Pardon me, I’m a convicted war criminal

May 6: On This Day In 2019

Please pull up a chair. Let us tell you about two awful incidents in Iraq and their aftermaths:

1. In 2007, four American men ambushed a group of Iraqi civilians in Baghdad’s Nisour Square. Spraying assault weapons and grenade launchers, the U.S.-paid mercenaries indiscriminately killed 14 and wounded 17 others. In a U.S. District Court, they were tried, convicted, and given sentences ranging from 12 years to life.
   

2. In 2008, Ali Mansur Mohamed was being held in U.S. military custody in Iraq. Army 1st Lt. Michael Behenna cut off his clothing and then shot him dead. In his court martial, Behenna was initially sentenced to 25 years at Leavenworth, but was later paroled having served fewer than five years.
   

Each of these five men was convicted of war crimes. Their sentencing was seen around the world as an encouraging sign about the rectitude of the United States. Yes, our people had behaved horribly, but our justice system operated independently and held them accountable. Presumably that accountability would rein in any inclination of other Americans to misbehave while soldiering or working abroad.

But then along came Donald Trump. He decided to undo whatever good had come out of this ugliness. So OTDI 2019 he pardoned Behenna, and during his final month in office he used some of his remaining time to pardon the Nisour Square mercenaries.

These are believed to be the only times a US president has used his pardon power to absolve convicted war criminals.

Trump believes himself to be Justice. (OpenArt.ai)

Trump’s choice dismayed the world. "I think what that does is it sends the wrong message to...the rest of the world, that the pillars of justice upon which the United States is based on has a crack in it," said Paul Dickinson, a lawyer for some of the victims’ families, in the Military Times.

He continued: "We showed the world that we were going to hold people accountable. (But now) we've backed off that. The risk is now that the U.S., who has a presence worldwide, has exposure for how they might be treated — or what people of other countries might think.”

The U.N. Human Rights Office weighed in, concluding they were "deeply concerned" by Trump's pardon of the four contractors.

In the eyes of many abroad, American "strength" is demonstrated when we do the right thing. In the eyes of Donald Trump, "strength" is proven by never admitting wrongdoing and never apologizing. The convictions presumably offended his sensibilities. Presumably he also felt his pardons would elevate his standing among certain U.S. constituencies who appreciate "retribution."

Dive Deeper

• NPR’s reported on the Behenna pardon

• NPR also had the story on the first set of convictions and, later, on the shock of Trump's pardons.

• Dan Maurer proposes a war crime pardon

• The Military Times quotes Dickinson

• Here are three more war criminals Trump pardoned

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Summary: Trump pardons convicted war criminals; damages U.S. reputation