Let them all refuse in all branches one after the other... it will only go so far... before the Syrian war effort would collapse. But I think far too many high ranking career officers will do nothing as they cherish their careers more than the country - more than doing what is right ...
An example of this failure to refuse an unlawful orders - there should have been a stand down in Afghanistan due to the Rules of Engagement and other ridiculous rules that have endangered soldiers lives in that war which has become a fiasco - NO GENERAL - NO COLONEL should ever have fielded troops under those conditions - but they would not refuse due to being cowards. Any such ROE put forth in the Vietnam War would have resulted in some senior officers getting shot ... there were ROE restrictions in the Vietnam War - but nothing like the craziness that goes on in Afghanistan.
Refusing Unlawful Orders is a good idea except when the senior officers are cowards
The ROE problems you mentioned caused me to do a double take also. I agree with you here.