All the talk on the political left and the political right about what is and what is not torture can give one the impression that there is some debate on the subject. There is no debate. The United States is one of 194 countries who are signers of The Geneva Conventions which where developed beginning in 1863 to define what is humane and legal treatment of prisoners of war. Question: Has the USA under the leadership of George Bush tortured prisoners of war? Read on and decide for yourself.
Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions
In the case of armed conflict not of an international character occurring in the territory of one of the High Contracting Parties, each Party to the conflict shall be bound to apply, as a minimum, the following provisions:
(1) Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed 'hors de combat' by sickness, wounds, detention, or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction founded on race, colour, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria.
To this end, the following acts are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to the above-mentioned persons:
(a) violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture;
(b) taking of hostages;
(c) outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment;
(d) the passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples.
(2) The wounded and sick shall be collected and cared for.
An impartial humanitarian body, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, may offer its services to the Parties to the conflict.
The Parties to the conflict should further endeavour to bring into force, by means of special agreements, all or part of the other provisions of the present Convention.
The application of the preceding provisions shall not affect the legal status of the Parties to the conflict.
2 comments:
Sadly, the US tends to ignore some international resolutions... They are not mandatory to follow, but are more like ideals they should aspire to. I wonder if us humans will live up to our lofty ideals...
One of the first things the Bush administration did was declare the Geneva conventions obsolete so even they knew they were violating them. As a treaty once ratified becomes the law of the land according to the constitution they were also violating the constitution and their oaths of office.
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