Murder is the unlawful killing of a human being in a peaceful civil society rule of law context; war is the absence of law. In war taking prisoners is always optional, and regardless of the Constitution or the Geneva Conventions, which are merely gentlemen’s agreements. If being humane to prisoners of war is cost effective, fine, if not, liquidate them. On this matter I’m a pragmatist; what ever works. However, I do not see any correlation between treating prisoners of war well and their reciprocal kindness in the history of American warfare. Indeed, one could conclude from the facts that being kind actually causes more brutality on the part of the enemy. Lastly, war is about doing evil, not being kind, and the failure to do evil to prevent more evil is also immoral, which is probably more of a danger to modern republics and their squeamish stomachs.
…
If taking prisoners is always optional, what is the purpose of the Geneva Convention? If you are a pragmatist, how is it helpful to set a precedent of murdering our captives? Would this not invite our enemies to do the same? And who decides what is ‘evil’? You?

You have expressed, in brief, what is wrong with this picture. The USA is engaged in what you call “doing evil”, and by our actions, we have invited the world to do the same to us. Bad idea.

DS

This is a debate for lawyers. Not for warriors. — George Clarke

This is a ‘debate’ for EVERYONE. Quit trying to limit it to the ‘elite’.

Regards,

Chuck(le)

This is a debate for lawyers. Not for warriors. They are two mutually exclusive groups, ultimately. I don’t know how to make it clearer. If Bush and Cheney can show they limited waterboarding to three guys who were threatening to blow up another four of our skyscrapers, then they are fully justified to me and I don’t believe any laws were broken. If a law was broken how come not Moran and not anyone else will ever quote that Law and then acknowledge in full that such laws, like Habeas Corpus to Lincoln, were not applicable in wartime?

First Lady, Laura Bush, commented that the guy who attacked President Bush with his shoes, had more freedom than he ever had under Saddam Hussein, makes an excellent point.

If the character had made such an assault against Saddam Hussein he’d probably have been fed, feet first, through a shredding machine, with one shoe stuffed in his mouth and the other nailed to his face.

Regards,

Chuck(le)

We Christians need to be more Christ like. — C

…in your pocket?

When did YOU ‘come to Christ’?

Has the Christ come in the flesh?

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[A tree is known by its fruit. -- Some Wag, around 2000 years ago.]

It is not their [NYT] job to condemn North Vietnam. The Times report what happens here. — C

I guess C needs to have the NYT scrap their ‘World’ news section and fire all that staff.

Could save their sorry ass in light of their recent economic reports.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
P.S. C obviously needs to lay off of the colored chalk dust…..

It is not their job to condemn North Vietnam. The Times report what happens here. The US is not NV. We are America and we have higher standards. We can’t stoop to the level of thugs from other countries, we must be ethical at all times, even when the other side is willing to strap a bomb to himself and walking to a crowd of innocent people.

We Christians need to be more Christ like. We have to fight wars, but we don’t have to become what we hate while doing it.

It was actually pretty boring – stationed at the Pentagon — Robert Hurley

Gagh!

I can imagine. The only fun part would be watching full colonels playing step-and-fetch for the generals.

Glad I never got there. It was weird enough working the G3 staff as a division chief in an infantry division.

At least we could smoke in the office back then. And during half-day training this time of year we could get some REAL work done in a civilized manner.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
P.S. Merry Christmas…..

Not as colorful as jumping out of perfectly good aircraft in flight. But certainly challenging in its own right.

Any contact with NSA? Or WHCA?

Regards,

Chuck(le)
P.S. WHCA tried to recruit me while I was at Basic. It sounded interesting, but not quite what I was most interested in.