TIL Major Harold Hering was discharged from the Air Force for asking the question, "How can I know that an order I receive to launch my missiles came from a sane President?"
Harold L. Hering is a former officer of the United States Air Force, who was discharged in 1975 for requesting basic information about checks and balances to prevent the carrying out of unauthorized orders to launch nuclear missiles. (New York Times)
After the Hegseth/Trump demonstration of utter buffoonery at Quantico, watching both Hegseth and Trump trying to act as the role model for masculinity, toughness, and, of course, American manliness, I had to wonder, what exactly does the US Military elite do next?
In 1975, Major Harold Hering asked a straightforward and telling question: “How can I know that an order I receive to launch my missiles came from a sane President?" Are the Military brass to just abide by the machinations of a President who, in fact, may be demonstrating traits of mental decline? Are they obligated not to question the mental faculties of the Commander-in-Chief who may be suffering from early-onset dementia? Bluntly, are the men and women of the US Military to acquiesce to a President who is bat-shit crazy?
I have been wondering about this.
