   Should the United States be bound by international law? Donald Trump doesnât think so nor does his defense secretary. Last January President Trump told the New York Times, âI donât need international law.â According to Pete Hegseth, âWe will keep pushing, keep advancing, no quarter, no mercy for our enemies.â Not only has âno quarterâ been considered a war crime since the 1899 Hague Convention; it violates the United State War Crimes statute which has a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Hegseth has dismissed such concerns as âstupid rules of engagement.â Nor is it likely that the Trump administration would prosecute him for following the orders of the President.