For as bitter and raucous and divided as the American electorate seems to be — and has been for some time — it’s downright amazing how stable our system is.
When you look at other countries, who have histories that are much less violent and brutal than the United States, and see coups and revolts and revolutions all the time, you have to be both impressed and astounded that that doesn’t happen here like every fourth day.
That, though, could not be the case if Donald Trump winds up in the White House. Speaking to Bill Maher, the former head of both the CIA and NSA, Michael Hayden, said if Trump tries to govern with the same rhetoric he uses on the campaign trail, it could put the United States military in a predicament.
Hayden specifically refers to Trump’s pledge to kill the family members of terrorists, which goes against the Geneva Convention (not that that has stopped presidents before).
During his appearance on “Real Time,” Hayden cited Trump’s pledge to kill family members as being among his most troubling campaign statements.
“That never even occurred to you, right?” Maher asked.
“God, no!” Hayden replied. “Let me give you a punchline: If he were to order that once in government, the American armed forces would refuse to act.”
“That’s quite a statement, sir,” Maher said.
“You are required not to follow an unlawful order,” Hayden added. “That would be in violation of all the international laws of armed conflict.”
Could we see a mutiny in this country? What would it look like? It’d be pretty fucking crazy, I’ll tell you that much.
But there’s no reason to think it couldn’t happen here. Just because it hasn’t doesn’t mean it won’t
You can watch the whole interview here.
[Via The Washington Post]