# Trump planning to pardon accused US war criminals **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 18, 2019, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-planning-to-pardon-accused-us-war-criminals/834169 "2019-05-18T23:12:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2019, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-planning-to-pardon-accused-us-war-criminals/834169/1 "2019-05-18T23:12:13Z")
Not really a surprise , he wants them done quickly too. > **[New York Times: Trump requests paperwork to pardon accused US war criminals |...](https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/18/politics/donald-trump-war-crime-pardons/index.html)** > > President Donald Trump has requested paperwork allowing him to move forward quickly with pardons for accused US war criminals, The New York Times reported Saturday. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2019, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-planning-to-pardon-accused-us-war-criminals/834169/2 "2019-05-18T23:34:00Z")
In Trump’s mind, I’m sure he sees no problem in honoring [del]accused war criminals[/del] manly warriors on the day we honor our fallen warriors. ---
**Author:** ![HowSoonIsThen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@HowSoonIsThen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HowSoonIsThen)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-planning-to-pardon-accused-us-war-criminals/834169/3 "2019-05-19T01:43:09Z")
Well, of course he is. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-planning-to-pardon-accused-us-war-criminals/834169/4 "2019-05-19T01:57:36Z")
It’s mainly to emphasize how badly he supports our troops, and whatever they do in the service of their country ain’t so bad as long as they just keep letting the whole bone spurs thing slide, heh-heh, we’re not gonna ever mention that out loud, right guys? I’m on your side, here, really, heh-heh. Wanna buy a bridge? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-planning-to-pardon-accused-us-war-criminals/834169/5 "2019-05-19T02:08:33Z")
Well, he just pardoned a felonious [del]Canadian[/del] British lord, so he’s on a roll! ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-planning-to-pardon-accused-us-war-criminals/834169/6 "2019-05-19T02:54:49Z")
We imprison immigrant children and pardon war criminals. The new United States seems sort of shitty. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-planning-to-pardon-accused-us-war-criminals/834169/7 "2019-05-19T05:05:47Z")
Accused has a specific meaning. It doesn’t mean they _are_ war criminals. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-planning-to-pardon-accused-us-war-criminals/834169/8 "2019-05-19T05:18:22Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Accused has a specific meaning. It doesn’t mean they _are_ war criminals. Maybe should get into that whole due process and investigation instead of a blanket pardon then, yes ? ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-planning-to-pardon-accused-us-war-criminals/834169/9 "2019-05-19T13:31:41Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Accused has a specific meaning. It doesn’t mean they _are_ war criminals. At some point it becomes easier to simply acknowledge that Trump is doing something wrong rather than make arguments like this one to try to make these things acceptable. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-planning-to-pardon-accused-us-war-criminals/834169/10 "2019-05-19T15:19:06Z")
I guess it’s less embarrassing to try to convince us we aren’t seeing what we’re seeing than it is to admit they support a lowlife. You’ll recall how Republicans insisted that waterboarding isn’t torture so they could pretend they weren’t cheering on a torturer. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-planning-to-pardon-accused-us-war-criminals/834169/11 "2019-05-19T15:48:02Z")
Dude was repeatedly reported by his own unit. Read this thread and tell me this dude deserves a pardon and not a trial. > ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-planning-to-pardon-accused-us-war-criminals/834169/12 "2019-05-19T16:19:22Z")
Can the commander-in-chief get a dishonorable discharge? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-planning-to-pardon-accused-us-war-criminals/834169/13 "2019-05-19T16:23:07Z")
This should come as no surprise to people who took note of the Trump administration dismantling the FBI unit that investigates these so called war crimes. Being shocked at this is like being shocked at the US government turning a blind eye to white supremacist goons doing their thing. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-planning-to-pardon-accused-us-war-criminals/834169/14 "2019-05-19T16:42:25Z")
Trump’s just building up some Presidential Pardon momentum. He’s going to be needing one himself. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-planning-to-pardon-accused-us-war-criminals/834169/15 "2019-05-19T17:36:32Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Accused has a specific meaning. It doesn’t mean they _are_ war criminals. I think it means that now we are the war criminals and have become a rogue nation where anything is permitted. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-planning-to-pardon-accused-us-war-criminals/834169/16 "2019-05-19T17:51:17Z")
