Reply #23: Was the Geneva Convention, in fact, not followed? [View All]

The Geneva Convention prohibits "outrages upon personal dignity". It also requires that prisoners recieve medical treatment.

1. Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention, or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction founded on race, colour, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria.

To this end the following acts are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to the above-mentioned persons:

(a) Violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture;

(b) Taking of hostages;

(c) Outrages upon personal dignity, in particular, humiliating and degrading treatment;

(d) The passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples.

2. The wounded and sick shall be collected and cared for.

By administering medical care, the US was following the Geneva Convention. Showing a picture the Geneva Convention being followed does not, in my opinion, constitute the type of "outrage upon personal dignity" prohibited by the Convention. Footage of Saddam in chains being paraded naked through the streets of Baghdad would clearly and rightfully constitute such an "outrage upon personal dignity". But this?

If this were just some regular and anonymous Iraqi POW, I don't think anyone would care. In fact, it would show that he was being treated humanely. I doubt that the Convention contemplated double standards.