The Top Us Nuclear Commander Said He Would Resist an 'illegal' Strike Order from Trump

The top US nuclear commander said he would resist an 'illegal' strike order from Trump The top US nuclear commander said Saturday that he would resist President Donald Trump if he ordered an illegal launch of nuclear weapons. Air Force General John Hyten, commander of the US Strategic Command (STRATCOM), told an audience at the Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, Canada that he had given a lot of thought to what he would say if he received such an order, the Canadian Press reported. I think some people think were stupid, Hyten said in response to a question about such a scenario. Were not stupid people. We think about these things a lot. When you have this responsibility, how do you not think about it?. Hyten, who is responsible for overseeing the US nuclear arsenal, explained the process that would follow such a command. He said his role is to provide Trump with strike options, should the president decide to launch a nuclear attack. Trump would then make a decision. As head of STRATCOM, I provide advice to the president, he will tell me what to do, Hyten said. And if its illegal, guess whats going to happen? Im going to say, Mr President, thats illegal. And guess what hes going to do? Hes going to say, What would be legal? And well come up (with) options, with a mix of capabilities to respond to whatever the situation is, and thats the way it works. Its not that complicated.. Hyten said running through scenarios of how to react in the event of an illegal order was standard practice — he receives training every year in the laws of armed conflict. Those laws are guided in part by a principle of necessity, he said, adding that carrying out an illegal order is punishable under US law. If you execute an unlawful order, you will go to jail. You could go to jail for the rest of your life, he said. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Hytens remarks. They came after questions by US senators, including Democrats and Trumps fellow Republicans, about Trumps authority to wage war, use nuclear weapons and enter into or end international agreements, amid concern that tensions over North Koreas nuclear and missile programs could lead to hostilities. Hyten told the audience that the US is capable of defending itself against North Koreas nuclear threats. Can we live with a nuclear North Korea? The answer is yes, Hyten said. The question we have to ask ourselves is: Do we want to live in that world?. Trump has traded insults and threats with North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un and threatened in his maiden United Nations address to totally destroy the country of 26 million people if it threatened the United States. Some senators want legislation to alter the nuclear authority of the US president and a Senate committee on Tuesday held the first congressional hearing in more than four decades on the presidents authority to launch a nuclear strike.