(Thumbnail Image: YouTube)

"An army doctor facing court marshal for refusing to deploy to Afghanistan because he said he considers orders from President Obama to be illegal.” (MSNBC)

Lt. Col. Terry Lakin is making a splash and some powerful enemies in Washington.  He blew off orders to report to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and a second tour of duty in Afghanistan.  Meantime the 18-year serviceman came out online as a birther—and finds himself in big trouble. 

Lakin now faces a court marshal.  Take a look at what the army doc says on his YouTube video.  

“At great peril to my career and future, I’m choosing to disobey what I believe are illegal orders. ...Any reasonable person looking critically at the evidence currently in the public domain would have questions about President Obama’s claim to be a natural born citizen.” 

CNN’s Rick Sanchez responds to what he calls Lakin’s fervent—but flimsy birther theory.

“Those are his opinions.  He doesn’t back it up with any facts. ...It has been checked by factcheck.org and they have traveled to Hawaii, met with officials and looked at the documents and everything that that man just said is questionable at least—a lie at worst.”

A retired Navy veteran, Michael Vaughn, wrote on the blog American Thinker, he understands Lakin’s concerns, but not his tactics. 

“…[W]hile I believe Obama is the consummate liar about his background, I have to support the Department of the Army and their court martial proceedings on this one… [A] court martial, while a public relation's nightmare, might teach someone a lesson in duty, honor, sacrifice and country..." 

But NBC’s Jim Miklashevski says a court marshal doesn’t bother Lakin.  In fact—it’s probably part of the plan.

“I can tell you, I’ve been talking to Army officials they would prefer this just go away, but it appears this Lt. Col. Lakin may in fact force the Army to court marshal him in an effort—perhaps by Lakin—to bring this effort back into the public view.”  

Finally a writer for ChattahBox calls Lakin’s behavior bizarre, but points out a few fringe bens of joining the birther nation.

“The American Patriot Foundation/Safeguard Our Constitution, is seeking $50,000 'to assemble a top-flight legal defense team’ for Lakin. Perhaps birther queen Orly Taitz, DDS, Esq., is available. And Lakin can get his teeth cleaned to boot.”

So are Lakin’s concerns legit—or illegal?

Writer: Chance Seales

Producer: Newsy Staff