I should add, that were George Washington the President today, he would have Bradley Manning and Beau Bergdahl shot at dawn. The terrorist would be hung.
George Washington would do it because that is the duty of the President in these situations, not because he wanted to or enjoyed it. How low we have fallen since our founding!
At a General Court Martial whereof Coll Tupper was President (10th March 1778) Lieutt Enslin of Coll Malcom’s Regiment tried for attempting to commit sodomy, with John Monhort a soldier; Secondly, For Perjury in swearing to false Accounts, found guilty of the charges exhibited against him, being breaches of 5th Article 18th Section of the Articles of War and do sentence him to be dismiss’d the service with Infamy—His Excellency the Commander in Chief approves the sentence and with Abhorrence & Detestation of such Infamous Crimes orders Lieutt Enslin to be drummed out of Camp tomorrow morning by all the Drummers and Fifers in the Army never to return; The Drummers and Fifers to attend on the Grand Parade at Guard mounting for that Purpose.
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-14-02-0138