On the 4th of July, we celebrate our military veterans with parades, fireworks, patriotic speeches and, especially, honor the fallen who gave their lives to defend our freedom.
Yet this year, our commander in chief is considering granting pardons to convicted war criminals and military personnel who are in the midst of courts martial accused of war crimes.
The war crimes range from killing of innocent civilians, children and elderly citizens, as well as wounded combatants who were in custody. All were unarmed or unable to defend themselves.
To pardon a convicted war criminal after a military court martial is to overrule the military justice system and due process of law. To pardon before a military tribunal reaches a result obstructs the most basic tenet of the rule of law: that no one person is above the law and no one, presidential friend or foe, is entitled to special treatment.
These pardons degrade the honorable service of those veterans who abided by the U.S. Code of Military Justice and the Geneva convention. They tell our military that it is acceptable to kill innocent civilians and, worse yet, it informs the whole world, allies and enemies, that their lives are worthless.
The use of presidential pardons as a tool to reward or excuse killers who demean the values of our military veterans and the American rule of law cannot be overlooked. The 4th of July is to honor our heroes and their bravery, not to excuse killers of innocent people.
Michael McLachlan
Durango
