Quote:
Originally posted by matthewg
Dear damasa,
ok, ok, please let me clarify - my post was referring to the following, Killarney Rose wrote:
Killarny Rose wrote:"I like the way my life is, want it to continue the way it is and I make no apologies for it. " and
"We are the strongest nation on earth and therefore we can do whatever the hell we please. That's it in a nutshell and I don't give a rat's behind who agrees with me and who doesn't."
1) My main point was and still is, that I think that arrogance such as "I am powerful so I can do as I please" and the politics resulting from such arrogance increases terrorism!
2) There is no question that what has happend in Afganistan lately isn't for the benefit of the Afghan people.
3) However, that is beside my point!
4) I correct for the politically correct: everyone should be granted to live the life ONE wants. - thank you!
5)with "you" I specifically addressed KillarneyRose - and I interpreted her statement in a way that reads: "because we are a strong nation you (the rest of the world) better do as we please" - maybe that is a bit harsh but that's how I understood it.
6) double standards - and that not only applies to America but the whole western world including the Europeans:
just one example: the Taliban, bad guys, violating human rights - we strike them down. The Chinese - they are violating basic human rights - we trade with them and accept every shit they do because they are powerful.
7) of course that last sentence in my last post ("We cannot lower ourselves down to the level of these disgusting terrorists by applying double standards!") was meant to address the general topic of this thread, namely the conditions in camp x-ray and whether the inmates there are POW's or not. It had no connection to KillarneyRose's post.
In this matter I would like to add that the Geneva Convention states that "when in doubt about the status of POW or not, an international tribunal shopuld decide in that matter". There is nothing to agree or disagree about that - the USA signed the document, period!
Of course the reason why this is not happening is that the authorities want to question the el Quaida fighters which they were not allowed to do if they had POW status. However, and here we come back to the double standard: I cannot violate a convention (by not allowing an international tribune to decide whether the guys are POW's or not) just because it is against my interest.
That is a matter of principle and not of wanting and wishing.
And it has nothing to do with my personal opinion that it would of course be desirable to learn as much as we can from those prisoners and that, indeed, they don't deserve better conditions.
All that matters is if we stick to rules that we set up ourselves and if we apply them to everybody regardless of personal distress or emotions.
I hope that was clarifying enough
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Oh, it was very clarifying.
BUT, we have to look at the general public and the opinions and interests that many of the people of this country are having/sharing/expressing. People want answers, people want resluts, and of course people want revenge/blood or whatever.
When people are at a point like that, they can tend to forget about treaties, conventions, documents, agreements and anything else surriounding the rights' or prisoners, possible prisoners, war criminals, etc.
BUT, I will say, I'm damn glad that Bush is in office now. I didn't vote for the feller, but I think he's doing on hell of a job.
d