Tag

#war-crimes

Serious violations of the laws and customs of war as defined in the Geneva Conventions and Rome Statute, including attacks on civilians, use of prohibited weapons, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and denial of humanitarian access.

2 incidents

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

War Criminal Pardons: Gallagher, Lorance, Golsteyn — Undermining Military Justice

The Gallagher case was the most prominent: he had been reported by his own platoon members, who described him as 'freaking evil' and said they feared he would shoot civilians and colleagues. He was convicted by court-martial of posing with a corpse but acquitted of murder after a key prosecution witness changed his testimony. Trump followed the verdict by restoring Gallagher's rank and then, overriding Defense Secretary Esper's objections, blocking the Navy SEALs from removing Gallagher's Trident pin (the insignia of qualification). Navy Secretary Richard Spencer was fired after he sought a compromise with the White House outside normal channels. The pardons were condemned by military ethics experts as undermining the uniform code and the military's commitment to the laws of armed conflict.

Grade 5 of 5: International Crime (Rome Statute)

Saudi Arms Deals and Complicity in Yemen War Crimes

Trump's first foreign trip was to Riyadh, where he announced a $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia. The U.S. continued to provide refueling, intelligence, and targeting support for Saudi-led coalition strikes in Yemen throughout the first term, even as the UN documented mass civilian casualties, attacks on protected sites, and a blockade causing mass starvation. Congress passed a War Powers resolution to end U.S. involvement, which Trump vetoed in April 2019, and he vetoed three resolutions disapproving arms sales in July 2019.