As Dubai prepares for COP28, some world leaders signal they won’t attend climate talks
BY JON GAMBRELL
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Dubai prepared Tuesday to host the COP28 climate talks as world leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden and Pope Francis signaled they would not be attending the negotiations that come during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war roiling the wider Middle East.
Workers under a still-scorching November sun stapled up bunting and decorated Dubai Expo City’s iconic Al Wasl Dome with trees and other green foliage ahead of the summit, scheduled to start Thursday in the United Arab Emirates.
Armed United Nations police patrolled about half the area of Expo City where the delegates will debate, while the other half will host other climate events. Airport-style security screenings greeted those coming into both areas.
The two-week meeting of international leaders aims to assess where the world stands when it comes to limiting emissions to slow global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) compared with pre-industrial times. Emirati officials said Tuesday they expect over 70,000 attendees at the talks, including heads of state.
Britain’s King Charles will be among the leaders to attend the talks. However, some have said or otherwise signaled they won’t be attending the Conference of the Parties — where COP gets its name.
They include the 81-year-old Biden, who attended both COP26 in Scotland and COP27 in Egypt.
People walk near the Al Wasl Dome at Expo City ahead of the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit, Tuesday, Nov.28,2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Photo : Peter Dejong/AP
“The president has been very much focused on the conflict between Israel and Hamas over the last month or so,” said John Kirby, a spokesman for the White House’s National Security Council, on Monday. “He was working the phones over the course of Thanksgiving weekend. And I suspect that he’ll continue to work the phones in coming days.”
The White House has said it is sending a climate team, including Special Envoy John Kerry, climate adviser Ali Zaidi and clean energy adviser John Podesta.
Pope Francis meanwhile canceled his trip to Dubai for the U.N. climate conference on doctors’ orders Tuesday, although he is recovering from the flu and lung inflammation, the Vatican said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also likely will not attend the talks, Israel’s Foreign Ministry told The Associated Press on Tuesday night. Nor will Foreign Minister Eli Cohen attend the summit, the ministry said, citing the war.
People walk in the venue ahead of the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit, Tuesday, Nov.28,2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Photo : Peter Dejong/AP
Arab nations have reacted with rage over the punishing bombardment and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel. The UAE reached a diplomatic recognition deal with Israel in 2020, but public anger still seethes in this autocratic nation of seven sheikhdoms.
Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar Assad won’t be attending either, according to the pro-government newspaper Al-Watan, despite receiving an invitation from Emirati leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Instead, Syrian Prime Minister Hussein Arnous will lead the country’s delegation.
Assad has slowly reintegrated himself into Arab regional politics in the last year, despite his brutal crackdown on 2011 Arab Spring protesters that descended into a civil war and consequently became a regional conflict. The war has killed half a million people and displaced half of Syria’s population.
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Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.
Greek officials angry and puzzled after UK’s Sunak scraps leaders’ meeting over Parthenon Marbles
BY JILL LAWLESS AND DEREK GATOPOULOS
LONDON (AP) — Greek officials said Tuesday that they will continue talks with the British Museum about bringing the Parthenon Marbles back to Athens, despite U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak canceling a meeting with his Greek counterpart where the contested antiquities were due to be discussed.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis planned to raise Greece’s decades-old demand for the return of the ancient sculptures when he met Sunak at 10 Downing St. on Tuesday. The two center-right leaders were also slated to talk about migration, climate change and the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.
Sunak called off the meeting hours before it was due to take place, sparking a diplomatic row between the two European allies. Mitsotakis was instead offered a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, which he declined.
British officials gave no reason for the cancellation, but they were annoyed that Mitsotakis had appeared on British television Sunday and compared the removal of the sculptures from Athens to cutting the Mona Lisa in half.
Dimitris Tsiodras, head of the Greek prime minister’s press office, said Mitostakis was angry at the “British misstep.”
“Of course he was angry … Look, Greece is a proud country. It has a long history. Mitsotakis represents that country,” Tsiodras told private network Mega television.
