Geneva Conventions “require that combatants obey four basic principles to receive POW [prisoner of war] status: They must operate under responsible command, wear uniforms, carry their arms openly, and obey the laws of war. Combatants must clearly distinguish themselves from civilians, and refrain from attacking civilians, so as to reduce the destruction of war on […]
1/22/2002
“In an opinion that eventually issued on January 22, 2002, OLC [Office of Legal Counsel] concluded that al Qaeda could not claim the benefits of the Geneva Conventions. The war with the Taliban was covered by the Geneva Conventions because Afghanistan had signed them.” – John Yoo, War By Other Means, Page 24 […]
1/22/2002
In regards to whether the Geneva Conventions were applicable to the treatment of the Taliban and al Qaeda, Vice President Dick “Cheney’s no-holds-barred approach was summarized in a January 22, 2002, memo drafted for presidential counsel Alberto Gonzales by Assistant Attorney General Jay S. Bybee. The memo argues that neither domestic law (the War Crimes […]
1/21/2002
“As [neo-conservatives Robert] Kagan and [William] Kristol argued [in a Weekly Standard article on January 21, 2002], ‘a devastating knockout blow against Saddam Hussein, followed by an American-sponsored effort to rebuild Iraq and put it on a path toward democratic governance would have a seismic impact on the Arab world–for the better. …Once Iraq and […]
1/20/2002
According to The Los Angeles Times on January 20, 2002: ” ‘millions in Al Qaeda funds cascaded through the freewheeling financial institutions of the neighboring emirate of Dubai.’ ” – Daniel Benjamin and Steven Simon, The Age of Sacred Terror, Page 506 […]
1/19/2002
Then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld wrote: “In a separate Department of Defense order to the combatant commanders on January 19, 2002, I echoed the President’s [Bush’s] order and directed all personnel to ‘treat [al-Qaida and Taliban detainees] humanely’ and ‘in a manner consistent with the principles of the Geneva Conventions.’ ” – Donald Rumsfeld, Known […]
1/19/2002
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld issued an unclassified memo on his views of the war on terror to the senior Department of Defense staff on January 19, 2002. “…Rumsfeld’s memo barely mentioned Afghanistan. He simply pointed out that ‘because Afghanistan is *anti-foreigner,* the U.S. emphasized the truth, that the U.S. is not there to stay; […]
1/19/2002
“On January 19, 2002, [Secretary of Defense] Donald Rumsfeld issued another detailed unclassified memo to the senior DoD [Department of Defense] staff outlining his views on the direction of the war on terror. He began by asserting that, ‘despite the September 11th terrorist attacks, or attacks that may occur in the future, the U.S. will […]
1/18/2002
On January 18, 2002, Chief Legal Advisor to the Department of State William H. Taft “was informed that the president [Bush] had approved the Justice Department interpretation [of the Geneva Conventions], determining that neither al-Qaeda nor Taliban detainees were covered by the Geneva Conventions and that neither group was eligible for POW [prisoner of war] […]
1/18/2002
“On January 18, 2002, the President [Bush] decided that neither al Qaeda nor Taliban fighters would receive POW [prisoner of war] status under the Geneva Conventions. According to a leaked State Department memo, Secretary of State Colin Powell asked President Bush to reconsider this decision. Powell wanted not just the Taliban covered, but al Qaeda […]