Saturday, January 17, 2026

Case Against Mark Kelly Even Dumber Than It Sounds

Fred Kaplan: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's campaign to punish Sen. Mark Kelly--a retired Navy captain--for urging members of the armed forces to disobey unlawful orders, is even more outlandish, and legally baseless, than it seems at first glance.

More

First, and most obviously, the notion that Kelly and his colleagues committed sedition, treason, or any sort of crime with their video is preposterous. They were not encouraging service members to defy specific orders--only reminding them that they are obligated not to follow unlawful orders. In this, the lawmakers were merely reciting the clear language of military law.

Comments

Revenge and retribution do not make good policy.

Government and justice systems should be guided by objective facts, the rule of law, and the common good, rather than personal, emotional, or vindictive motivations.

Obviously.

#1 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-01-17 08:53 AM

"Totalitarianism in power invariably replaces all first-rate talents, regardless of their sympathies, with those crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty."

Hannah Arendt

#2 | Posted by SomebodyElse at 2026-01-18 01:57 PM

This was obvious to anybody with more than two functioning brain cells from Hogsbreath's first mention of this absurdity.

#3 | Posted by Angrydad at 2026-01-18 03:04 PM

The first question the Defense Lawyer should ask is whether or not Kelly would be punished for telling troops to FOLLOW illegal orders.

The second question should be to the Judge, requesting a dismissal.

#4 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-01-18 03:32 PM

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