Political and Legal Analysis - Trump's pardon of Tina Peters is symbolic due to the state-level conviction, highlighting the limits of presidential power [2] - A group of lawmakers are seeking congressional authorization for military action in Venezuela, emphasizing the importance of checks and balances [3] - Concerns are raised regarding the legality of military strikes in Venezuela, particularly the September 2nd incident [5][9] - Reminding troops of their duty to not follow illegal orders is crucial, as highlighted by past statements from officials and military training [8][16][17] Military and Foreign Policy - The discussion emphasizes the need for congressional oversight of military actions to prevent unchecked and endless wars, referencing the $3 trillion spent and 7,000 American lives lost in Iraq and Afghanistan [6][7] - The legality of strikes on Venezuelan boats is questioned, particularly concerning survivors [10][13] - There is a call for transparency and the release of video evidence related to the Venezuelan boat strikes [12] Constitutional and Ethical Concerns - Concerns are raised about potential violations of US criminal law, such as threatening protesters or sending troops to polling stations [10] - The response to reminding individuals in the administration to follow the law reveals a lack of respect for the Constitution [18]

Secretary Hegsith though not the only member of the president's cabinet who previously stated the military would not follow illegal orders. As Adam Liptac reports in the New York Times this morning, Attorney General Pam Bondi said the same thing just last year when she worked as a lawyer for a conservative think tank. In a friend of the court brief to the Supreme Court, Bondi wrote, quote, "Military officers are required not to carry out unlawful orders." Does that sound familiar.Perhaps from that video fro ...