"In a rare admission of violating the Geneva Conventions on prisoners of war..."
Oh, so it's not 'consistent with the principles' of the Geneva Convention anymore?
Glad we got that cleared up, because I thought the President had announced his dedication to the principles behind the convention, even though some of the prisoners in our custody are not legally POWs.
Statement by the Press Secretary on the Geneva Convention May, 2003.
What this announcement signifies is the President's dedication to the importance of the Geneva Convention and to the principles that the Geneva Convention holds. In terms of the treatment of the prisoners, even though the President has determined that they will not be treated legally as prisoners of war, they will be afforded every courtesy and every value that this nation applies to treating people well while they're in our custody. So it will not change their material life on a day-to-day basis; they will continue to be treated well because that's what the United States does.
Now, that was specifically regarding prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, although, one year later,
And when it comes to Iraq, we are bound by the Geneva Convention. It is our policy to adhere to all of our laws and our treaty obligations...
...the President set out some guidelines when it comes to the enemy combatants and the detainees that you may be referring to at Guantanamo Bay, for instance. Al Qaeda obviously was not a signatory to the Geneva Conventions. But the President set out some broad and clear guidelines stating that these detainees should be treated humanely and consistent with the Geneva Conventions...
...the President's guidelines were very clear; they should be treated humanely and consistent with the Geneva Conventions.
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan (May 12, 2004)
Interesting References:
White House Press Briefings
Former U.S. Officials Say Bush Must Go
9/11 Commission
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