We're at war.. and you don't ARREST enemies belonging to non-state terrorist organizations who have sworn themselves to be at war with you.. You either kill them, or detain them until you decide that either they, or their organization, no longer pose a threat to your national security...It's not my fault that the current war we're fighting falls into a very ambiguous area related to the Geneva convention.
You should have been in charge of the "War on Drugs," the "War on Crime" or the "War against Poverty." Those "enemy combatants" who were drug involved, criminals or poor could have used a good dose of your brand of American justice.
Don't be a dupe, Hawk; the "War of Terror" isn't a "War" with a capital W. It is not against a foreign state, no matter what your neo gods say. It is simply a struggle against individual groups and individuals that are intent on creating mayhem and chaos through the use of violence.
In a real war people are considered to be aligned with the nation of their citizenship. In a real war people wear uniforms and fight for their country. In a real war we don't claim to be able to pick and choose from among THE ENTIRE population of the world and designate ANYONE we want an "enemy combatant." In a real war enemy combatants ARE entitled to the protections of the Geneva Convention.
The point you miss, however, is that no matter what tortured definitional process the Bush Administration goes through in order to attempt to justify its suspension of internationally accepted basic rights of those held as prisoners, the cost of such actions will ultimately be much greater than the benefits.
We've already lost the mantle of leadership in terms of world opinion regarding American justice. We've already lost the ability to talk seriously to those governments that deny human rights within their borders. We've already undermined the public's insistence that the Bill of Rights protections be a paramount foundation of American governmental actions. We've already lost the trust of those nations and peoples that trusted us as a nation of laws. We've got feet of clay.
Because the bottom line is that if the people we're fighting are not signatories of the Geneva Convention, they have NO RIGHT to expect to be treated according to its standards. Treating them well is VOLUNTARY.
Yes, go ahead and try to justify torture, holding people without charge, without trial, without a hearing, with no opportunity to defend themselves and for as long as some dimly seen bureaucrat wants. And, hey, if you want to do that with some jailhouse lawyering about how they aren't technically fighting on behalf of a nation that signed the Geneva Accords, then get that cheap suit on, do that comb over and go for it but don't expect serious thinkers to be too impressed.
And don't claim to be a defender of the principles and freedoms which our fathers, and forefathers fought and died for. And when principle runs head on into expediency, take the shortcut that's the path of least resistance. And for sure don't take a look at where that path leads.
The bottom line is that we should ALL be on a "self-righteoous...pulpit" decrying these unAmerican actions and policies. |
