US 'to circumvent Geneva Conventions'

[ECH1969]

The Pentagon is considering new rules on military interrogations that treat "war on terror" detainees differently from prisoners protected by the Geneva Conventions, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said today.

"There is a debate over the difference between a prisoner of war under the Geneva Convention and an unlawful combatant in a situation that is different from the situation envisioned by the Geneva Convention," he said.

Pentagon officials have said the procedures in the new manual will be detailed in a classified annex to make it more difficult for enemy combatants to train against them.

"But you can have every confidence that the army field manual - which is, of course, as far as I'm concerned, almost ready to come out - will be seen as and in fact be consistent with US law," Mr Rumsfeld said.

Link

[MrSlayer]

1. What do you mean "to"?

They've been circumventing it from the door.

[ECH1969]

2. I didn't write the headline

[MrSlayer]

6. LOL. I know.

I'm sorry if you felt I was holding you personally responsible.

:7

[IChing]

9. circumventing it from the "gitmo" (or getgo)

He just reaffirmed to the senate the rules he has been using.


Rummy said the manual, which will guide troops on the handling of detainees, "will comply with U.S. law."

Told of that remark, McCain said: "Good. Glad to hear that. That means that we've had a successful discussion."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/politics/3871139.html

[Kutjara]

3. It's BushCo's SOP:

Do whatever the hell you want to do, then get your flunkies to tidy up the PR and legalities afterward. If Cheney had killed his lawyer with that shotgun, murder would now be legal.

[mikeytherat]

26. Its easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.

mikey_the_rat

[ThomCat]

32. Only if you're a republican.

Laws would still apply to the rest of us.

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. The once respected United States is becoming a pariah nation

And )*( is leading the charge at full speed.

:cry:

[saigon68]

23. They are like Nazi's in death camps

Our beloved troops, guarding Islamic men with bags on their heads into eternity.

[ixion]

5. nothing new, but it's opened a pandora's box

because it allows any two-bit dictator to torture in the name of the war on terror, and also places NATO/US forces at risk, because the 'unlawful combatants' will figure they might as well torture anyone they capture, because the same will happen to them.

It's a slippery slope, and a only an idiot would think that it was a good idea, IMO.

But hey, I'm a member of the reality-based commuity. :eyes:

[MadMaddie]

7. Why in the world would anyone think of the impact it could

have on US soldiers....I mean that would take some foresight.....:sarcasm:

The Hague doesn't sound so far fetched anymore.....this rule that they are so willing to break could be deemed crimes against humanity....

[MadMaddie]

8. Self Delete-Dupe

[Betsy Ross]

10. Are we having a War on Terror

or a combantant situation? I guess it isn't a war or they wouldn't be giving out tax cuts. :sarcasm: in case you thought otherwise.

[ixion]

17. of course, that's the true (evil) beauty of a 'war' against an abstraction

they're only real when you want them to be. :puke:

[Spazito]

11. Yet another pathetic attempt to retro-actively make legal actions

that have been and are illegal, both domestically and internationally. Disgusting.

[depakid]

12. They're just going to codify torture

instead of breaking the rules. Actually, in a perverse way- it makes sense. Might as well.

The 4th Amerndment ought to be repealed for the same reason. Better than simply violating it and degrading the rest of the laws that flow from the Constitution.

[BrotherBuzz]

13. And Maj. Major M. Major will brief the press on the classified supplement

Maj. Major M. Major: Sergeant, from now on, I don't want anyone to come in to see me while I'm in my office. Is that clear?

Sgt. Towser: Yes, sir. What do I say to people who want to come in and see you while you're in your office?

Maj. Major M. Major: Tell them I'm in and ask them to wait.

Sgt. Towser: For how long?

Maj. Major M. Major: Until I've left.

Sgt. Towser: And then what do I do with them?

Maj. Major M. Major: I don't care.

Sgt. Towser: May I send people in to see you after you've left?

Maj. Major M. Major: Yes.

Sgt. Towser: You won't be here then, will you?

Maj. Major M. Major: No.

[CatholicEdHead]

14. Geneva is there to protect OUR soliders

and any other country who goes by the treaty rules. This action increases the risks against US soliders.

[aquart]

15. Another outrage.

They're so common.

[Rex]

16. Unlawful combatant - anyone they say

One more goose step. Rummy is insane.

"But you can have every confidence that the army field manual - which is, of course, as far as I'm concerned, almost ready to come out - will be seen as and in fact be consistent with US law," Mr Rumsfeld said."

