Senator Durbin,
The Geneva Convention states that members of irregular militias qualify for prisoner-of-war status if their military organization satisfies four criteria:
(a) that of being commanded by a person responsible for his subordinates
(b) that of having a fixed distinctive sign recognizable at a distance
(c) that of carrying arms openly
(d) that of conducting their operations in accordance with the laws and customs of war
If you think the Al Qaeda, Taliban, or even Iraqi “insurgents” meet the criteria above, then you are seriously deluded. The administration sees these evil men in the proper sense of the Geneva Conventions – Unlawful Combatants. I support that designation because it is true. Not only are your statements that President Bush has ignored the Geneva Conventions false, you sir, are the one ignorant of the laws.
Our nation is well within our rights to not only inter unlawful combatants but to execute them.
Your contention that terrorists held by U.S. forces should be afforded prisoner of war status serves to legitimize their illegal methods and tactics, not only against our troops who do fight by the rules of war, but to innocent civilians who are most often the targets of these terrorists. If you seek any credibility on this issue, you should acknowledge terrorists as the unlawful combatants they are.
Dave Calder
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