Is it wrong for US soldiers to abuse prisoners (detainee's)?

Question

I asked if the news statement below was an admision of guilt.So now same news story - is it okay with you if US soldiers abuse prisoners. Is it okay if US soldiers rape girls in foriegn lands? Is what Pte. Lindsay English did in Iraq wrong or is that really what they deseve?
Wed Aug 9, 2:05 AM
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Political appointees, CIA officers and former military personnel would not face prosecution for humiliating or degrading wartime prisoners under amendments to a war crimes law drafted by the Bush administration, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday
The amendments are part of the administration's three-pronged response to a June 29 Supreme Court ruling that struck down as illegal and a violation of the Geneva Conventions the military tribunal system set up to try Guantanamo prisoners, the Post said.
The court's ruling gave prisoners captured in Afghanistan protections under the Geneva Conventions, which the administration previously maintained did not apply to them

Okay if it is wrong WHY is the government of the US of A seeking to protect them from being charged.

It's wrong it's wrong - why the ammendments if abuse isn't going on ? If it is an isolated incidence here and there what the need to ammend anything?

Answer 1

"Sacrifice liberty for security and you will get neither."

-Benjamin Franklin

Answer 2

According to the Geneva Convention, yes it is, very wrong. The only problem I have is that it isn't so black and white. These people commit these crimes are perfectly normal when they leave for Iraq but under the stress from everyday life do things without thinking. Talk to any soldier who has been there and they will tell you that they will never judge what a soldier does while in Iraq. Why? Because it messes with your head. You are scared for your life 24/7 and the thing that is personified is directly in front of you and can't defend himself. What are you going to do. You can't answer that unless you have been there. HOWEVER, there should be more safeguards for these soldiers that deal with prisoners one on one. More psychiatric care to prevent them from doing these things. When it comes to raping the children and mutilating the Iraqi people, it could be classified as just snapping and taking revenge but not in all cases. That is why they need to go to court so they can figure out why they did what they did, were they just under the influence of war or will they take this behavior to our streets and what should be done about it.

Answer 3

No American held prisoner of war should ever be abused. Our soldiers are being trained to abide by the Geneva Convention and the good majority of them do. There will always going to be a bad apple in every bunch who does the wrong thing which is why their Commanding Officers should be held accountable also - it should go straight up the chain of command.

Please keep in mind that the enemy that we face in Iraq does not abide by any conventions and in fact broadcasts beheadings and tortures. The insurgents kill indescriminately and brutally and the US soldiers see this every single day that they are over there. We expect for them to be the better person and always be fair but in all honesty eventually someone snaps. The person who snaps should again be dealt with by their command and sent home and punished according to our laws.

It is a dreadful situation over there and our own administration has no clue how to deal with the insurgents.

Answer 4

Tough question. If we don't get answers, how many more people may be harmed? Then again, how accurate are coerced answers? We must all remember war in itself is not "politically correct". I hear a lot of opinions of people who have never experienced action. Of course rape and murder should not be tolerated, but I think humiliating, degrading and even killing the enemy is a "necessary evil" to concluding a war more quickly. War is a tragedy, but if we want to sit back a believe others in this world will be peaceful because it is the path to "enlightenment", we will be in for one hell of a whammy. War is an act forcing people to do things against their will, we should just not be proud of the fact we must do things that exploit another person.

Answer 5

For the most part, nearly all of these accusations about our soldiers are false and are instigated by America-haters in the media, under rocks and in other places.

Especially to be noted are the false charges against the Pendleton 8 at Camp Pendleton because they simply fulfilled their duty, the Abu Graib scandal that involved fraternity prank tactics only and Guantanamo where they'll complain if they don't get the right color of prayer rug and then someone makes up a story about dropping a Koran.

This must stop, and the perpetrators must start facing charges of sedition for inventing false charges. In particular, the utmost support must be given to the brave, innocent 7 Marines and 1 Sailor being held at Camp Pendleton under bad conditions.

Answer 6

Yes. It is a violation of the Geneva Convention, and because of that a war crime as defined by 18 USC 2441 (federal law).

The proposed law is an attempt to retroactively put an illegal action outside the scope of the courts. Yet another attempt by Bush to say that the courts have no authority to review or punish executive actions.

Answer 7

Yes. It is wrong to abuse prisoners, no matter who the abusers are. It's wrong for the US to do it, just as it's wrong for any one else to do it. There should be no protection for those caught and convicted of ordering, or carrying out abuse.

The Geneva Conventions were set up to help stop this sort of thing.

Answer 8

Answer:

Yes, and against the rules we're taught in boot.

Reality:

Prisoners of America are treated the best in the entire world. Most other countries you're tortured to a miserable death. But I guess the great media overlooked that... not a good enough story.

Answer 9

In 1949 The Geneva Convention was signed by most countries so prisoners would all be treated fairly. And peacekeepers would be able to freely enter POW camps to be sure of it.

They should not be mistreated, and should be given food and water.

I am unsure of why the GC would not apply to them... I had no idea, that is weird... except even up to 10 years ago not all countries had signed it......

Answer 10

In some cases, abuse may be justified to obtain information that may save american lives. The prisoners at Gitmo do not have any current information, so for them, at this point, we need to respect the Geneva Convention. I do not like how Bush tries to make up his own rules. He does not have a blank check to do as he pleases, but he sure acts like it.

Answer 11

This is to CYM. Revenge does not make something right. It is wrong no matter what and no matter who started to do it first. Your answer is just the childish way to resolve things. "He did it first" is something we hear a lot but the person who gets in trouble is the person who gets caught. So revenge has nothing to do with it being right or wrong because it is wrong no matter what.