Re: POW Status?

["LouPaulsen" <LouPaulsen@xxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Eli Stephens" <elishastephens@xxxxxxxxxxx>


> POW's are supposed to be repatriated when a war is over and an
> armistice is signed. But how can a war be over when it was never
> declared? And how can an armistice be signed when the goal (and
> result) of the war is "regime change" and there is no legal authority
> who could sign such an armistice?
>

For that matter, who is going to appear to talk to you about POW's when
every member of the Ba'ath government, or party, is considered to be an
outlaw who can be killed on sight?  This is one of the problems of total
war, war of extermination.  The government, the Ba'ath, the forces of
resistance have no legal protection, no standing with the U.S., every other
government has been starkly warned not to accept them as refugees, etc.
There are no limits on what the US can do with them and there is no force in
the world that has the power to impose limits on the US.  They are all like
escaped death row inmates.  There is no 'social contract' with them any
more.  OK, so what obligations do they have to POWs or anyone else?

LP