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The Department of Defense has opened formal proceedings against Sen. Mark Kelly after his participation in a video urging service members to “refuse illegal orders,” a move that could strip the retired Navy captain of his rank and cut his retirement pay. Americans who believe in the rule of law should not shrug at this — our military depends on clear command and discipline, not political theater aimed at sowing doubt in the ranks. The Pentagon’s review is an appropriate response to what looks like a political stunt disguised as concern for military ethics.
The video in question, released in November, featured six Democrats with military or intelligence backgrounds and bluntly told troops they could and should refuse unlawful commands. That message was reckless because it skirted the serious legal tests around what constitutes an unlawful order and left room for partisan interpretation on the eve of sensitive operations. Veterans and active-duty members deserve better than vague exhortations from politicians that could be twisted into excuses for insubordination.
Secretary Pete Hegseth was right to call the footage “despicable, reckless, and false,” and to initiate retirement grade determination proceedings when a retiree still receiving pay appears to lend military authority to partisan messaging. The UCMJ and statutes exist for a reason: to preserve good order and discipline and protect lives on and off the battlefield. If a public figure uses his uniformed service as a political prop to undermine that order, the department has every obligation to investigate and, if warranted, punish.
Legal scholars rightly note that disobeying an unlawful order is permitted, but context and imminence matter; orders are presumed lawful, and blanket exhortations from politicians don’t meet the standard to encourage defiance. This isn’t about silencing debate — it’s about protecting the chain of command from being weaponized by one side of the aisle for short-term political gain. Responsible conservatives believe in both the Constitution and the cohesive, disciplined force that defends it; those two principles are not in conflict here.
Across conservative media and among veterans, the reaction has been scathing, with many calling the clip a dishonest, politically motivated effort to erode trust between commanders and troops. Patriotic voices from the right have been consistent: hold your politicians to account when they cross the line into actions that could endanger service members or damage morale. Americans who cheered our troops into harm’s way should not tolerate political elites treating the military like a campaign prop.
Democrats who think the military exists to serve their narrative forget that the institution’s strength is its apolitical devotion to mission and country. The left’s habit of turning honor into a talking point is corrosive, and it’s long past time leaders on both sides stop exploiting our veterans for headlines. If Sen. Kelly truly cared about the Constitution, he would have raised specific concerns through oversight channels instead of broadcasting ambiguous rhetoric designed to inflame.
We should support a fair, lawful process for determining whether discipline is appropriate, but let there be no mistake: defending the chain of command and protecting the men and women in uniform from partisan meddling is a conservative duty. Secretary Hegseth and the Pentagon owe the troops clarity and consequences when public figures threaten to blur the lines between civic debate and military obedience. Washington will try its usual legal gymnastics and political spin, but hardworking Americans and veterans deserve leaders who put country above party.
