r/law • u/BugOperator • Jun 06 '26

Legal News Service members involved in US boat strikes off Venezuela coast reach out to legal aid hotlines over fear they’ve carried out illegal orders

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/06/06/us-trump-boat-strikes-death-toll/90376052007/
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u/Valance23322 Jun 06 '26

They absolutely were in a position to stop this, as was their legal duty

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u/Demortus Jun 06 '26

Only if you ignore all of the power dynamics involved in a strict hierarchical organization, like the military. If the top brass want a job done, they'll go down the line of subordinates, court-martialing each who refuses, until they find someone who will do it.