Unfortunately the part about what they do will be classified so no, Rummy, we will not be able to see if it is consistent with US law. Rummy hates the law, that is why we are going around the GC. This will just fuck us faster. :(

[HuffleClaw]

18. very sad and scary

and they, of course, are gonna make the new 'rules' CLASSIFIED so we won't know what they are !

funny how if its an american involved they SCREAM about the geneva conventions and the 'rules of war'.

[antonialee839]

19. These killers would have us believe that this is a new concept.

Why is Rumsfeld still in charge of anything other than the prison laundry? We are becoming no better than our enemies.

[Triana]

20. *sigh*

Justice?

[diamondsndust]

21. Just another law for this Criminal Cabal to break...

they don't give a shit... god help us all...

[Demeter]

36. What A Rogue's Gallery--

Hope someday soon you can update your photo album with official mug shots!

[Judi Lynn]

22. This may seem somewhat pleasant to some of us DU'ers!

Late tonight C-Span was running a tape of Rumsfeld's remarks to the Senate Subcommittee again. Rumsfeld was droning on and on and on. I commented to my husband I really wish the time would come when people start making rude sounds when these slimes appear anywhere in public.

Within only a couple of minutes after that comment, Rumsfeld got to the end of something he was saying to the committee, and a very loud, yet unemotional voice called, from the back of the room, "LIAR!"

I think it was Republican Senator Burns who demanded, "Would someone escort the person out, please?"

Guards walked along the back of the crowd with a woman in tow, who was wearing BRIGHT PINK clothes. Hmmmm. Code Pink struck again!

They've gotten Rumsfeld before, you know!



Earlier meetings!

[mmonk]

24. Anything that circumvents the Geneva conventions

is NOT consistent with US law.

[sweetheart]

25. "with us or against us" comes home to roost

Of couse the world's people are more moral than war criminal filth, so
"against" has gotta just be increasing. Well, drawing that line, which
they originally conceived would enclose a few nutty madmen in an asian
desert, and now encircles the USA... military incompetents.

[Mr_Spock]

27. What else is new?

Bushco are evil monsters - they are without honor...

[Pryderi]

28. Is there any chance Tony Blair will be indicted by the ICC?

[sakabatou]

29. Since there is no US law on these "unlawful combatants"...

... :grr:

[leesa]

30. See? We aren't at war when it comes to the Geneva Convention.

We are only 'at war' when it comes to taking away our rights.

[ContraBass Black]

31. Not "to circumvent," but "ignoring."

Funny how a couple of words make all the difference.

[zann725]

33. First they rewrite the "Army Manual" to NOT be official criminals; next is

that little doc, the Constitution and Bill of Rights, which of couse they've alreadey started chiseling. I distinctly remember reading (and found it chilling) that for some reason, right before he was Innaugurated in 2004, the Chimp specifically went to view BOTH the copy of the Constitution and Bill of Rights (under glass)....and just stood staring at them. Since he's not particlarly a curious, or literate man...I had my opinion of his need for the visit to view these docs at this time....viewing the Revisionist goal of these docs during his Second Term.

If only the spirit of our Forefathers, and prior decent, dedicated U.S. Presidents (who took their Oath of Office, and all these laws and documents seriously)...could rise up and give us some help here. We're floundering badly...and losing ground fast. CALLLING on Thomas Jefferson, FDR, JFK... please!

[sweetheart]

39. he swears it said "unitary"

the glass distorts... handwritten and all... ADD

[glitch]

34. What noble men, so honorable. Their fathers are rolling in their graves.nt

[Supersedeas]

35. How many years does it take to publish an army field manual to excuse your

behavior, Mr. Secretary....Mr. President

[fshrink]

37. Resistants in occupied France were called "terrorists" by the nazis.

[daleo]

38. As long as the U.S. doesn't actually "declare war"

They don't have to treat their prisoners according to the Geneva Conventions. This is the mentality of a criminal state.

[The Stranger]

40. Torture rules for Arabs and Muslims, non-torture rules for White Suprema-

cists and people with rights.

[struggle4progress]

41. kick

:kick:

[Jack Rabbit]

42. Send Rummy to the Home for Retired Neoconservatives

United Nations Prison, The Hague

[drduffy]

43. ah,

death to the Imperium
long live the Republic

The Imperial Hydra is happy if you sit here on the web and complain and bitch.
It knows this is your release valve.
The Imperiuim believes none will lay their lives on the line to defeat them.
The Imperium knows the elections will be pointless.
The Imperium knows none love the Republic enough. We fools only love our comforts.
And when some of us become willing to fight when the situation becomes truly dire.
We will be too little, too late and irrelevant. And dead.
The Imperium is right.

[Name removed]

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