Editor's note: Chris Hawke is a graduate of the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and a journalist who has reported for over two decades from Beijing, New York, the United Nations, Tokyo, Bangkok, Islamabad, and Kabul for AP, UPI, and CBS. The article reflects the author's views and not necessarily those of CGTN.

The Navy Seals are an elite and close-knit brotherhood, who conduct special operations and engage in unconventional warfare. Navy recruitment materials boast of SEALs "absolute dedication" to their fellow team members.

Nonetheless, seven members of Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher's platoon, frustrated that their complaints about his behavior, including war crimes, were being ignored by the chain of command, reported their concerns outside the SEALs, forcing a court-martial.

The whistle-blowers accused Gallagher of stabbing a captive to death, killing an old man and a teenage girl with a sniper rifle, and randomly spraying neighborhoods with machine-gun and rocket fire, among other things.

Before and during the trial, Gallagher's wife and brother repeatedly advocated for him on Fox News and other right-wing media outlets, saying he was the victim of malicious lies by his subordinates who could not live up to his high standards.

Republican congressmen and eventually President Donald Trump rallied behind him. Before his trial, Gallagher was being kept in the brig for allegedly threatening those who would testify against him. But at the urging of the President, he was moved into "less restrictive confinement."

During the trial, one of the key witnesses, who had been granted immunity from prosecution, testified that he, not Gallagher, had killed the prisoner. Other witnesses refused to testify, citing their right against self-incrimination. A trial was held, and Gallagher, who was highly decorated and well-respected by his superior officers, was acquitted on all charges but one – posing in a "trophy" photo with a dead captive.

After the trial, the four prosecutors were given Navy Achievement Medals, but Trump shortly after tweeted, "I have directed the Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer & Chief of Naval Operations John Richardson to immediately withdraw and rescind the awards."

After Gallagher's conviction, the Navy demoted him, but Trump intervened and reversed the decision. In defiance of Trump, the Navy moved ahead with plans to oust him from his unit and revoke his membership in the SEALs. On Thursday, the President intervened again, saying that the commando should not be ousted.

Trump tweeted, "The Navy will NOT be taking away Warfighter and Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher's Trident Pin," adding, "This case was handled very badly from the beginning. Get back to business!"

Gallagher fought with great bravery and valor in the SEALs for many years, winning many medals and awards. Trump and the conservative media rallied behind him for this reason, and also because of a conviction that if you send a man into war and ask him to kill, bad things are bound to happen, and should be overlooked.

Although Trump himself evaded military service due to "bone spurs" during the Vietnam war, he likes to identify himself with the armed forces and has nurtured an aggressively masculine persona. For example, on the question of torture, he has said, "Torture works. OK, folks?… But we should go much stronger than waterboarding."

On November 24, Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, who pushed back against Trump's tweet demanding that Gallagher remain a SEAL, was ousted. Trump said this was because of the way Gallagher's trial was handled, and "large cost overruns from past administrations contracting procedures" that were "not addressed to my satisfaction."

Spenser, in his letter acknowledging his termination, wrote, "One of the most important responsibilities I have to our people is to maintain good order and discipline throughout the ranks. I regard this as deadly serious business."

"Unfortunately, it has become apparent that in this respect, I no longer share the same understanding with the Commander in Chief who appointed me, in regards to the key principle of good order and discipline. I cannot in good conscience obey an order that I believe violates the sacred oath I took."

It is not hard to imagine Trump looking at the case of Gallagher and seeing a reflection of himself. Gallagher was turned in by whistle-blowers. He was accused of the gravest of crimes. He allegedly tried to intimidate witnesses into silence. Despite damning evidence against him, including a photo of a dead man and an apparent confession, he escaped conviction. Gallagher is seen by his right-wing supporters as a little guy trying to do good who was pressed down by a stagnant and corrupt bureaucracy. Trump paints himself in similar terms.

Trump sees himself as a warrior, perhaps ignoring some regulations for the sake of the greater goal of fighting for the people who elected him. People like Trump can never believe or understand that some people actually believe, live by, or even fight for process, rules and honor.

Spencer wrote in his letter acknowledging his termination, "The rule of law is what sets us apart from our adversaries." However, Trump's actions in the Gallagher matter and many others show he has no regard for process, honor, or the rule of law. Under Trump's leadership, less and less separates the U.S. from its adversaries each day.

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