US Resorts To Taking Civilains Hostages In Iraq - breaks Geneva Conv.

[protect freedom impeach bush now]

U.S. Resorts To Taking Civilains Hostages In Iraq

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54345-2003Jul27.html


BAGHDAD -- Over the past six weeks a small but intense war has been conducted in the mud-hut villages and lush palm groves along the Tigris River valley, fought with far different methods than those used in the campaign that toppled president Saddam Hussein.

As Iraqi fighters launched guerrilla strikes, the U.S. Army adopted a more nimble approach against unseen adversaries and found new ways to gather intelligence about them, according to dozens of soldiers and officers interviewed over the last week.

Col. David Hogg, commander of the 2nd Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division, said tougher methods are being used to gather the intelligence. On Wednesday night, he said, his troops picked up the wife and daughter of an Iraqi lieutenant general. They left a note: "If you want your family released, turn yourself in." Such tactics are justified, he said, because, "It's an intelligence operation with detainees, and these people have info." They would have been released in due course, he added later.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54345-2003Jul27.html

Geneva Conventions. Protocol 1

http://www.globalissuesgroup.com/geneva/protocol1.html

Art. 75.

2. The following acts are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever, whether committed by civilian or by military agents: (a) violence to the life, health, or physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular: (i) murder; (ii) torture of all kinds, whether physical or mental; (iii) corporal punishment; and (iv) mutilation;

(b) outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment, enforced prostitution and any form or indecent assault; (c) the taking of hostages; (d) collective punishments; and (e) threats to commit any of the foregoing acts.

http://www.globalissuesgroup.com/geneva/protocol1.html

------------------------------------

Once again, the Bush administration holds that only the rest of the world has to abide by International Law, not Bush.

The taking of hostages is specifically & expressly outlawed by Geneva Conventions. Protocol 1, Article 75, Section 2c.


Bush is a certified International War Criminal.
IMPEACH BUSH NOW.

[gratuitous]

1. Gee, has Al From been informed?

Surely this might be part of that 1% where the DLC is distinguishable from the Dim Son and his corrupt, murderous, greedy regime.

Or perhaps not. After all, war is heck, and Al knows that sometimes you have to break a few eggs to make your jockey change horses in midstream of consciousness.

[Loonman]

3. Al From

Should do the Dems a favor and throw himself away.

[KoKo]

2. Isn't it the responsibility of our Military Commanders in the Field to

stop this? How can officers not take responsibility for crimes? Or, has our military become "lawless" also? Surely there are officers who will not allow their men and women to be subject to court martial?

Does Great Britain and the US now rule the world??? How could this have happened. Where is the outrage?

[nostamj]

4. BushDo does not and has not respected the GC

since Afghanistan.

BushCo is ABOVE all international laws and treaties...
did you miss that memo?

Gitmo is against the GC
displaying the bodies of O&Q is against the GC
and the beat goes on...

[nannygoat]

6. This sounds like something

Saddam is purported to have done, doesn't it?

[Iverson]

11. agree, with clarification

It is unlikely that the current far-right administration ever respected the Geneva Convention. Other than that, I'd say you've got it exactly right.

[Not a robought]

5. What is the point of the Geneva Convention

when you are the only super power and you can do what you want with impunity?

[dfong63]

7. what goes around, comes around

be careful, col hogg.

[ComerPerro]

8. I hope these Republican facists

realize that the door swings both ways.
If we treat people like this, how the hell do they think people will treat American POWs?

And since Bush is (at least in name) the commander-in-chief of the US military, that makes him an "enemy combatant", by his simplistic definition, and means that he is a valid enemy target.

[Jacobin]

9. Here's my letter to the Wash Post ombudsman:

Sir:
Among the so-called "aggressive" tactics reported in the captioned article to have been employed by U. S. soldiers in Iraq is the taking of civilian hostages.

Might you point out to the reporter who published this piece that these acts are specifically prohibited by the Geneva Convention and are considered war crimes?

"Art. 75.

2. The following acts are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever, whether committed by civilian or by military agents: (a) violence to the life, health, or physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular: (i) murder; (ii) torture of all kinds, whether physical or mental; (iii) corporal punishment; and (iv) mutilation;

(b) outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment, enforced prostitution and any form or indecent assault; (c) the taking of hostages; (d) collective punishments; and (e) threats to commit any of the foregoing acts."

It would seem that many of your readers might wish to know that the activities portrayed in your paper in this article by our troops are quite illegal. It might have warranted a passing mention.



BTW: you TOO can email the WP at [e-mail]

[protect freedom impeach bush now]

10. kick

kick

for the rule of law