Guantanamo Redux

[Thorne]

Personally, in my humble opinion, terrorists have absolutely NO respect for Americans because of their humanity and compassion. So what are we to do? How do YOU feel about people who will terrorize and kill us while looking down their noses at us simply because they don't understand/believe in our way of life?

I agree with you. Sadly, it is sometimes necessary to fight like your enemy in order to defeat your enemy. There has to be a way to distinguish enemy combatants from terrorists. If the enemy abides by the Geneva convention, even to the point of using guerrilla warfare, then prisoners are captured combatants and can be held, without trial, until cessation of hostilities. If they do not abide by the convention, then they should not be treated according to the convention.

[DuncanONeil]

I agree with you. Sadly, it is sometimes necessary to fight like your enemy in order to defeat your enemy. There has to be a way to distinguish enemy combatants from terrorists. If the enemy abides by the Geneva convention, even to the point of using guerrilla warfare, then prisoners are captured combatants and can be held, without trial, until cessation of hostilities. If they do not abide by the convention, then they should not be treated according to the convention.

There are specific requirements for an individual to fall under the purview of the conventions. The individuals engaging in the acts favored by the likes of Al Quaida do not qualify. In spite of that we actually are according them many of the rights of the Conventions, even though it is not required. That is just because of who we are.