<A senior State Department official said that Mr. Powell, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has no fundamental objection to the treatment of the prisoners.

[ ... ]

In fact, Mr. Powell was said to believe that in the end, most would not qualify as P.O.W.'s.





I like that word ‘fact’. So many people seem to miss it.

Among other protections under international law, prisoners of war are not required to cooperate with interrogators, are allowed to elect their own leaders in prison camps, and are to be allowed to return home after the cessation of hostilities unless convicted of war crimes or other offenses.

Also, the right to peaceably assemble in an open compound. Al-Qui’da have no idea what this means. To them, this means planning suicide attacks on the prison guards, the capture of the base, and an pitched battle to kill as many non-Muslims as possible -- military or civilian, it really doesn’t matter.

It is also every POW’s duty to confound the enemy and attempt escape, while protecting his imprisoned brethren. Another confusing issue for al Qui’da. Their incarcerated brethren are only as safe as the most fanatical of the imprisoned al Qui’da will allow. This danger is taken from them with the current security measures in place. Our need is not the survival of the al Qui’da. Our need is whatever information we can get from them before they have the opportunity to die -- and take whomever they can with them.

The president and his administration, particularly Mr. Rumsfeld and Attorney General John Ashcroft, have insisted that the United States is treating the prisoners humanely, in ways generally consistent with the handling of prisoners of war.

Also in compliance with the standards for maximum security prisoners in federal custody. Any time the prisoner is permitted out of his cell, he/she is to be shackled and the ankles, with wrists securely bound. This is happening. There was even concern regarding the fact that the ‘cells’ per se were not the cells people associate with Hollywood. True. These are more like kennel cages, but they are still cells, very similar to what is found ‘inside’ a maximum security prison. These are holding cells, and completely legal.

It is now demanded that the prisoners be formally, individually heard in a military court, and that a decision be made whether they are/are not eligible for recognition as POWs according to the Geneva Convention.

I have no problem with this.

Some allies are strongly opposed to military tribunals because they could result in their citizens being given the death penalty, which most other countries oppose.

We’re all grown folks, and we all make grown-folk decisions.

Life’s a real bitch that way.

"I firmly believe that the Al Qaeda members are not entitled to the prisoner of war status," he said. "They are plainly illegal combatants whose actions are contrary to the rules of war ‹and I think a good case can be made that the Taliban are not entitled to it, as well."
-- Senator Jeff Sessions, Republican of Alabama, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“Geneva Convention? I know of no Geneva Convention.”
-- POW camp commander Major von Steignitz addressing his new prisoners in “The Secret War of Harry Frigg”.

“Nazi?! Who’s a Nazi?! I am a simple soldier!”
-- Captured POW camp commander Major von Steignitz in “The Secret War of Harry Frigg”.

The problem, however, is in Senator Sessions' use of the phrase “... they are plainly illegal combatants ...”, which stinks to high heaven of vigilanteism and back porch noose-tying. Is this, then the official stance of our Senate Judiciary Committee?

Regardless, due process is now a clear requirement, and I firmly agree with Gen. Powell.

Dan