Greek left-wing opposition leader Stefanos Kasselakis also said Sunak’s action was unacceptable.
“The case of the Parthenon Sculptures is an issue that goes beyond the Greek Prime Minister as an individual and beyond party differences,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “It is a national issue that concerns the history of an entire people. And it is a moral issue concerning the shameless theft of cultural wealth from its natural setting.”
Athens has long demanded the return of sculptures that were removed from Greece by British diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 19th century. Part of friezes that adorned the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple on the Acropolis, the Elgin Marbles – as they are known in Britain — have been displayed at the British Museum in London for more than two centuries. The remainder of the friezes are in a purpose-built museum in Athens.
File : Women stand by a marble statue of a naked youth thought to represent Greek god Dionysos, centre, from the east pediment of the Parthenon, on display during a media photo opportunity to promote a forthcoming exhibition on the human body in ancient Greek art at the British Museum in London, on Jan. 8,2015. Greek official said Tuesday Nov.28,2023 that they will continue talk with the British Museum on bringing the Parthenon Marbels back to Athens, despite U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak cancelling a meeting with his Greek counterpart where the contested antiquities were due to be discussed. Photo : Matt Dunham/AP
The British Museum is banned by law from giving the sculptures back to Greece, but its leaders have held talks with Greek officials about a compromise, such as a long-term loan.
Earlier this year, museum chairman George Osborne — Treasury chief in a previous Conservative U.K. government — said the discussions had been “constructive.”
Tsiodras said Tuesday that discussions “are ongoing with the British Museum for the return – I should say the reunification – of the marbles to Athens.”
“I don’t think the effort stops there,” he said. “Clearly, there are domestic reasons and 2024 is an election year and (Sunak) is quite behind in the polls… but the discussion with the British Museum is ongoing.”
Sunak’s government appears to have hardened its position, however.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said that “the government set out its position about the Elgin Marbles very clearly, which is they should stay as part of the permanent collection of the British Museum.”
After Thailand, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka, Now Malaysia announced Visa Free for Indian
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia will grant visa-free entry to citizens of China and India for stays of up to 30 days starting on Dec. 1, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said.
Anwar made the announcement late on Sunday during a speech at his People’s Justice Party congress.
In a statement on Monday, Malaysia’s Home Affairs Ministry said the visa exemptions would last until Dec. 31, 2024.
China and India are Malaysia’s fourth- and fifth-largest largest sources of tourists
Malaysia recorded 9.16 million tourist arrivals between January and June this year, with 498,540 from China and 283,885 from India, according to government data. That compares with 1.5 million arrivals from China and 354,486 from India in the same period of 2019, prior to the pandemic.
Other Asian countries have been taking similar measures.
China last week announced visa-free entry from next month for citizens of Malaysia and several European countries, while neighboring Thailand, whose economy relies heavily on the tourism sector, has exempted Chinese and Indian nationals among others.
High stakes and glitz mark the vote in Paris for the 2030 World Expo host
PARIS (AP) — In a high-profile showdown, Rome, Busan, and Riyadh are the top contenders as the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) prepares to vote on Tuesday in Paris for the host city of the 2030 World Expo. With the stakes high, each city has escalated its campaign efforts, showcasing unique visions and ambitious promises to secure the rights to this globally prestigious event.
Rome has enlisted actor Russell Crowe, who appeared in a promotional video echoing his “Gladiator” persona, to underscore the city’s readiness for the Expo. The Rome campaign also hosted BIE delegates at Paris’ luxurious Plaza Athénée hotel, complete with a Michelin-starred meal and gifts of extra virgin olive oil.
Rome’s bid also includes plans for the world’s largest urban solar park and a green corridor connecting the Expo site to historic landmarks like the Appia Antica (Appian Way), one of the oldest and most important roads of the Roman Empire.
