>Larry,
>
>This provides some interesting facts around my belief that US has been
>mistreating prisoners for years. The good news about the Iraqi prisoner
>scandal is that perhaps it will bring to light long-time practices and create
>a solid dialogue. For example, is it all right to keep someone awake for days
>in order to gain information that might save thousands of lives? How about
>making hold uncomfortable positions for long, painful time? Is it clearly
>that no mistreatment is acceptable for any reason or is the line somewhere
>else.
You mean the ticking time bomb argument. if it were a day or two and
you knew where it was then it is within the realm of possibly being
justifiable. I don't think that the argument can apply when its done
over several months period, and applying the duress across all
prisoners. Also the legal experts I've been listening to,
specifically on NPR and CBC, have suggested that even then those
applying these methods, and those authorizing them are still liable.
One retired Navy JAG said likened it killing in self defense. You
still are liable.
>It was easy for us to take the highroad when there were not USA lives on the
>line. How about now when these forms of torture could save lives?
see my answers above. But in brief it may apply to immediate cases
but not when the prisoner has been detained for months already.
>
>This is NOT unique to the US, but is still a world-wide issue. The Geneva
>conventions never produced the dialogue necessary for ordinary people to gain
>consensus and clearly the UN or any other international organization never
>have any teeth for enforcement.
The Geneva Conventions are very clear, and the US is both a signatory
and an enforcing power. Therefore it has some teeth. Moreover, the US
military's own codes and regulations of conduct do list the Geneva
conventions as having the force of military law.
I'll be quoting the appropriate parts of the conventions (1949) in
the next part.
larry
--
Larry C. Lyons
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Life is Complex. It has both real and imaginary parts.
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Chaos, Panic and Disorder. My work here is done.
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