Two senators and other former service members in Congress recently reminded active-duty military service members that they are not required to follow unlawful orders. While the principle is correct, the way it was communicated fell short.

The announcement offered no concrete examples of what “illegal orders” might look like. Without specifics, the message sounded abstract and was easily twisted into partisan rhetoric. That vagueness weakened the point and, tragically, fueled threats against those who spoke out (“ FBI investigates Democrats in connection with troops video ,” Nov. 26).

History shows us what unlawful orders look like. Lt. William Calley’s command to massacre civilians at My Lai in Vietnam was prosecuted as a war crime. The Nuremberg Trials established that “just following

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