South Korea’s Busan has brought in cultural heavyweights like “Gangnam Style” rapper Psy and K-pop supergroup BTS to bolster its bid. The city is positioning itself for a high-tech Expo, emphasizing its capabilities in AI and 6G technology with the aim of attracting millions of visitors and spurring job creation.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh has mounted a significant marketing campaign, featuring a “Riyadh 2030” exhibit near the Eiffel Tower and extensive advertising across Paris. The Saudi bid, seeking to diversify the kingdom’s economy and boost its international stature, has received support from French President Emmanuel Macron, as indicated in a July statement from the Élysée Palace.
The World Expo has a storied history of bringing together nations to showcase technological innovations and cultural achievements. Since the inaugural event in 1851, Expos have been platforms for introducing groundbreaking inventions such as the light bulb, the Ferris wheel and the Eiffel Tower itself, which was built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle.
These events have evolved to not only be celebrations of human ingenuity but also opportunities for host cities to catalyze economic growth and global recognition.
With the world’s attention turned to Paris, the upcoming vote will set the stage for the next chapter in the rich legacy of the World Expos. The next Expo is scheduled to be held in Osaka in 2025.
By Thomas Adamson
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Associated Press writers John Leicester in Paris and Frances D’Emilio in Rome contributed to this report.
COP28: Indian PM Modi to visit UAE to attend World Climate Action Summit
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit UAE to attend the U.N. climate conference (COP28) in Dubai starting this week, underlying the country’s commitment to the issue of climate change, the government said in a statement.
Modi will be in UAE for two days from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1.
“Climate change has been an important priority area of India’s G20 Presidency… COP-28 will provide an opportunity to take forward these successes,” the statement said on Sunday.
During India’s recently concluded presidency of the G20, leaders agreed to pursue tripling renewable energy capacity globally by 2030 and accepted the need to phase-down unabated coal power, but stopped short of setting major climate goals.
Last week Reuters reported, France, backed by the United States, plans to seek a halt to private financing for coal-based power plants during the U.N. climate conference.
India is unlikely to favour such a plan and the proposal could further divide the group as major emerging nations like India still depend on coal to fuel its fast economic growth.
About 73% of electricity consumed in India is produced using coal, even though the country has increased its non-fossil capacity to 44% of its total installed power generation capacity.
Reporting by Aftab Ahmed; Editing by Christopher Cushing
Japan, Vietnam agree to deepen security cooperation amid China’s rise
TOKYO (Kyodo News) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong agreed Monday to deepen maritime security cooperation between the two nations in the face of China’s growing military assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region.
During their talks at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo, Kishida and Thuong confirmed they will continue to prepare for the success of a special summit involving ASEAN leaders, which Japan will host next month to mark 50 years of their friendship and cooperation.
Kishida and Thuong also reaffirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral collaboration on various issues, including the economy and cultural exchanges, as this year also commemorates half a century of the establishment of Japan-Vietnam diplomatic relations.
Japan has been seeking to capitalize on economic growth in Asia by bolstering ties with developing and emerging countries called the “Global South,” such as Vietnam and other ASEAN members while trying to counter China’s increasing influence in the region.
Vietnam, along with other member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has overlapping territorial claims with Beijing in the strategically important South China Sea. China claims a significant portion of this region, home to some of the world’s busiest sea lanes.
Meanwhile, Japan has been at odds with China over the Tokyo-controlled, Beijing-claimed Senkaku Islands. Chinese coast guard vessels have repeatedly entered Japanese territorial waters around the uninhabited islets, which Beijing calls Diaoyu.
With China apparently in mind, Japan has launched a new program to offer defense equipment to like-minded countries, called official security assistance, or OSA, earmarking 2 billion yen ($13 million) for the fiscal year through March 2024.
On Monday, Kishida and Thuong agreed that Japan and Vietnam will start discussions about the application of the program.
Kishida is slated to host the Japan-ASEAN special summit for three days from Dec. 16. The 10-member ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Thuong is on a four-day trip to Japan through Thursday. It is his first visit to the nation since becoming the president in March.
