Can New Zealand military personal refuse to obey illegal orders?
Navy veteran faces ‘serious allegations of misconduct’ over statement that prompted Trump to call for his imprisonment
…..Kelly and several other lawmakers with military backgrounds issued a video statement last week telling troops they “can and must refuse illegal orders,” emphasizing that threats to constitutional order can emerge “from right here at home.”…..
…..A statement from the Pentagon suggested the retired naval officer could be recalled to active duty “for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures.”….
…..Kelly, a decorated fighter pilot, retired from active duty at the rank of captain from both the Navy and NASA in 2011 to care for his wife Gabby Giffords, then a Democratic congresswoman was nearly fatally shot during a constituent meeting…..
…..Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth labeled the members of Congress the “Seditious Six” for what he called a “despicable, reckless and false” video statement….
…..Slotkin, a former CIA analyst, and other veterans among the group are no longer subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, but Kelly is, “and he knows that,” Hegseth added.
…..A statement from the Pentagon suggested the retired naval officer could be recalled to active duty “for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures.”….
…..Kelly, a decorated fighter pilot, retired from active duty at the rank of captain from both the Navy and NASA in 2011 to care for his wife Gabby Giffords, then a Democratic congresswoman was nearly fatally shot during a constituent meeting…..
…..Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth labeled the members of Congress the “Seditious Six” for what he called a “despicable, reckless and false” video statement….
…..Slotkin, a former CIA analyst, and other veterans among the group are no longer subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, but Kelly is, “and he knows that,” Hegseth added.
Immediately following last week’s video, Trump said the lawmakers should be “ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL.”…..
…..Those are serious words coming from the president of the United States,” Kelly told CBS Face the Nation Sunday.
Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego, Kelly’s Arizona counterpart and a Marine veteran, told Hegseth: “F*** you and your investigation.”
Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego, Kelly’s Arizona counterpart and a Marine veteran, told Hegseth: “F*** you and your investigation.”
Which side of this military faultline do the NZDF come down on?
Will NZDF soldiers keep blindly following the US to fight and die in unjust forever wars, because Y’know ‘orders’?
Will NZDF soliders be allowed to disobey illegal orders?
If an NZDF soldier, in line with international law and the genocide convention, refused to train beside the IDF at the next bi-annual RIMPAC military exercise will they be allowed to do so?
Or will they be punished for disobeying illegal orders?
….Documents released under the Official Information Act today show that the NZDF did no legal due diligence regarding training with the Israeli Defence Force as part of RIMPAC 2024.
250 soldiers and sailors of the NZDF are currently deployed to the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Naval training exercises in Hawai’i. This six-week long training is the world’s largest navy war planning exercises. It is led by the United States Navy every two years. Israel is one of the participating countries.
250 soldiers and sailors of the NZDF are currently deployed to the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Naval training exercises in Hawai’i. This six-week long training is the world’s largest navy war planning exercises. It is led by the United States Navy every two years. Israel is one of the participating countries.
“It is surprising to see that the NZDF legal team has not considered the participation of Israel in these exercises at all. They have given no advice to the Minister at all beyond, ‘Questions about Israel’s involvement in RIMPAC should be directed to the US military.’” said Valerie Morse, member of Peace Action Wellington…..
…..“The Israeli Navy has been involved in an illegal blockade of Gaza since 2007 and deeply implicated in the intense human suffering there. Are they just beyond any accountability whatsoever?”
“The International Court of Justice (ICJ) and International Criminal Court (ICC) – both institutions that New Zealand has ratified into domestic law – have taken Israel and its leaders to task for its ongoing genocidal violence in Gaza. These are not matters we should take lightly nor dismiss as someone else’s public relations problem. Yet there seems to have been zero consideration of these issues by NZDF.”
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Pat O’Dea is a staunch unionist and activist