[katbyte]

“I was just following orders” = “I was just following the law”

we do not allow soldiers to get away with war crimes because of it, why should police be any different?

[relaxing]

War crimes are an example of not following the law. (And we frequently let them get away with it anyway.)

Not that I’m in favor of any of this, just saying the analogy has diverged from the topic at hand.

[katbyte]

international law.

often legal by their countries law hence the excuse "i was just following orders/my laws" being similar to cops "following the law" even in the clear face of it being wrong