What are Geneva Conventions ans what do they have to do with the United States?

Answer 1

Briefly, they are treaties signed between nations establishing "rules of war." The idea is to make war somehow slightly more humane, which itself may be difficult. But that's the idea.

For instance, the Conventions govern the treatment of prisoners of war. They apply to uniformed soldiers of a country that signed the convention - so countries have an incentive to sign it. It mandates humane treatment and outlaws torture, so soldiers would be willing to surrender in some circumstances rather than fight to the feath.

Many nations have violated these conventions in wartime.

It's relevant now because the US is at war, but with enemies who are not signatories and whose "military" status is unclear, or non-existent. The courts and Congress are involved in the process of interpreting these rules, to the extent applicable.

Here's more info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_Conventions

Answer 2

The Geneva Conventions are a set of four treaties and three protocols that set international legal standards in humanitarian matters, particularly as regards the practice of warfare. Countries that signed onto the Conventions agree to make illegal certain conduct that is generally recognized as being inhumane, in some cases war crimes, and in some cases crimes against humanity. The first four treaties deal with minimum standards for caring for wounded or ill enemy combatants, such combatants or shipwrecked enemy combatants at sea, treatment of captured enemy combatants, and conduct towards civilians. The first Convention came into effect back in the 19th century, and the full set of Conventions was last revised and ratified after World War Two.

The United States has been a signatory to the Conventions since the 1880s and is therefore legally bound to adhere to their provisions -- and may have a greater moral obligation to do so than other nations considering the frequency with which the US has berated other nations for failing to fully comply with them. Because the Conventions were ratified by the Senate, they have a force roughly equal to federal law. At present, almost every nation (about 200 of them) is a signatory to the Conventions, which gives them very strong legal force as customary international law. The usual justification given for our adherence to them (e.g., by Senator McCain, a former POW, in opposing the Bush Administration's wish to "edit out" provisions it wants to ignore) is that, by honoring the Conventions, we better ensure that our own people will be afforded the same protections, should they be needed.

Answer 3

The Geneva Convention is a treatise adopted on August 2, 1949
to establish protection for the victims of war. It protects POW's against abuse. it is an international treaty.

It has everything to the with the US and the World.

The reason is called the Geneva Convention is that it Took place there.

Answer 4

The US signed it and agreed to abide by its conventions.
It is a code of civilized behavior agreed upon by civilized nations.
Now it has become inconvenient to the Bush admin.