--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: War crimes will be prosecuted. War…" description: "\"War crimes will be prosecuted. War criminals will be punished. And it will be no defense to say, 'I was just following orders.'\" — George W. Bush" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5c/george-w-bush-64_crime_war-crimes-will-be-prosecuted-war-crimin_1216984.jpg" --- # War crimes will be prosecuted. War criminals will be… ![“War crimes will be prosecuted. War criminals will be punished. And it will be no defense to say, 'I was just following orders.'” quote by George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5c/george-w-bush-64_crime_war-crimes-will-be-prosecuted-war-crimin_1216984.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5c/george-w-bush-64_crime_war-crimes-will-be-prosecuted-war-crimin_1216984.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5c/george-w-bush-64_crime_war-crimes-will-be-prosecuted-war-crimin_1216984.jpg) > “War crimes will be prosecuted. War criminals will be punished. And it will be no defense to say, 'I was just following orders.'” [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Individuals cannot escape responsibility for atrocities by claiming obedience to orders; accountability must be enforced. **In simple terms:** No excuse for crimes just because you followed orders. Key Takeaway Hold perpetrators accountable regardless of orders. Themes justice responsibility law war ethics Mood serious determined Type legal political When to use this quote - military tribunals - international courts - human rights investigations - policy making Key Concepts legal accountability moral agency command responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How do we ensure commanders are held accountable? - What safeguards prevent blind obedience? A Different Perspective Enforcement depends on political will and evidence collection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Crimes Prosecuted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimes-prosecuted-3711962/) [Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminals/) [Criminals Punished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminals-punished-2571118/) [Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense/) [Following](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/following/) [Following orders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/following-orders/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Prosecuted War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosecuted-war-1814562/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War crimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-crimes/) [War Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-criminals-745573/) ## Related quotes > [“Your own politicians make our Dr. Goebbels look like a child playing with picture books in a kindergarten. 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