Reply #19: The abuse is a direct result of Bush's views on treaties

[Gothmog]

Back in 2002 Bush decided that the Geneva Convention was not important and the US did not have comply with the provisions as to POWs for the Afghan detainees. The Geneva Convention is clear that all battlefield detainees must be treated as POWs unless and until a competent tribunal determines that such detainee does not qualify for POW status.

Bush and Rummy decided to ignore the Geneva Convention because they did not want to be hampered by the pesky rules on interrogations of POWs.

The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, the International Red Cross, the EU Parliament, OAS and numerous legal experts have all concluded that the US is violating the Geneva Convention. This is part of a pattern of lawlessness that lead to the abuse/torture of these detainees and Bush is responsible.