“You can’t say that civilization don’t advance, however, for in every war, they kill you in a new way.” Will Rogers
It directs and coordinates the international relief activities conducted by the Movement in situations of conflict. It also endeavours to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles.
Established in 1863, the ICRC is at the origin of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement."
"The ICRC has a legal mandate from the international community. That mandate has two sources:
- the Geneva Conventions, which task the ICRC with visiting prisoners, organizing relief operations, re-uniting separated families and similar humanitarian activities during armed conflicts;
- the ICRC’s Statutes, which encourage it to undertake similar work in situations of internal violence, where the Geneva Conventions do not apply."
Spector (R), Hagel (R), McCain (R), Feinstein (D), and Leahy (D) are in agreement, and so is the International Committee of the Red Cross. And, there are many more people who know that the situation in Guantanamo Bay is morally and politically wrong.
Rumsfeld and the people in charge over in Cuba defend the detention center, but their defenses are weak and without logic. They define these people as dangerous enemy combatants, yet we have no public record of their crimes. Why are they still being held? They are so far out of the terrorism loop after being locked up for years. The real issue is that they aren’t being represented fairly and there is no need to hold them. Well, one reason that has been given is that they might go home and become a member of the insurgancy. This reasoning seems petty in terms of the turmoil their families have suffered in their absence and their quality of life in the dentention center. In other words, the moral reasons given for holding these people are flawed, but there are many, strong moral reasons for releasing them.
Continuing to hold them is sending a negative political message around the world that the US powers that be think they have the right to overturn ICRC work and the Geneva Conventions. We really can’t afford to continue to demoralize these people who are detained, we can’t afford to disregard credible allegations of Quran abuse and prisoner abuse without apologies from those highest up (instead of excuses) and quick actions to make amends, and we can’t afford to make these mistakes that we should have learned from multiple historical events.
Now, Rumsfeld and friends are defaming the ICRC and accusing them of moving out of their job description by working to fight landmines and prisoner abuse and unlawful detainment in Cuba. "Bad, bad Red Cross." It’s not a very successful spin, Rumy.
