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| US nuclear chief would resist 'illegal' presidential strike order | US nuclear chief would resist 'illegal' presidential strike order |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The top nuclear commander in the US says he would resist any "illegal" presidential order to launch a strike. | The top nuclear commander in the US says he would resist any "illegal" presidential order to launch a strike. |
| Air Force Gen John Hyten, said as head of the US Strategic Command he provided advice to a president and expected that a legal alternative would be found. | Air Force Gen John Hyten, said as head of the US Strategic Command he provided advice to a president and expected that a legal alternative would be found. |
| His comments come just days after US senators discussed a president's authority to launch a nuclear attack. | His comments come just days after US senators discussed a president's authority to launch a nuclear attack. |
| Some of them expressed concern that President Donald Trump might irresponsibly order such a strike. | Some of them expressed concern that President Donald Trump might irresponsibly order such a strike. |
| Others though said a president must have the authority to act without meddling from lawyers. It was the first such hearing in more than 40 years. | Others though said a president must have the authority to act without meddling from lawyers. It was the first such hearing in more than 40 years. |
| In August, Mr Trump vowed to unleash "fire and fury like the world has never seen" on North Korea if it threatened the US. | In August, Mr Trump vowed to unleash "fire and fury like the world has never seen" on North Korea if it threatened the US. |
| Last month, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Republican chairman, Senator Bob Corker, accused the president of setting the US "on a path to World War Three". | Last month, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Republican chairman, Senator Bob Corker, accused the president of setting the US "on a path to World War Three". |
| Speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum in Canada, Gen Hyten said: "We think about these things a lot. When you have this responsibility, how do you not think about it?" | Speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum in Canada, Gen Hyten said: "We think about these things a lot. When you have this responsibility, how do you not think about it?" |
| As for the legality of a strike, the general said that he had studied US laws of armed conflict for many years which stipulates key criteria the president must consider: | |
| While Senators and expert witnesses agree the president has full authority to defend the nation, commentators have pointed out that because there is no all-encompassing definition of "imminent attack", the president is not given an entirely free hand. | |
| "I provide advice to the president, he will tell me what to do," Gen Hyten said. | |
| "And if it's illegal, guess what's going to happen? I'm going to say: 'Mr President, that's illegal.' And guess what he's going to do? He's going to say, 'What would be legal?' And we'll come up with options, of a mix of capabilities to respond to whatever the situation is, and that's the way it works. | "And if it's illegal, guess what's going to happen? I'm going to say: 'Mr President, that's illegal.' And guess what he's going to do? He's going to say, 'What would be legal?' And we'll come up with options, of a mix of capabilities to respond to whatever the situation is, and that's the way it works. |
| "It's not that complicated," Gen Hyten added. | "It's not that complicated," Gen Hyten added. |
| He added: "If you execute an unlawful order, you will go to jail. You could go to jail for the rest of your life." | |
| President Trump has not publicly commented on Gen Hyten's remarks. | President Trump has not publicly commented on Gen Hyten's remarks. |