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> Red Cross Gets Access to Saddam Loyalists > By JONATHAN FOWLER > Associated Press Writer > The U.S.-led authorities running Iraq have granted > the International Red Cross access to captured > members of Saddam Hussein's former regime... How about 'Red Cross gets access to POWs'? 'POWs' sounds more neutral than "Saddam Loyalists", and more professional. Besides, it is the appropriate word. According to the Geneva Convention these people _are_ POWs, I believe. And the "U.S.-led authorities running Iraq" are simply the 'Occupying Authority'. At least that's the title they bestowed upon themselves via SCR-1483. But it seems the occupiers are trying to avoid the term 'occupation', as the euphemism "Coalition Provisional Authority suggests. (Under international law, occupiers 'belligerent occupants' - regardless of the legality or illegality of a war.) And international law demands that the occupiers allow ICRC access to POWs - they are not 'granting' a favour. > were respecting the 1949 Geneva Conventions.... > > Early in the U.S.-led war on Iraq, the Defense > Department issued a deck of cards showing the 55 > most-wanted Iraqis. Thirty-five are in custody, > 16 remain at large, two -- Saddam's sons Odai and > Qusai -- have been confirmed killed and two reported > killed. Far from "respecting", the occupiers are flaunting the Geneva Convention - and other international laws: Instead, they are going by the cowboy laws of the Wild West. This "deck of cards" of the "most-wanted" is just one example. So is the alleged killing of the Hussein sons. Not allowed under international law. It is regrettable that the ICRC didn't speak up. Henri Dunant must have turned in his grave. Besides, putting a price on the head of people is a clear sign that the US has lost all pretence of the so-called 'civilization' it is always talking about. So have most of the media in this 'civilized' West. Regards, Elga Sutter _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk