At 09:27 AM 1/13/2002 -0800, Doug wrote:
>John Garcia wrote: > > >>If Al Queda does not follow the Geneva Convention, if it does not adhere >>to the laws of armed conflict, why should its members be accorded the >>Convention's protections? > > >Because _we do_ follow the Geneva Convention. They aren't civilized so we >don't have to treat them in a civilized manner? > >Please note that I'm not contending that there have been rights >violations, only that as a matter of principal we should adhere to the >moral high ground despite the despicable acts that have been committed >against us. Well, my point is that Al Queda's fighters are not entitled to the protections afforded legal combatants. They are, under the provisions of the 1949 Geneva Convention, illegal combatants. The US is not required to provide the Al Queda fighters with any of the Geneva Convention's protections, and is only restrained by its laws and customs. Having said that, I am always hopeful that my country will stick to our highest principles, even in the most extreme of circumstances, since that is when it is most important that we do so. john
