What has not been discussed widely--I don't know why--is one major reason we are avoiding classifying the captured terrorists under the Geneva Convention (at least this is how it was explained to me):

The Geneva accords were written for formal armies comprised of the inhabitants of a warring nation. Once a war was settled, it was desirable to return prisoners to their former nations. Under these circumstances, they were no longer considered a threat, and hopefully returned to their normal lives.

In the case of Al Quaeda, every single person is a threat in himself. Once the war is considered over--and I don't know how this would be decided--the Geneva Convention would require us to return every last terrorist to his home soil. You can bet they aren't going to go home and raise goats. They're going to turn right around and come back at us again.

We are fighting a new war, and the Geneva Convention just doesn't work as written. It is worth noting that we are, in any case, treating the prisoners at least as well as the convention requires. We just aren't going to officially classify them as prisoners under that accord.