The president of the United States wields enormous constitutional power. His power as commander in chief of the armed forces is particularly sweeping. His power to pardon is nearly absolute. And a rouge president is almost unconstrained, except by congressional removal from office or politically through the power of the electorate.
A pardon by President Donald Trump of military personnel who have been convicted of battlefield crimes or are pending general court-martial would be enormously damaging to the values of the U.S. armed forces. He should not take this action.
I am the first to admit that small-unit, direct combat is brutalizing and raw.