I didn't see anything in the linked article about granting a pardon.
A pardon for what convicted offense? The bastards have never even been charged (here at home).
What Obama has done is declare them immune -- not only from punishment but from formal accusation. This is analogous to the
Divine Right of Kings and flies in the face of the most basic principles of our democratic system, brazenly ignoring the Rule of Law.
The totally controlled mainstream media hasn't mentioned it and Obama would not do this were he not fully confident that the American People will quietly tolerate if not totally ignore it.
However, if Obama did grant a pardon, it could be a good thing. As I understand, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court gives the International Criminal Court jurisdiction when the accused's country refuses to act. That means Bush, Cheney, et. al. could be prosecuted internationally for the war crimes.
You're right.
However, the World Court at The Hague has already indicted Bush in absentia and will arrest him if they can get their hands on him, which they never will.
Our most current governments have transformed America into a widely feared and despised nation of bullying criminals. As such our days are numbered.
"A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves." (Edward R. Murrow)