A Need for Policy on Detainees
Abstract
To date there are no official rules for the handling of Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Detainees. The United States uses the Geneva Conventions, which was intended for conflicts between nations, as a rough guide but does not afford GWOT Detainees protections that are specified by the Geneva Conventions. Instead, various military documents are used to guide the handling of Detainees. However, the most current documents the United States uses are difficult to apply and they date prior to the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. The United States needs a policy that clearly defines the status and treatment of GWOT Detainees to avoid abuses, facilitate prosecution, and maintain credibility. The application of current detention operations is made difficult by the confusion over the differences among Prisoners of War, Civilian Internees, and Detainees. The United States has gone far too long without a policy to guide the handling of GWOT Detainees. This lack of policy guidance has contributed to abuses and marred the United States' reputation in the international community. Only through the creation of a published policy covering all applicable areas of detainee rights and the correct application of that policy, will the United States avoid further incidents and gain back the credibility it has lost.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 07, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA503982
Entities
People
- D. F. Workman
Organizations
- Marine Corps University