Yaqeen Blog

In the world of international law, the term War Criminal is a serious label. It refers to a person who is responsible for "War Crimes"—actions that break the global rules meant to keep war from becoming a total massacre of innocent people. These rules, known as the Geneva Conventions, are like a "World Law" that says you cannot intentionally hurt civilians, torture prisoners, or destroy homes and hospitals without a clear military reason.

This piece looks at ten major American leaders who have been accused of breaking these rules. While none of them were ever officially convicted in a world court, their decisions led to the deaths of millions of people. Understanding these cases is the only way to see how real power actually works behind the scenes.

According to international treaties like the Geneva Conventions, war crimes include things like:

• Intentionally killing or mistreating civilians.

• Torture or inhumane treatment of prisoners.

• Destroying homes, schools, or hospitals that have no military use.

• Launching attacks that they know will cause excessive death to innocent people.

The individuals below are some of the most prominent U.S. leaders who have faced serious, documented allegations of war crimes by human rights organizations, international lawyers, or foreign governments.

1. Henry Kissinger (Secretary of State, 1973–1977)

Kissinger is perhaps the most frequently cited figure in discussions of U.S. war crimes. His "realpolitik" approach—putting U.S. power above all else—led to interventions that caused massive loss of life.

• The Allegations: Secretly carpet-bombing neutral Cambodia, supporting the "dirty wars" in Argentina and Chile, and greenlighting the Indonesian invasion of East Timor.

• Estimated Lives Lost: 3 million to 4 million across Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Bangladesh, and East Timor.

• Wikipedia Profile

2. George W. Bush (President, 2001–2009)

Bush is accused primarily for his decision to launch the "unlawful" invasion of Iraq based on false intelligence regarding weapons of mass destruction.

• The Allegations: Waging a "war of aggression," authorizing "enhanced interrogation" (torture) at sites like Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay, and failing to protect civilians during the occupation.

• Estimated Lives Lost: 100,000 to over 600,000 Iraqis (depending on the study) during the invasion and subsequent sectarian violence.

• Wikipedia Profile

3. Harry S. Truman (President, 1945–1953)

The debate over Truman centers on his final decision to use atomic weapons, making him the only leader in history to use nuclear arms in war.

• The Allegations: Intentionally targeting civilian populations in Hiroshima and Nagasaki with a weapon of mass destruction, which many argue was militarily unnecessary.

• Estimated Lives Lost: 129,000 to 226,000, mostly civilians, killed instantly or by radiation.

• Wikipedia Profile

4. Dick Cheney (Vice President, 2001–2009)

As the "architect" of the War on Terror, Cheney is accused of pushing for policies that bypassed both international law and the U.S. Constitution.

• The Allegations: Promoting the use of torture, illegal mass surveillance, and overseeing the invasion of Panama in 1989 (as Secretary of Defense) which killed thousands of civilians.

• Estimated Lives Lost: Included in the 4.5 million deaths associated with post-9/11 war zones (Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen).

• Wikipedia Profile

5. Donald Rumsfeld (Secretary of Defense, 2001–2006)

Rumsfeld was the direct supervisor of the military during the height of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

• The Allegations: Specifically approving interrogation techniques that constituted torture and being "repeatedly notified" of prisoner abuse but failing to stop it.

• Estimated Lives Lost: Significant portion of the hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan.

• Wikipedia Profile

6. Barack Obama (President, 2009–2017)

While seen as a diplomat, Obama’s massive expansion of the drone program has led to accusations from groups like Amnesty International.

• The Allegations: Ordering "double-tap" drone strikes (striking rescuers helping the first victims) and the "surgical" bombing of countries where the U.S. was not officially at war.

• Estimated Lives Lost: Between 384 and 807 civilians in Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen, plus thousands of combatants.

• Wikipedia Profile

7. Ronald Reagan (President, 1981–1989)

Reagan’s focus on the Cold War led to the support of violent regimes in Latin America.

• The Allegations: Funding "death squads" in El Salvador and the Contras in Nicaragua, even after Congress made it illegal.

• Estimated Lives Lost: 75,000 in El Salvador and 30,000 in Nicaragua.

• Wikipedia Profile

8. Lyndon B. Johnson (President, 1963–1969)

LBJ oversaw the largest escalation of the Vietnam War.