Social media app Line operator says 440,000 personal records leaked in data breach
TOKYO (Kyodo News) – Tech giant LY Corp. reported a massive data breach on Monday, saying as many as 440,000 items of personal data, including more than 300,000 linked to Line messaging app users, were leaked due to unauthorized access to an affiliate’s computer system in October.
The leaked data did not contain information regarding bank accounts, credit cards or chat messages in the Line app, a popular social communications tool in Japan. There have been no reports of misuse so far, the company said.
It said the leaked data included users’ age group, gender, and some of their service use histories, as well as information regarding the company’s business partners and employees, such as email addresses, names and affiliations.
While the company confirmed the data leak on Oct. 29, it said it took about a month to make the announcement as it required time to confirm the scale of the breach.
“We sincerely apologize to our users and all relevant parties for any inconvenience or concern caused. We deeply regret this incident and will do our best to prevent any reoccurrence,” the company said in a statement.
It has reported the case to the communications ministry.
LY was formed in October through the merger of Z Holdings Corp. and its group companies Line Corp. and Yahoo Japan Corp., a news portal site operator.
The leakage was caused when malware infected a computer owned by an employee of a subcontractor used by the company’s South Korea-based affiliate, Naver Cloud Corp., it said.
Naver Cloud and LY share an in-house system for dealing with employee and other personnel information managed with a common authentication system, which allowed unauthorized access into LY’s internal system, the company said.
The company initiated an investigation after detecting suspicious access on Oct. 17, concluding by Oct. 27 that it was highly likely an external breach. The initial unauthorized access occurred on Oct. 9.
It said it is contacting users, business partners and customers individually who it believes are at risk of being directly impacted by the leakage.
As of the end of September, some 96 million people were using the messaging app in Japan, with another 100 million users outside the country, according to the company.
ABOUT LINE CORPORATION, WHEN AND WHERE STARTED
LINE Corporation’s business encompasses development and operation of a wide range of mobile-first services—including communication, content, and entertainment—and advertising, as well as new businesses in Fintech, AI, and other domains. Under its corporate mission of “Closing the Distance,” LINE Corporation strives to bring people around the world closer to each other, to information, and to services.
Line Corporation had started in September 4, 2000 by the name of NHN Japan Corporation, but April 1, 2013 board of director changed its name to line corporation, which proved to be a success for the company.
WHO IS THE OWNER OF LINE CORPORATION
Takeshi Idezawa is the CEO and President of the company, Company’s Headquarter is in Tokyo, Japan.
Indian Cong Party attacks BRS over EC’s withdrawal of permission for giving aid to Telangana farmers
New Delhi (PTI) The Congress on Monday slammed the BRS over the EC’s withdrawal of permission to the Telangana government for disbursements of financial aid to farmers under the Rythu Bandhu Scheme, alleging it was a result of the “irresponsible and self-serving” approach of the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led party. The Congress’ attack on the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) came after the Election Commission (EC) withdrew permission given to the Telangana government for disbursements of financial aid to farmers for rabi crops under the Rythu Bandhu Scheme following a state minister’s violation of the model code by making a public announcement about it.
The poll panel had given its nod to the state government to disburse the rabi installment during the model code of conduct period on certain conditions. The state was asked not to publicize the disbursement during the poll code as part of the condition.
In a post on X, Congress general secretary, organization, K C Venugopal said, “Due to the irresponsible and narrow self-serving approach of the BRS and Harish Rao, under the instructions of his boss KCR, the ECI has denied permission for the disbursement of the Rythu Bandhu installments.” The money is the right of the farmers and it is what they deserve for their year-long hard work, he said. “When this money is supposed to be released any time between October and January, it was the BRS’ desperation which compelled them to make such irresponsible statements,” he said.
“Yet another sin committed by the BRS, which will not be forgiven by the farmers of Telangana,” Venugopal said.
