Admiral Alvin Holsey was put in charge of the United States Southern Command, which is responsible for bombing boats from Venezuela that are allegedly carrying drugs and run by drug smugglers who are now characterized as “narco-terrorists” to make their high seas murder less offensive, at least to those who aren’t troubled by murders of those claimed to be drug smugglers if you’re inclined to trust the Trump administration.

They could have been interdicted. They could have ascertained whether they were, in fact, carrying drugs and then had the drugs seized and the people on the boat prosecuted. Instead, they were just murdered, the only evidence of their conduct based on trusting the Trump administration not to lie or be wrong.

Less than one year into a three-year term of command, Admiral Holsey has announced his retirement. 

It was unclear why Admiral Holsey is suddenly departing, less than a year into what is typically a three-year job, and in the midst of the biggest operation in his 37-year career. But one current and one former U.S. official, both of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters, said that Admiral Holsey had raised concerns about the mission and the attacks on the alleged drug boats.

Secretary of Defense War Hegseth thanked Holsey for his service, which no doubt gave the admiral a warm and fuzzy feeling.

In a statement on social media, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made no mention of any friction with his four-star commander. “On behalf of the Department of War,” said Mr. Hegseth, using the name of the department he now prefers, “we extend our deepest gratitude to Admiral Alvin Holsey for his more than 37 years of distinguished service to our nation as he plans to retire at year’s end.”

But is it normal that a commander leave his post in this way?

But other officials at the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill said the praise masked real policy tensions concerning Venezuela that the admiral and his civilian boss were seeking to paper over.

“Prior to Trump, I can’t think of a combatant commander who left his or her post early, ever,” said Representative Adam Smith of Washington, the senior Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee.

What is the message Holsey’s retirement sends to those under his command?

Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, was even more pointed in his criticism.

“At a moment when U.S. forces are building up across the Caribbean and tensions with Venezuela are at a boiling point, the departure of our top military commander in the region sends an alarming signal of instability within the chain of command,” Mr. Reed said in a statement.

Perhaps Admiral Holsey will have his say once he’s left the service. As an active duty admiral, it would be inappropriate for him to openly challenge the SecDef and Commander-in-Chief’s orders to murder people in international waters. That’s the thing about people who have honor in a nation where some no longer appreciate it. Unless and until Holsey says so himself, anonymous sources can no more be relied upon to explain his motivations than they can to condemn random people in boats to deserve to be murdered.

One of the huge questions that remains unanswered is whether American military leaders will obey orders to act illegally. Hegseth has made it overwhelmingly clear that he cares nothing about the legalities of military action. Trump wouldn’t know or care if it bit him in the butt. But generals and admirals, even those who support Trump, might reach the point where being complicit in criminal conduct is a line they refuse to cross.

Will the military leadership hold when it’s ordered to commit crimes? Thus far, the evidence is equivocal. No one has yet refused to send in National Guard or regular military troops to engage in war with fellow Americans on the streets of cities that are only war zones in Trump’s wet dreams. They carry military weapons. Do they plan to use them against their fellow Americans who are dressed in inflatable costumes to demonstrate the absurdity of the camo commandos?

It’s unclear whether Holsey’s leaving is the better or worse move for America. Does his departure leave open a command for someone who won’t have reservations about murdering people on the president’s say-so? Then again, if Holsey can’t tolerate being complicit in illegal military operations, what choice does he have but to walk away? For a man of honor, the options are limited, but when honorable men depart, they leave only people who have no honor in charge.