I wonder how Americans would feel if their soldiers were kept like the Al Qaeda POW's

[Alexander's Horse]

Surely all they should be expected to tell is their name, rank and flight number

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse
But my biggest complaint is that you haven't given them a vaulting horse. HTF do you expect them to dig tunnels if you don't give them sporting equipment?

Hell, that's Cuba on the other side of the wire, assuming they don't blow themselves up in the minefields when they try to come up.

I'd happily issue them all shovels. Somehow, I don't think Raul's troops would be all that charitably inclined towards any escapees in the no man's land between the perimeters.

[Richard Bruns]

To answer the title question: I would love for our POW's to be treated the way the prisoners in Cuba are being treated. It doesn't get much better than that. They live in better conditions that most people in third world countries; the only thing it lacks is climate control but they really don't need that because the weather is pretty mild now.

[Hydey]

spend the winter in the tropics, damn what a harse punishment, no no send me back to the frozen wasteland.

[Alexander's Horse]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat


I'd happily issue them all shovels. Somehow, I don't think Raul's troops would be all that charitably inclined towards any escapees in the no man's land between the perimeters.

At last agreement. Castro would probably hand them back if they survived. The last thing he wants is real revolutionaries showing up in Cuba

If they get a vaulting horse then someone should also leave a Harley near the fence and a trainer aircraft for the blind guy.

[Ginger Elvis]

WAsn't it Dostoyevsky who said you can judge a country by the state of it's jails.
Whether or not the treatment of these POW's/terrorists/people fighting a war on their home turf for something they believe in, is fair or humane, the fact remains that the USA has learnt nothing from this whole situation.
The Trade Centre bombings were horrific, but bombing one ofthe weakest nations in the world to its knees made the US govt as bad as the terroists who started it. They killed civilians too you know.
The world perception is one of distrust and even disgust apart from the ignorant element who hates everything that doesn't fit into their own ideas.
America must decide if it still wants to be seen as the bully of the world or whether it can move into a more civilised age. They still have the death penalty for crying out loud.
there's no point in citing previous cruelties by various nations as there isn't a single country in existence who hasn't mistreated another in some way.
As the major economic, military and dare I say cultural power in the world its time to stop living in some fantasy and realise that the rest of the world are seriously pissed at American arrogance.

[Roland]

Mike:

"Al Qaeda is an autonomous force. Even where Taleban leaders/fighters surrendered, Al Qaeda leaders/fighters continued to fight, not recognizing orders or command authority from the Taleban. This was demonstrated repeatedly."

No big deal. In late WW2, Wehrmacht officers again and agian disobeyed Hitler or Gauleiter orders, like the Nero-order. Or by surrendering. Breakdown of command structures does not exclude you from POW protection.

"So any group of people fighting for whatever reason is a "party to the conflict" under your interpretation of the Geneva Convention?"

Not any group. Problem is that yes, the convention is open to interpretation. We'll also not get very far on a literal interpretation (just as with say the US constitution) - there are several conventions, there is customary law, there are general principles of law, case law, and there may be authority (considering how old some of this is).

If you want a detailed debate about this, we'd both have to do some reading. All I say is that especially given the intertwined nature of the Taliban-AlQuaeda relationship, one can not rule out prima vista that some qualify as POW. Where you take the confidence to proclaim with legal certitude a "not" is beyond me - but then, I'm no consultant.

"We finally agree on something."

I'm confident we'll both survive it.

And Horsie, you still haven't said what your actual complaint is. If you think the transport precautions were overdone, why don't you volunteer as steward for a 1st class flight with prisoners, Masar-i-Sharif style ?

Chris:

With replies as cunning as yours, I'll go to the Kindergarten to find a more challanging debate. Btw, you are getting personal all the time, but when you switch to "look Ma, no brains" mode, you don't seem to realise that.

[Alexander's Horse]

Originally posted by Roland

If you think the transport precautions were overdone, why don't you volunteer as steward for a 1st class flight with prisoners, Masar-i-Sharif style ?

Actually I've been tossing up whether to volunteer for a tour over there - could be good dollars involved. I'd do a holiday in hell if the price was right. 3 - 6 months of danger money could pay off the house.

[Roland]

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse


Actually I've been tossing up whether to volunteer for a tour over there - could be good dollars involved. I'd do a holiday in hell if the price was right. 3 - 6 months of danger money could pay off the house.

Letting the bureaucrats loose on them ? Now THAT's cruel.

[Alexander's Horse]

Once the UN gets involved its a feeding frenzy. They have to pay big dollars to get people to go to places like that.

[Sava]

The conditions of the prison are better than the caves they were living in. I think you should direct your pity towards the victims of terror attacks rather than the terrorists.

[ZoboZeWarrior]

Originally posted by Drefsab
The Al Queda are not soldiers, they're ****ing terrorists. You

You're wrong they are soldiers, as they fight against an army.
They ahev to be considered as POWs.

But I don't think that their fate are worst than prisoners in the hand of the Nothern Alliance.

[Lonestar]

Each prisoner has been given:

US army standard-issue 2cm-thick foam sleeping mat, one blanket, two buckets, a one quart canteen
Two orange boiler suits, one pair flip-flops
Two bath towels, one for washing, one for use as a prayer mat
A washcloth, toothpaste, soap, shampoo
A copy of the Koran


Prisoners are served three meals a day - all "culturally appropriate":

Breakfast - typically bread, cream cheese, an orange, a pastry, a roll, a bottle of water
Lunch - typically a box of cereal, two cereal bars, a packet of peanuts, one packet crisps, one packet raisins, a bottle of water
Evening meal - typically white rice, red beans, a banana, bread, a bottle of water.


The detainees' daily routine:

Breakfast followed by shower opportunity and personal time
Doctor visits to address any medical issues
Lunch followed by shower opportunity and personal time
Exercise period
Mail call - pens and paper are provided for limited time, letters may be written under supervision, all pens are collected afterwards
Dinner followed by shower opportunity


Typical weather:

Sunny with temperatures ranging from 22C at night to around 28C maximum during the day

Doesn't sound to bad to me. In fact, I bet the NA qould've given the prisoners none of the above...

[Chris 62]

Originally posted by Roland
Chris:

With replies as cunning as yours, I'll go to the Kindergarten to find a more challanging debate. Btw, you are getting personal all the time, but when you switch to "look Ma, no brains" mode, you don't seem to realise that.

Hmm, the law requirement in the USA includes kindergarten through college, but in Austria, you don't even get past Kindergarten.
No wonder things are as they are there.

I never attack anyone, I am ever attacked, because I say my mind, unfettered by poltical corectness and false compasion.

It would be simple for me to say nice flowery things about this and other situations, to garner friends and live in an air of friendship, but that would all be lies.

I write what I think, and have the courage to take the heat.

Even though I find your anti-usa slant annoying, I considered you a fair man.

I no longer feel that way.

All of you, wake up and smell the coffee, these sh1theads are killers, that would murder you in a heartbeat, and we will deal with them accordingly.

They aern't soldiers, they are animals, mad dogs, and we will put them down.

And that is the will of the people of the USA, look at any opinion poll.

You can stick your morality where the sun don't shine (which also happens to be where friend Rollie pulls most of his answers from, BTW), we have had enough of "kid" gloves. This is kill or be killed.
They lost.
End of story.

[SlowwHand]

Originally posted by SoulAssassin
The conditions of the prison are better than the caves they were living in. I think you should direct your pity towards the victims of terror attacks rather than the terrorists.

How true.
A lot of misguided well-wishing going on.