Edited by author 06-16-2004 10:55 PM
Hank,

"Some US citizens with alleged Al Queda connections did file a suit, on the basis of US law, which is currently before the Supreme Court."

I am not sure you are right about US citizens suing for violations of the Geneva Conventions. I think they are suing to assert their rights as US citizens, arguing that they cannot be held by the military as unlawful combatants. I think there is a difference. Perhaps someone less lazy than I could see who is right ....

But -- even if I am wrong -- the issue with non-US citizens caught outside the US and held as illegal combatants who are treated as not subject to the Conventions is entirely different. Just wanting (and I am not saying you are) everyone to be subject to the Conventions because it is the nice thing to do is not good enough. Laws exist for a reason, and there is nothing to indicate that it is unreasonable under the current law to treat quasi-soldiers, quasi-terrorists, quasi-civilian, hiders-behind-women-and-children, civilian killers as regular soldiers. (And I am not saying you are arguing to treat them so.)