The duty to disobey (an order to conduct an unlawful nuclear strike)
The United States conducts exercises where nuclear strikes are ordered and the personnel in the missile silo don’t know if it’s a drill or a real launch. If the personnel do not launch the missile, they are removed from their post. This ensures orders to conduct a nuclear strike are reliable.
What about when the strike ordered is unlawful? Unlawful orders include violations of the U.S. Constitution, human rights laws or the Geneva Conventions.
A poll conducted in 2025 showed over ~800 troops surveyed, 9% stated that they would “obey any order.”
The most common unprompted response, cited by 26% of those surveyed for a reason to disobey an order was “harming civilians”. This is consistent with the history of coups, when military personnel turn and join civilians.
69% of troops asked if they would drop a nuclear bomb on a civilian city said they would obey the order.
When asked to think about and comment on the duty to disobey unlawful orders then asked that question, 56% said they’d disobey.
The duty to disobey (an order to conduct an unlawful nuclear strike)
The United States conducts exercises where nuclear strikes are ordered and the personnel in the missile silo don’t know if it’s a drill or a real launch. If the personnel do not launch the missile, they are removed from their post. This ensures orders to conduct a nuclear strike are reliable.
What about when the strike ordered is unlawful? Unlawful orders include violations of the U.S. Constitution, human rights laws or the Geneva Conventions.
A poll conducted in 2025 showed over ~800 troops surveyed, 9% stated that they would “obey any order.”
The most common unprompted response, cited by 26% of those surveyed for a reason to disobey an order was “harming civilians”. This is consistent with the history of coups, when military personnel turn and join civilians.
69% of troops asked if they would drop a nuclear bomb on a civilian city said they would obey the order.
When asked to think about and comment on the duty to disobey unlawful orders then asked that question, 56% said they’d disobey.