Donald Trump is surrounding himself with war criminals because they share a philosophy that laws only apply to others and cruelty is a convenient means of achieving your own ends.
America has a long and sordid history of lionizing unconvicted war criminals, shielding them, hiding their cruelty, but this open embrace of convicted criminals is a troubling escalation that only further proves Trump has overwhelming dictatorial impulses.
The essence of fascism is that laws exist to bind others, to hinder enemies, enabling the power group to act beyond those limitations as they’re bound by nobler purposes. That’s been here for centuries, but it’s been hidden. This openness is a sign of escalation.