• The Allegations: Ordering "search and destroy" missions and the massive aerial bombing of North Vietnam (Operation Rolling Thunder), which resulted in high civilian casualties.

• Estimated Lives Lost: 1 million to 3 million Vietnamese (combatants and civilians combined).

• Wikipedia Profile

9. Bill Clinton (President, 1993–2001)

The most specific allegation against Clinton involves a single strike with long-lasting consequences.

• The Allegations: The 1998 bombing of the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Sudan, which the U.S. claimed was a chemical weapons plant. It was actually a medicine factory, and its loss led to thousands of indirect deaths from disease.

• Estimated Lives Lost: Tens of thousands of Sudanese due to the loss of malaria and TB medicine.

• Wikipedia Profile

10. Donald Trump (President, 2017–2021)

Trump is accused of loosening the "rules of engagement," which led to a spike in civilian casualties during his term.

• The Allegations: Indiscriminate bombing of cities like Raqqa and Mosul and removing requirements to report civilian deaths from CIA drone strikes.

• Estimated Lives Lost: Thousands of non-combatants; Airwars alleged a record 1,000 non-combatant deaths in just one month (March 2017).

• Wikipedia Profile

The Lesson: Why This List Exists

This list is a way to look at the "Chain of Command." In war, the person who pulls the trigger is usually a soldier, but the person who made the crime possible is the leader who gave the order. These leaders often say they did these things to "protect the country," but historians and lawyers argue that no goal is worth breaking the basic laws of humanity.

By looking at these names, we can see that having "Real Power" also means having a huge responsibility. When a leader ignores the rules of war, it isn't just a political mistake—it's a choice that changes the lives of millions of people forever.

While the world's eyes are glued to the headlines in Europe and the Middle East, a "crisis of staggering proportions" is unfolding in Sudan. In 2025, Sudan has officially become home to the largest displacement crisis on Earth. In a harrowing new report from Unreported World, veteran journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy gains rare, dangerous access to the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan—a region where a million people are currently standing on the edge of a famine that the world is choosing to ignore.

1. The Numbers of a Nightmare

The statistics coming out of Sudan in 2025 are difficult to comprehend. The brutal war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has ripped the country apart.

• 11.3 Million Displaced: More people have been forced from their homes in Sudan than in any other conflict globally.

• 30 Million in Need: Over half the population now requires urgent humanitarian assistance just to stay alive.

• The Famine Threshold: Famine has been formally declared in parts of the country, specifically targeting the most vulnerable in the Nuba Mountains and North Darfur.

2. The Nurse of the Nuba: Nafisa Abdulrahim

Guru-Murthy’s investigation centers on Nafisa Abdulrahim, a nurse who has become a lone beacon of hope for over 5,000 displaced people. Operating with almost zero supplies, Nafisa’s daily reality is a catalogue of human suffering.

Through her eyes, we see the true face of the Sudan Famine 2025: hungry children lining up for hours, skeletal old men dying in isolation, and a community forced into "survival scavenging." When aid is blocked and the world turns its back, people are left with no choice but to eat leaves, insects, and even rats just to stop their stomachs from cramping.

3. War Crimes and the Weaponization of Rape

The report doesn't just document hunger; it documents atrocities. The Nuba Mountains have become a refuge for those fleeing "systemic ethnic cleansing" by the RSF.

"I saw seven Nuba men killed in cold blood by soldiers."

This testimony is just one of many. Survivors speak of a deliberate campaign of sexual violence and executions used as weapons of war. The UN has received reports of mass rapes and the targeted killing of non-Arab ethnic groups, adding to the mounting evidence of war crimes being committed with total impunity.

4. Why is the World Silent?

The "Global Silence" on Sudan is perhaps the most devastating part of the crisis. While the Rapid Support Forces tighten their grip on western and central regions, aid convoys are being blocked, warehouses looted, and local aid workers murdered.

As Guru-Murthy highlights, this isn't just a natural disaster; it is a man-made extermination. The intentional destruction of the agricultural season and the siege of cities like Kadugli mean that for the people of the Nuba Mountains, time is running out.

The Bottom Line

Sudan in 2025 is a warning to the world. It is what happens when a nation is left to burn in a vacuum of international neglect. The people of the Nuba Mountains don't need our "thoughts and prayers"—they need unfettered humanitarian access and an immediate end to the cycle of impunity.

