January 17, 2002 at 12 PM

Prisoners of Word

Are they prisoners of war, or are they ‘unlawful combatants’? How the American government classifies captured Afghan soldiers will greatly influence what sort of treatment and justice those soldiers shall receive.

Increasingly, the US seems bent on flouting international conventions wherever those conventions fail to serve American interests. There may be legitimate reasons for that of course; international conventions are not perfect, and remain under the influence of many nations that probably don’t deserve the right to decide what international rights are. But if international rules don’t apply, then what rules do? So far in the 21st century, it’s the American way, or no way.

Previously: Write On

Subsequently: Fun With OCD!

January 2002
the Archives
Home