The president always has the option to dismiss any of his cabinet secretaries, so it's not really a breakdown of the democratic order. On the scale of the pres

The president always has the option to dismiss any of his cabinet secretaries, so it's not really a breakdown of the democratic order. On the scale of the presidency not carrying out some particular bombing raid is like some minion in an office setting not complying with an order from his boss because he knows it's the right thing. You're somewhat risking your job, and if the boss really cared he could get it done with or without your malicious non-compliance.