better late than never

[Wisha Haddan H3]

I really only have one more thing to say. The Geneva Conventions aren't a license to do whatever we want to non-signatories. They are the world's best attempt at curbing and limiting wartime abuses.

Whether or not a nation signed one of the Conventions, it shouldn't stop us from treating prisoners and civilians like human beings. Question them, interrogate them, and detain them ... well yeah, they're prisoners. Deny them scented soap, DVDs, finger bowls and moist towelettes ... of course. But beat them, whip them and hang them by their arms for hours on end? Drown them, burn them, remove their fingernails and then break their fingers? I don't think so.

Torture only satisfies our own whimsical need for revenge. It doesn't gather reliable information or make our country any safer. In the end, it only creates a dilemma where we can't let our prisoners go, because the hatred we inflame in them will only infect their families and communities, until even our allies become our enemies.

[f5fstop]

Just one more note.
Has any country that has signed the convention, ever stepped forward to help prevent a country from violating the convention rules? (Other than those countries yelling and screaming at the USA.) In other words, this document is worthless since in most cases, civilized countries would treat prisoners decently; whereas the non-civilized countries such as Iran, Iraq, or terrorists, would torture, threaten, and behead prisoners.
The USA is condemend by many countries due to Gitmo; however, are these same countries saying a damn thiing about the beheading of prisoners in Iraq? NO. My opinion of the Geneva convention it is a typical worthless piece of paper.
It sure didn't help in 'Nam, it won't help in the middle east. It might work great if we had a war with England.
So, why are we even discussing this pos paper signed or not signed by countries?

[ROX]

WishIHaddaClue

You're a great armchair quarterback, aren't ya?

I know and care deeply for a Marine in charge of going to the house and getting suspected IED makers and terrorists.

DO YOU THINK HE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR?!

I really only have one more thing to say. The Geneva Conventions aren't a license to do whatever we want to non-signatories. They are the world's best attempt at curbing and limiting wartime abuses.

I only have one million more things to say...go join the bedwetter club, the rest of us want to win the war.

[MarineHawk]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

Just one more note.
Has any country that has signed the convention, ever stepped forward to help prevent a country from violating the convention rules? (Other than those countries yelling and screaming at the USA.) In other words, this document is worthless since in most cases, civilized countries would treat prisoners decently; whereas the non-civilized countries such as Iran, Iraq, or terrorists, would torture, threaten, and behead prisoners.
The USA is condemend by many countries due to Gitmo; however, are these same countries saying a damn thiing about the beheading of prisoners in Iraq? NO. My opinion of the Geneva convention it is a typical worthless piece of paper.
It sure didn't help in 'Nam, it won't help in the middle east. It might work great if we had a war with England.
So, why are we even discussing this pos paper signed or not signed by countries?

But wait, the real problem is Islamophobia: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,273312,00.html

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by MarineHawk

But wait, the real problem is Islamophobia: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,273312,00.html

Nothing like paranoid religious Imams.
"This campaign of calumny against Muslims resulted in the publication of the blasphemous cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in a Danish newspaper and the issuance of the inflammatory statement by Pope Benedict XVI,? the ministers said."

I'm not religious, far from it, but I have to say the Muslim sure do not get upset with blasphemous cartoons of Christ. I do believe Muslims take this prophet muhammad (piss be upon him) stuff way too seriously.

[Wisha Haddan H3]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

Just one more note.
Has any country that has signed the convention, ever stepped forward to help prevent a country from violating the convention rules? (Other than those countries yelling and screaming at the USA.) In other words, this document is worthless since in most cases, civilized countries would treat prisoners decently; whereas the non-civilized countries such as Iran, Iraq, or terrorists, would torture, threaten, and behead prisoners.
The USA is condemend by many countries due to Gitmo; however, are these same countries saying a damn thiing about the beheading of prisoners in Iraq? NO. My opinion of the Geneva convention it is a typical worthless piece of paper.
It sure didn't help in 'Nam, it won't help in the middle east. It might work great if we had a war with England.
So, why are we even discussing this pos paper signed or not signed by countries?

Good point. No piece of paper will stop a nation determined to do what it wants.

[Wisha Haddan H3]

There is one other thing I want to clear up.

I don't hate the government or the military. My parents served in the army during the Korean war. My brother was in the Air Force during the 1st Gulf War. My nephew is joining the Navy. I'm proud of them all. And for years, I studied my brains out so I could fly fighter jets in the Air Force. It about killed me when my eyes went bad.

I just don't believe that torture generates solid intel, helps our cause in the middle east, or makes us better people or a better nation.

So no, H2rocks, I don't want your Marine friend to knock and say please before asking politely if there are any IEDs in the house. He better kick down the door, kill the ones he has to and secure the rest. But I hope to God the intel was based on something more reliable than an address somebody made up so we would stop drilling his fingernails.

That is all.

[DennisAJC]

If they ever torture me, I'm gonna give em DRTY's address.

[MarineHawk]

Originally Posted by DennisAJC

If they ever torture me, I'm gonna give em DRTY's address.

They arleady have it. They're just afraid to move in on his compound until he stops slaughtering varmints out there with his anti-tank weapons for more than 15 minutes.

[MarineHawk]

Originally Posted by Wisha Haddan H3

I really only have one more thing to say. The Geneva Conventions aren't a license to do whatever we want to non-signatories. ...

Of course. The GCs aren't a license to affirmatively do anything. They simply make it improper for signatories to do certain, specific things, which do not include--in the U.S.'s case--aggressively interrogating terrorist thugs who have been attempting to kill, or actually killing, Americans (and Iraqis) with terrorist methods so that we can save valuable lives going forward.