April 18, 2008...8:35 am
Genva Convention Only Applies To U.S.
The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols are part of international humanitarian law – a whole system of legal safeguards that cover the way wars may be fought and the protection of individuals.
They specifically protect people who do not take part in the fighting (civilians, medics, chaplains, aid workers) and those who can no longer fight (wounded, sick and shipwrecked troops, prisoners of war).
The Conventions and their Protocols call for measures to be taken to prevent (or put an end to) what are known as “grave breaches“; those responsible for breaches must be punished.
The Geneva Conventions have been acceded to by 194 States and enjoy universal acceptance. [Personal Comment -- EXCEPT if you are a member of the United State's Military.]
Above taken from the International Committee of the Red Cross - the ICRC.
>>>>> *****<<<<<
Private Matt Maupin, a local soldier captured 4 yrs ago and listed as missing in action. His remains were finally discovered this past weekend March 29-30, 2008). He would have been 24 this July.
The insurgants put him on video after they captured him and televised it. Shortly thereafter another video was seen of a soldier as he was beheaded.
But his family firmly believed it wasn’t him. All we know is that his remains have been found, whether or not he was actually beheaded, we don’t know (and they complain about how we treat our captives). His family now has closure.
President Bush called and offered his condolences. Matt’s family has been to the White House several times at the request of the President. His family is not bitter that he served and paid the ultimate price. They are extremely proud of him. His family and many of their friends even marched in our local annual Baseball Opening Day Parade on Monday, proudly carrying Flags in honor of their son.
I think President John F. Kennedy expressed it rather well when he said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.
” God Bless Matt Maupin, and all of our soldiers, Veterans, past, present, future, living and deceased. Long Live Freedom.”
1 Comment
April 18, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Very well said. Yes, God Bless his family and all those who are serving and have served. I have a blogger on my site (Wyld’s Q&A) who is currently a Marine (just got back from Iraq not too long ago, after more than a year there). He has an incredible video clip called “Warriors” he posted a few days ago. It’s several minutes long, but almost brought me to tears.
Leave a Reply