Red Cross calls for respect for humanitarian law

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2003-12/06/content_1216926.htm

GENEVA, Dec. 5 (Xinhuanet) -- The 28th International Conference ofthe Red Cross and Red Crescent this week has been dominated by concerns that the Geneva Conventions governing the rules of war are not properly respected.

Jakob Kellenberger, president of the International Committee ofthe Red Cross (ICRC), warned in his opening address that the war on terror risked undermining international humanitarian law. The ICRC has already protested against the United States over its handling of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay.

Many human rights lawyers consider the United States violates the Geneva Conventions as it refuses to classify the detainees as prisoners of war, calling them "enemy combatants" instead.

It will help erode the respect for humanitarian law. And as theonly superpower in the world, the United States should act as an example, a number of human rights activists say.

<snip>

Gee, I wonder why the American press isn't on top of this?

[sistersofmercy]

1. Funny another site I used to go to a Repub would quote over and

over snips of RC reports on Iraq, bet he doesn't quote this! BTW Billy Pilgrim, thanks for posting all the great news!

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

2. I enjoy the hunt...

But I am seeing more and more local reports of people saying goodbye to sons and daughters. It does get depressing at times.

[sistersofmercy]

3. There is much to be

concerned with, it's overwhelming at times. The only thing that bothers me here, is that some stories just get lost which I interpret as a lack of care for the subject matter, it's a shame sometimes. DF posted a story about boiled and tortured prisoners in Uzbekistan (one of our allies) and it got very few responses. If people payed more attention to international news items they would understand there exists ammo against this misadministration there. Like the hallow, useless bush* UN speech where he blasted about sex trade, it turns out slave trade around the world is a real problem and there's a state department list of countries known to have more than 100 humans trafficke within their borders. Surprise, the US and all its allies are on the list. Why didn't someone fire back at the twit* about this?
There's an AI report on Iraq which clearly states a UN office was bombed in 2000, why didn't someone question this when our gov said "How were we to know" about the UN bombing this year?
I'm ranting

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

4. As you said, "there's so much..."

It's impossible to digest even a portion of the information that we see posted at DU. So often, I'm surprised at what garners attention and what doesn't.

Add to that the fact that we have no idea haw many times something has been read even if it hasn't been commented on. I don't think that it's a case of "lack of care," I think it's just the fact that there is just so damned much.

[kskiska]

5. There used to be a "counter" here

– a box to the right of "number of responses" that showed how many times an article was viewed. It was astounding to see the number of viewers, even if there were very few (or no) hits.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

6. I kind of miss it and I kinda don't...

Definite pluses and minuses... Kind of like the rating system we tried for a while.