Bush's Geneva policy won't halt U.S. degradation and torture of people

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N12327051.htm

MIAMI, July 12 (Reuters) - The U.S. military order to apply basic provisions of the Geneva Conventions to terrorism detainees at Guantanamo Bay does not mean they will get the Swiss francs, parcels from home or full protections afforded to recognized prisoners of war, experts said on Wednesday. snip

FBI agents have described witnessing interrogations at Guantanamo that included chaining prisoners to the floor and leaving them to urinate and defecate on themselves, subjecting them to freezing cold and depriving them of sleep.

Yet military officials insisted the new policy will not have much effect because humane treatment has always been the standard. They portray violations as isolated infractions.

"Those have been addressed. People have been held accountable for their actions ...," said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman.

Critics note there is still room for debate on what constitutes degrading or humiliating treatment. And the Pentagon's order applies only to the military, not to other agencies like the CIA, which is alleged to have secret detention centers around the globe.

[HockeyMom]

1. How would we want our soldiers to be treated

if captured? That is an easy rule of thumb.