"The President of the United States, as the Commander in Chief, is the source of all military authority. The Constitution requires the President to be a natural born citizen in order to be eligible to hold office. If he is ineligible under the Constitution to serve in that office that creates a break in the chain of command of such magnitude that its significance can scarcely be imagined.
As a practical example from my background I recall commanding forces that were equipped with nuclear weapons. In my command capacity I was responsible that personnel with access to these weapons had an unwavering and absolute confidence in the unified chain of command, because such confidence was absolutely essential-- vital-- in the event the use of those weapons was authorized."
LTG THOMAS G. McINERNEY, USAF (Ret.)
EXCERPT FROM AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF DEFENSE REQUEST FOR DISCOVERY/MOTION TO COMPEL