Pardoning these folks before they’ve even gone to trial is absolutely insane. Some of them were accused of deliberately targeting (and murdering) non-combatant children, for god’s sake. Punishing war criminals (and investigating/trying suspected war criminals) is vitally important to our long-term national security. This is just colossally dangerous, in addition to being morally unconscionable. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-planning-to-pardon-accused-us-war-criminals/834169/17 "2019-05-19T18:03:22Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Dude was repeatedly reported by his own unit. Read this thread and tell me this dude deserves a pardon and not a trial. > > [https://twitter.com/scotthech/status/1129900629382586368?s=21](https://twitter.com/scotthech/status/1129900629382586368?s=21) ““One day, from his sniper nest, Chief Gallagher shot a girl in a flower-print hijab who was walking w/ other girls on the riverbank. She dropped, clutching her stomach, & the other girls dragged her away.” Trump is preparing to pardon this war criminal.” MAGA! ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-planning-to-pardon-accused-us-war-criminals/834169/18 "2019-05-19T18:43:38Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Accused has a specific meaning. It doesn’t mean they _are_ war criminals. [https://edition.cnn.com/2018/11/16/politics/navy-seal-murder-shooting/index.html](https://edition.cnn.com/2018/11/16/politics/navy-seal-murder-shooting/index.html) (CNN)Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher is being charged by the Navy with stabbing and murdering a wounded person, shooting at noncombatants, posing for a photo and performing his re-enlistment ceremony next to a dead body. Gallagher is being charged with various violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice while deployed to Mosul, Iraq, in 2017, related to the various incidents. Gallagher “did … with premeditation, murder a wounded male person” under his care by “stabbing him in the neck and body with a knife” while battling ISIS in Mosul in May 2017, according to the charge sheet dated Friday. > > > The New York Times @nytimes 1. As a former career prosecutor, including 6 years as an Army JAG, this makes me sick. Please bear with me as this will take a minute: Our military criminal justice system protects the rights of soldiers accused of crimes as well as, if not better then, many civilian systems… Gallagher is at least in part on trial because he took a captured 15-year-old ISIS combatant who SEAL medics were tending to and [murdered him with a hunting knife](https://twitter.com/ScottHech/status/1129904107064631296). I don’t know what you thought this post was adding to the conversation, or why you think it’s necessary to stand up for someone who is currently on trial because his squadmates reported him butchering an unarmed, restrained captive, but… …There is no but. There is no good thing here. Nothing about the post you made makes the world a better place. If you want to defend the president on instinct (why you’d want to do that is beyond me) but don’t know the first thing about what he’s actually doing, just preface your post with “I know literally nothing about the case at hand, but…” to make it clear that what you’re posting is simply senseless and not monstrous. 🙂 Alternatively, if you want to stand up for the president pardoning bloodthirsty, racist serial killers, then just be honest about it. Be honest that you have no problems with a soldier butchering an unarmed captive with a knife. Be honest that you have no problems with snipers murdering unarmed civilians and children. Just don’t expect any of the rest of us to not react with shock, horror, and disgust at how fucking awful that is. Meanwhile, in reality, this is scary for a number of reasons. The president is explicitly pardoning bloodthirsty murderers. The message being sent here is clear - if you murder people the president doesn’t like, he’ll pardon you. That’s… fucking terrifying, honestly. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-planning-to-pardon-accused-us-war-criminals/834169/19 "2019-05-19T18:54:30Z")
To that I have to add that it would be less likely that other nations would be willing to keep American troops in their soil, because, while it was bad enough that some abuses are ignored; at least they knew that clear abuses by the military would give a good chance for the ones abused or their relatives an opportunity to seek justice. With a clown like Trump that opportunity, though not as big as I’m aware of, is completely neutralized and it leads to less support or compliance from the governments and population that are our allies. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-planning-to-pardon-accused-us-war-criminals/834169/20 "2019-05-19T19:05:17Z")
Yeah - this is one of those things that is both awful all on its own and awful in its ripple effects. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-planning-to-pardon-accused-us-war-criminals/834169.md?page=2)