How vague is Common Article III of the Geneva Conventions?

[BurtWorm]

http://www.icrc.org/ihl.nsf/0/e160550475c4b133c12563cd0051aa66?OpenDocument

Convention (III) relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War. Geneva, 12 August 1949.
Article
Part I : General provisions
ARTICLE 3Database 'IHL - Treaties & Comments', View 'COMART'

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.

[MissB]

1. Well, if your IQ is a lower figure than the national speed limit

then it is pretty damned vague.

[snappyturtle]

6. Thanks for the clarification!

:rofl:

edit--spelling

[dipsydoodle]

7. But only if your IQ is that low

Otherwise there seems to be little doubt about the spirit of its intention.

[indie_voter]

12. LMAO!!! n/t

[LynnTheDem]

2. Depends on if you're a MFIng rightwingnut moran, or a sentient human being

To the latter, it's not the slightest bit "vague".

[Avalux]

3. It's not vague -

he's just betting that most Americans won't bother to read it to find out and will take his lyin' word for it.

[stellanoir]

4. Is it just me or does it seem to anyone else that * wants to

Legalize Sadism. . .?

[cspanlovr]

5. Its as vague as the 10 commandments.

[Tace]

8. Depends What "Is" Is

: )

[grizmaster]

9. It's as vague as a 5lb sledgehammer

that's why chimpy wants it destroyed

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

10. Actually every single element of this has been violated, in incidents that

have been reported widely in the media.

[Jim__]

11. It must be vague.

The way I read it, bush's plan is in clear violation. I mean:

(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.

How could we ever abide by that? It mustn't mean what it clearly says. Therefore, it's vague.

Oh, to be clear: :sarcasm:

[muesa]

13. It's so vague that even

an ROTC cadet can understand it--

[aquart]

14. "Humane" is vague for George.

He hasn't an effing clue what that means.

[AllegroRondo]

15. It was written that way for a reason

to prevent dictators and generals from weaseling out of prosecution, by saying "well, the methods I used arent specifically outlawed by Article 3."

[razors edge]

16. could you imagine

if bush was forced to pay the officers of the taliban or alquiada as called for in the conventions? talk about exploding freep heads.:yoiks:

[BeFree]

17. Treaties, sheameties

Eat them in my wheaties!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Seriously.... this is some bad shit going down. With all clarity, history has produced these treaties as a way to protect each individual's life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. You know, what America is all about.

These other nations decided to follow America's path, and now here we go, misleading them and lying about our actions.

Will they ever be able to trust us again?