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Former CENTCOM Commander Advises Military Commanders to Refuse “Illegal” Orders

Retired Gen. Joseph Votel calls Trump’s threats to destroy Iranian civilization “shocking”

Michael Isikoff's avatar
Michael Isikoff
Apr 10, 2026
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Gen. Joseph Votel as CENTOM commander 2016-2019. (DoD photo)

A former chief of the U.S. Central Command in the first Trump administration says the president’s threat to bomb Iran back to the Stone Ages is “shocking” and advised U.S. military officers to refuse to carry out “illegal” orders for air strikes that would primarily destroy civilian infrastruc…

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