their billionaire buddies are planning to use their mega$ to influence future elections so they can harness political power with Cheeto at the helm, pouring millions of dollars into the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races
It’s now gotten to the point of greed Nazi billionaires not wanting to pay their fair share in a society that has given them more than enough to live comfortably And Americans are waking up to the wealth inequality as measured by an ever expanding income gap in the country
He’s itching to fabricate a war to cancel the midterms
This trope about military loyalty to the Constitution rings hollow. It offers no practical guidance to anyone anywhere in the chain of command, and certainly no protection to the citizenry. The Supreme Court will tell you that a presidency such as we currently have is allowed, perhaps even intended by the founders. We are to expect at some point Trump will make an official proclamation suspending the Constitution, and that the military now serves him and him alone? There will ALWAY be some flimsy pretense that is given to claim lawful authority. Which part of the Constitution instructs our servicemen on how to act when it is painfully obvious that a president has betrayed his oath of office and is acting in bad faith? If that alone is sufficient to refuse orders, then you should argue for that. I'll argue for that. I expect our servicemen to refuse to blow boats out of the water on the open seas. I expect National Guardsmen to refuse to deploy to our cities. I expect Marines to refuse to deploy to protect ICE. Right now. If we're not already there, we never will be.
Yes. But, he has replaced uncooperative Generals with loyalists who will do his bidding. Cannot count on them.
Loyalty’s Line in the Sand
Every Marine swears an oath, not to a man, not to a party, but to the Constitution of the United States. That oath is sacred. It means your loyalty belongs to the rule of law and the freedom it protects, even when commanders, politicians, or crowds forget. The day a Marine’s loyalty shifts from the Constitution to a personality, the Republic begins to die.
General Smedley Butler warned us of that danger nearly a century ago. He had fought for the flag, bled for it, and then saw how easily power could twist a soldier’s purpose. His message still cuts true: the greatest threat to America will never come from abroad, it will come from within, when obedience outruns conscience.
So remember who you are. You are not the weapon of any man’s ambition. You are the keeper of the line — the line that separates a Republic from a regime. Stand your post with clear eyes and an unbending heart. Semper Fidelis means faithful forever, to the Constitution, or to nothing at all.
Magnificent! Thank you!
Yeah but a private donor funded their paychecks recently… soo???
Thank you, this is very reassuring.
Good, good and good
Your only duty is to learn the oath and die in Moscow.
So, who failed to do their job and ordered missile strikes on the boats?????????