Human Treatment of Prisoners of War and Detainees

Humane Treatment of Prisoners of War and Detainees

Roger Carroll

Columbia Southern University

English Composition II

EH 1020-12E-2B15-S2

Professor James Watkins

December 09, 2014

Abstract

When the Geneva Conventions was written every intention was to uphold humanitarian principles among nations at war, treaties of any sort had very little effect on the treatment of Prisoners of War during the Civil War, Vietnam War, Iraq and Afghanistan. This research paper addresses the challenges of the Geneva Convention and how it relates to the humane treatment of American Prisoners of War through several major wars involving the United States. The Geneva Convention and the laws of war allowed opportunities for governments to take advantage of gray areas in governmental authority and also avoid common sense interpretation of protection towards individuals from overreaching governments. The aftermath of 9/11 complicated the traditional laws of war including the Geneva Convention regarding Al Qaeda and the Taliban. The problems historically with the Geneva Conventions are the governments or countries unwillingness to comply with the regulations mandated on the treatment of Prisoners of War and detainees who were no longer considered combatants. The Geneva Conventions has had minimal effect on the treatment of POWs and detainees.

Humane Treatment of Prisoners of War and Detainees

INTRODUCTION

Since the terrorist attack on the United States on 9/11 and proclamation of the War on Terrorism, the treatment of Prisoners of War (POWs) has caused wide spread debates. The prisoner, whether or not an active belligerent, were at the mercy of his captors, if the prisoner actually survived combat, depending on factors as the availability of food and usefulness to his captor would determine their existence. Throughout history as warfare changed, so did treatment the treatment of Prisoners of War. The United States during their search for al-Qaeda has detained many...