In 2003, the UK was on the edge of a geopolitical meltdown. The government, led by Tony Blair, was pushing hard to join the U.S. in the invasion of Iraq. The justification? Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs). But behind the polished headlines was a messy, high-stakes battle over the truth that ended in the tragic death of a world-class scientist, Dr. David Kelly.

If you think modern politics is toxic, the Kelly Affair was the original "glitch in the system" that changed how the public views the government forever. This is the investigation into the dossier that was "sexed up," the whistleblower who was "hunted," and the aftermath that still haunts British politics today.

1. The Vibe: The "Sexed Up" Dossier 📂

In September 2002, the British government published a report known as the "September Dossier." It claimed that Saddam Hussein had WMDs that could be launched within 45 minutes. This specific detail was the "hook" used to convince Parliament and the public that war was inevitable and urgent.

• The Leak: In May 2003, BBC journalist Andrew Gilligan reported on the Today programme that a senior official had told him the dossier was "sexed up" (exaggerated) at the last minute to make it more "sexy" for the media.

• The Source: That source was Dr. David Kelly, a biological weapons expert and former UN inspector who had visited Iraq 37 times. He wasn't a rebel; he was a man of science who felt the intelligence didn't match the government’s loud rhetoric.

2. The Struggle: The Man in the Middle 🎤

Once the BBC story broke, Downing Street went into full "crisis mode." They didn't just deny the story; they declared war on the BBC. The government demanded the name of the source.

• The Unmasking: Dr. Kelly eventually confessed to his bosses at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) that he had spoken to Gilligan off-the-record. Instead of protecting him, the government leaked his name to the press.

• The "Fall-Guy": Kelly was hauled before the Foreign Affairs Committee for a televised hearing. He was grilled aggressively by MPs who called him a "fall-guy" and "chaff." Two days later, on July 17, 2003, Dr. Kelly walked to a woods near his home and took his own life.

📊 The Kelly Affair: The 45-Minute Reality Check

3. The Break: The Hutton Inquiry & the "Whitewash" 🌍

After Kelly’s death, the government launched the Hutton Inquiry to investigate the circumstances. When the report was released in 2004, it was a massive shock.

• The Verdict: Lord Hutton cleared the government of almost all wrongdoing and laid the blame squarely on the BBC’s "defective" editorial processes.

• The Fallout: The BBC’s Chairman and Director-General resigned. However, the public didn't buy it. A poll showed that only 10% of people trusted the Hutton Report, with many calling it a "whitewash."

The real damage was done to Tony Blair's "whiter than white" reputation. The trust between the British public and the government was shattered, a rift that arguably paved the way for the skepticism and "post-truth" politics we see today.

Real Talk: Why This Matters for Gen Z

We live in an era of "fake news" and "alternative facts," but the Kelly Affair proves that this isn't new. It was a masterclass in how power can be used to silence those who question the official narrative.

The Takeaway:

1. Question the Narrative: Don't take "intelligence reports" at face value. Data can be framed to suit a political agenda.

2. Protect Whistleblowers: Dr. Kelly’s death led to massive changes in how the civil service handles internal dissent. We need brave voices like his.

3. Integrity is Everything: Once a government loses the trust of its people, it is incredibly hard to get back.

🔗 Reliable & Reputable Sources

• The Hutton Inquiry - Full Evidence: http://www.the-hutton-inquiry.org.uk/

• BBC News - The Death of Dr. David Kelly: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-11603527

• The Guardian - A Life in Pieces: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/sep/28/davidkelly.uk

• UK Parliament - Foreign Affairs Committee Minutes: https://publications.parliament.uk/

"Nothing should detract from Dr. Kelly's fine record of public service... but his death remains the ultimate price for telling the truth."

Do you think the government was directly responsible for Dr. Kelly's death, or was he a victim of a media storm?

The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) is a leading force in the fight for human rights and social justice. Utilizing creative legal strategies, CCR challenges government and corporate abuse, ensuring that constitutional rights and civil liberties are protected for all citizens.

From fighting Mass Incarceration and Racial Injustice to protecting LGBTQI rights and demanding accountability for Guantanamo and Torture, War Crimes, & Militarism, CCR litigates landmark cases that transform legal and political systems. Follow CCR's work to stay informed about your rights and how they are working to secure justice and systemic change across America.

The official website for the Center for Constitutional Rights is: ccrjustice.org