Retired Four-Star General Philip Breedlove on Refusing an Order to Invade Greenland

Refusal of an Invasion Order

• 💡 General Philip Breedlove, former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, stated he would refuse an order to invade Greenland.
• 📌 He clarified that military personnel are not obligated to follow orders that are illegal or immoral.
• ⚠️ While not making a judgment on the legality of invading Greenland, he affirmed his personal stance: "Had I been given an order to invade Greenland, I would have said no."

Military Role in Domestic Policing

• 🧠 Breedlove expressed concern about the erosion of public trust in the military if it is used for domestic policing.
• 🇺🇸 He cited historical events like Kent State as reasons to avoid deploying the military in such situations.
• 🛡️ The general emphasized that the National Guard is a professional military force with significant combat experience.

Political Division and Leadership

• 🗣️ Breedlove believes that fringe political operators on both the left and right are driving the country further apart.
• 🎯 He suggested that citizen politicians in the middle need to be empowered to govern effectively.
• ⚖️ The current political climate is seen as a fight to divide Americans for political gain, which needs to change.

Congressional Oversight and War Powers

• 🏛️ Breedlove noted that Congress is beginning to wake up to its responsibilities in national governance, referencing the War Powers Resolution concerning Venezuela.
• 🌍 He highlighted that Congress is also starting to build coalitions regarding the conversation about Greenland, indicating a growing awareness of its role.
• 🤝 The legislative branch is showing a willingness to be a part of how the nation runs, working across party lines.

Civil Control of the Military

• 📜 Breedlove corrected the term 'political leaders' to 'civil leadership,' emphasizing that the military is beholden to civil authority, not political parties.
• ⚖️ He referenced historical instances where soldiers used the defense of "we were ordered to do it" for illegal or immoral actions, which was deemed not a valid defense.
• 🚀 Refusing an illegal or immoral order, even with potential personal peril, is a recourse available through the courts and determination of right and wrong.