War crimes and pardons

Pardons in the context of war crimes continue to make the news. War on the Rocks offers this essay by Andrew M. Bell and Thomas Gift. The authors conclude:

We understand the deep opposition to [Pres. Donald J.] Trump’s pardons — and we share it. We don’t think his actions completely decimate the law of war or imply that the vast majority of U.S. military personnel won’t continue to advance its principles. Yet they undoubtedly raise serious concerns about ensuring compliance with the laws of war and about maintaining the distinctive culture of the U.S. military. Ultimately, pardons for war crimes (and other similar dismissals of the law of war) will harm the U.S. military’s potential to maintain the highest values of professionalism and honor — values that have long been its hallmarks.