In early 2003, as a cavalry officer, I stood in front of my scout platoon at dusk after a long day preparing to deploy to Iraq. I spoke with them about the law of war and how they should treat civilians when we got into theater. It wasn't a long conversation, but I felt that giving clear guidance about what was acceptable - and not acceptable - was important. They should treat the civilians as they would neighbors, I told them.
On Monday, President Donald Trump pardoned the convicted war criminal Michael Behenna, who had murdered Ali Mansur, an unarmed, naked Iraqi, by shooting him in the head and chest.