Telangana goes to poll on 30 November. The EC letter to the state chief electoral officer (CEO) read, “The Commission has observed that T Harish Rao, Minister of Finance and Heath and Family Welfare, Govt of Telangana has not only violated the provisions of MCC (model code of conduct) but also conditions laid down as above by publicising the release under the scheme, and thereby disturbed the level playing field in the ongoing election process.” The EC informed the state chief electoral officer about its decision to withdraw its permission.
The state finance minister had made a public announcement about the release of disbursements of rabi installments. He had reportedly said, “The disbursement will be made on Monday. Even before the farmers complete their breakfast and tea, the amount will be credited into their account.”
President Jokowi said, Wars, genocide in modern world are unbelievable
Jakarta (ANTARA) – Open wars and genocides that have occurred in today’s world are unbelievable and awful, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated.
“It is really absurd and does not make sense. It is not in accordance with our conscience that in this modern era, we still have wars and genocide,” he remarked at the R20 International Summit of Religious Authorities (ISORA) in Jakarta on Monday.
He called the genocide occurrence in Palestine a massacre that claimed the lives of innocent civilians, including women and children.
The president emphasized that the humanitarian tragedy in Palestine cannot be tolerated at all.
“The massacre (in Palestine) obviously claimed the lives of innocent civilians. A ceasefire must be implemented along with the delivery of humanitarian assistance and peace negotiations that must begin,” he urged.
The head of state said Indonesia believes that independence is the right of all nations, and this is clearly stated in the Indonesian Constitution.
Moreover, Indonesia had years of experience in maintaining diversity and bridging differences in uniting the country, he remarked.
“Indonesia is home to 280 million people consisting of 714 tribes, with more than 1,300 local languages. They believe in different religions and live on 17 thousand different islands. It is not easy to unite them all, but we manage to do such a thing,” he remarked.
According to Jokowi, Indonesia was able to erase tribal, religious, and regional egos to be able to realize its slogan of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, or Unity in Diversity.
“Unity in Diversity cannot be realized without support from religious leaders who teach that love for the country and tolerance are part of faith,” he remarked.
The president then affirmed that Indonesia believes the role of religion, religious figures, and society are very important in creating peace, harmony, and unity within a country, in the region, and in the world.
“Therefore, I really appreciate this forum. Let us realize a dialogue between religions and across nations to bridge differences and stop all forms of disputes. We need to create a peaceful, harmonious, and prosperous world together,” he stated while inaugurating the opening of R20 ISORA.
He tweets, I appreciate the implementation of R20 in the context of forming dialogue across religions and nations to stop conflict and create a peaceful and prosperous world.
Membuka R20 International Summit of Religious Authorities (ISORA), forum pertemuan para pemimpin agama dunia, di Hotel Park Hyatt, Jakarta, hari ini.
Peran tokoh agama dan masyarakat sangat penting dalam menciptakan perdamaian, kerukunan, dan kebersamaan dalam suatu negara,… pic.twitter.com/kgeA5RIcgz
Trump hints at expanded role for the military within the US. A legacy law gives him few guardrails
BY GARY FIELDS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Campaigning in Iowa this year, Donald Trump said he was prevented during his presidency from using the military to quell violence in primarily Democratic cities and states.
Calling New York City and Chicago “crime dens,” the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination told his audience, “The next time, I’m not waiting. One of the things I did was let them run it and we’re going to show how bad a job they do,” he said. “Well, we did that. We don’t have to wait any longer.”
Trump has not spelled out precisely how he might use the military during a second term, although he and his advisers have suggested they would have wide latitude to call up units. While deploying the military regularly within the country’s borders would be a departure from tradition, the former president already has signaled an aggressive agenda if he wins, from mass deportations to travel bans imposed on certain Muslim-majority countries.
A law first crafted in the nation’s infancy would give Trump as commander in chief almost unfettered power to do so, military and legal experts said in a series of interviews.
The Insurrection Act allows presidents to call on reserve or active-duty military units to respond to unrest in the states, an authority that is not reviewable by the courts. One of its few guardrails merely requires the president to request that the participants disperse.
