| "#1.. how, exactly is saddam not a prisoner of war? i suppose that by your standard, all those who were captured during the invasion also can't be categorized as pow's?"
He is not a uniformed member of the opposing nation's military. The United States granted him PoW status to ensure that he would be humanely treated.
"#2.. after june 30, the cpa will be dissolved, and therefore, it will be technically illegal for us to continue detaining iraqis."
According to Article 118 of the Geneva Convention Relative to The Treatment of Prisoners of War, PoWs are released "at the cessation of active hostilities."
And it's pretty clear that hostilities are pretty active, and they ain't cessated yet.
"#3.. if he's held under crimes against humanity, then he falls under the u.n.'s jurisdiction - as crimes against humanity are defined under international law. and, again, after june 30, the cpa will legally cease to exist"
Saddam Hussein could easily be held without charges as a material witness to innumerable crimes against humanity. |