Interrogations of Detainees

[capt. apathy]

13
truth serum is not really experamental anymore so the 'medical experiments or mutalation' clause don't really aply.
17
 while you are only bound to give certain info there is no rule i know of against trying to get more detailed info.
99
if the info is used strictly for inteligence purposes and not for war crimes conviction or the like i don't see where this aplys

[AKDejaVu]

BTW, I'm all for using the truth serum to gather information here.  But I say that in a manner that implies I'm willing to look the other way for it.

If this is used, it will set precident.  That precident is not a good one to have in the books.

AKDejaVu

[-dead-]

Well Sodium Pentathol is basically a short acting barbituate - used as an anaesthetic and with all the attendent side effects and contraindications these drugs have. Thus giving a prisoner an anaesthetic he does not need is hardly "justified by the medical, dental or hospital treatment of the prisoner concerned and carried out in his interest." It's usually injected - which at a push could be considered pyhsical mutilation, and the Geneva Convention does stipulate that the benefit of the doubt always goes to the prisoner's benefit, not the Captor.


I apologize for not quoting Article 17 in full - pay particular attention to the italicized bit:

 

Article 17

Every prisoner of war, when questioned on the subject, is bound to give only his surname, first names and rank, date of birth, and army, regimental, personal or serial number, or failing this, equivalent information. If he wilfully infringes this rule, he may render himself liable to a restriction of the privileges accorded to his rank or status.

Each Party to a conflict is required to furnish the persons under its jurisdiction who are liable to become prisoners of war, with an identity card showing the owner's surname, first names, rank, army, regimental, personal or serial number or equivalent information, and date of birth. The identity card may, furthermore, bear the signature or the fingerprints, or both, of the owner, and may bear, as well, any other information the Party to the conflict may wish to add concerning persons belonging to its armed forces. As far as possible the card shall measure 6.5 x 10 cm. and shall be issued in duplicate. The identity card shall be shown by the prisoner of war upon demand, but may in no case be taken away from him.

No physical or mental torture, nor any other form of coercion, may be inflicted on prisoners of war to secure from them information of any kind whatever. Prisoners of war who refuse to answer may not be threatened, insulted, or exposed to any unpleasant or disadvantageous treatment of any kind.

Prisoners of war who, owing to their physical or mental condition, are unable to state their identity, shall be handed over to the medical service. The identity of such prisoners shall be established by all possible means, subject to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

The questioning of prisoners of war shall be carried out in a language which they understand.

There that should clear up the whole Article 17 confusion. Pretty much emphatically against the old truth serum.

Article 99 stops countries from using the line of "he's guilty of <insert crime here> so we have to inject him with drugs to get information."

[Hangtime]

Juice 'em I say. Wring 'em out like rags, toss the quilty ones out without a chute over their nasty lil countries (deportation; ARVN style) and restore the innocent ones to their gas stations and convienience stores.

(note: I'm sick, and am feeling a mite cranky today.)

[Broes]

In Holland we get information out of people by threatening to have them watch "The Sound of Music" all week long. Really breaks the strongest wills....

Broes

[-lynx-]

Hey -dead- - why didn't you include a definition of a POW as well? Something about a soldier, wearing a uniform and following orders springs to mind. Surely you wouldn't apply that to a terrorist. During the last war spies (as in "no regular soldiers") were routinely shot after interrogation. No Geneva convention, no rights, no mess...

[capt. apathy]

dead,
point taken.  that would definitely apply.

[easymo]

When my dad was a POW.  He was beaten, and tortured  by the North Koreans, and the Chinese for weeks.  We are about the only country that even pays lip service to the Geneva convention anyway.

[JV44]

LOL Broes!

I was always afraid your text lines in Tv (when movie is english) contains hidden messages to screw us up...lol  


Andreas JV44

[-dead-]

Lynx: Absolutely - but I should point out that I was just commenting on Capt Apathy's statement that there was nothing wrong with using truth serum on POWs.

Easymo - Exactly why I reckon every country should abide by the Geneva Convention.
However on the jingoistic last sentence:
The US twice vetoed the application of the Geneva Convention to the messy Israel/Palastine conflict in the UN Security council in 97, and boycotted the meeting of signatories in 99 to investigate violations, and consider enforcement, of the Convention's provisions by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem. It was the first time the signatories had ever gathered to implement its terms.
Does that really sound like the US is "about the only country that even pays lip service to the Geneva convention"? Sounds to me like the US is actively undermining it.

[AKIron]

Get the truth from 'em whatever it takes. Who cares about legal prosecution. Heck, after they confess just turn 'em loose, in NYC  

[Daff]

"No Geneva convention, no rights, no mess"

Yeah, except for a few things called "Law", "Human Rights" and similar subjects.


Daff

[-lynx-]

Daff, next time you want to coment on something don't take it out of context, OK? Simple enough, right? Anyone who has no respect for human life, especially that of defenseless and totally innocent civilians ceases to be a human IMHO. And with that go rights and any other liberal stuff. Turn the other cheek? No thanks.

[StSanta]

Heheheh you Americans should never have called it a war against terrorists.

Now the Geneva convention is working against you.

Go right ahead with the truth serum. When that doesn't work, I am sure torture will.  

[Daff]

Based on your response, it seems that it wasnt taken out of context, but spot on!

Daff