“The principal constraint on the president’s use of the Insurrection Act is basically political, that presidents don’t want to be the guy who sent tanks rolling down Main Street,” said Joseph Nunn, a national security expert with the Brennan Center for Justice. “There’s not much really in the law to stay the president’s hand.”
A spokesman for Trump’s campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment about what authority Trump might use to pursue his plans.
Congress passed the act in 1792, just four years after the Constitution was ratified. Nunn said it’s an amalgamation of different statutes enacted between then and the 1870s, a time when there was little in the way of local law enforcement.
“It is a law that in many ways was created for a country that doesn’t exist anymore,” he said.
It also is one of the most substantial exceptions to the Posse Comitatus Act, which generally prohibits using the military for law enforcement purposes.
Trump has spoken openly about his plans should he win the presidency, including using the military at the border and in cities struggling with violent crime. His plans also have included using the military against foreign drug cartels, a view echoed by other Republican primary candidates such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor.
The threats have raised questions about the meaning of military oaths, presidential power and who Trump could appoint to support his approach.
Trump already has suggested he might bring back retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who served briefly as Trump’s national security adviser and twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during its Russian influence probe before being pardoned by Trump. Flynn suggested in the aftermath of the 2020 election that Trump could seize voting machines and order the military in some states to help rerun the election.
Attempts to invoke the Insurrection Act and use the military for domestic policing would likely elicit pushback from the Pentagon, where the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is Gen. Charles Q. Brown. He was one of the eight members of the Joint Chiefs who signed a memo to military personnel in the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The memo emphasized the oaths they took and called the events of that day, which were intended to stop certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s victory over Trump, “sedition and insurrection.”
Trump and his party nevertheless retain wide support among those who have served in the military. AP VoteCast, an in-depth survey of more than 94,000 voters nationwide, showed that 59% of U.S. military veterans voted for Trump in the 2020 presidential election. In the 2022 midterms, 57% of military veterans supported Republican candidates.
Presidents have issued a total of 40 proclamations invoking the law, some of those done multiple times for the same crisis, Nunn said. Lyndon Johnson invoked it three times — in Baltimore, Chicago and Washington — in response to the unrest in cities after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968.
During the Civil Rights era, Presidents Johnson, John F. Kennedy and Dwight Eisenhower used the law to protect activists and students desegregating schools. Eisenhower sent the 101st Airborne to Little Rock, Arkansas, to protect Black students integrating Central High School after that state’s governor activated the National Guard to keep the students out.
“They really hammer into us the seriousness of the oath and who it was to, and who it wasn’t to,” he said.
File :In this june 1,2020 file photo,President Donald Trump departs the White House to visit outside St.John’s Church, in Washington. Walking behind Trump from left are, Attorney General William Barr, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Gen. Mark Miley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Photo : Patrick Semansky/AP
Ryan said he thought it was universally understood, but Jan. 6 “was deeply disturbing and a wakeup call for me.” Several veterans and active-duty military personnel were charged with crimes in connection with the assault.
While those connections were troubling, he said he thinks those who harbor similar sentiments make up a very small percentage of the military.
William Banks, a Syracuse University law professor and expert in national security law, said a military officer is not forced to follow “unlawful orders.” That could create a difficult situation for leaders whose units are called on for domestic policing, since they can face charges for taking unlawful actions.
“But there is a big thumb on the scale in favor of the president’s interpretation of whether the order is lawful,” Banks said. “You’d have a really big row to hoe and you would have a big fuss inside the military if you chose not to follow a presidential order.”
Nunn, who has suggested steps to restrict the invocation of the law, said military personnel cannot be ordered to break the law.
“Members of the military are legally obliged to disobey an unlawful order. At the same time, that is a lot to ask of the military because they are also obliged to obey orders,” he said. “And the punishment for disobeying an order that turns out to be lawful is your career is over, and you may well be going to jail for a very long time. The stakes for them are extraordinarily high.”
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Associated Press writers Jill Colvin and Michelle L. Price in New York, and Linley Sanders in Washington contributed to this report.
