Westy,
This is not "Business" where it is a financial loss that is the result of wrong headed thinking.
In the Military the Troops have a legal obligation to refuse Unlawful Orders....at the Four Star level you have a Moral obligation to refuse to carry out patently wrong orders.
As I said....if you are given marching orders by the President and you know in your Heart they shall lead to an ugly end.....you stand up, resign on the spot, Salute, do an About Face and march smartly off to clean out your desk on your way home on your first day of Retirement.
As a Four Star you owe it to the Troops to do the absolute right thing even if it means ending your career on the spot.
Otherwise.....the entire house collapses from Rot.