# The Iraqi Prisoner Shell Game **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 17, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iraqi-prisoner-shell-game/250770 "2004-06-17T00:35:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iraqi-prisoner-shell-game/250770/1 "2004-06-17T00:35:10Z")
With evidence of abuse and violation of international codes, if not law, coming out daily, another piece of the puzzle slides into place. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5226957/](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5226957/) > [@](#): > > In the military’s own investigation into prisoner abuse, Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba said efforts to hide prisoners from the Red Cross were “deceptive” and a “violation of international law.” > > Pentagon officials claim it’s entirely lawful to hold prisoners in secret if they pose an immediate threat. But today, nearly one year after his capture, he’s still being held incommunicado. > > In fact, once the prisoner was returned to Iraq, the interrogations ceased because the prisoner was entirely lost in the system. > > Human rights critics call it a clear violation of the Geneva Conventions. > > Tom Malinowski of Human Rights Watch said, “If they thought he was such a threat that he could not get Red Cross visits, then how come such a threatening prisoner got lost in the system?” > > Pentagon officials still insist Rumsfeld acted legally, but admit it all depends on how you interpret the law. They say that for every crime a criminal is arrested for, he commits a hundred more. Was this yet another case of the Admin’s rather liberal “interpretation of the law”? Not only did they try to cover up abuse from the ICRC, now they’re keeping them off the books entirely and not admitting they exist. What a solution to that pesky problem. How can this kind of behavior be acceptable? ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iraqi-prisoner-shell-game/250770/2 "2004-06-17T01:17:56Z")
[The Eternal Answer] **9/11! A Few Bad Apples! Hey, look, we arrested a terrorist!** [/The Eternal Answer] Lately the answer is, we’ve arrested some enlisted folks, the “investigation continues”, what more do you want? Deny, deny, deny. Failing that, delay, delay, delay. They’re just praying that they can keep this out of the halls of the Pentagon until after Election Day… ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iraqi-prisoner-shell-game/250770/3 "2004-06-17T01:26:34Z")
Geneva convention ain’t perfect, but it’s something the US helped create and is a signatory too. I’m not so naive as to think that there are no abuses, but what’s been seen so far sure smells like systematic contravention of the Geneva Convention rather than a few rouge elements. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iraqi-prisoner-shell-game/250770/4 "2004-06-17T06:03:13Z")
Why is it every time I think this Administration can’t horrify or embarass the nation any further, they go right ahead and do so? Geez louise, stuff like this makes lying about a blowjob positively _quaint._ ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iraqi-prisoner-shell-game/250770/5 "2004-06-17T14:11:47Z")
> [@China Guy](#): > > Geneva convention ain’t perfect, but it’s something the US helped create and is a signatory too. I’m not so naive as to think that there are no abuses, but what’s been seen so far sure smells like systematic contravention of the Geneva Convention rather than a few rouge elements. I’ve gotta ask… Considering we’re seeing memos written by underlings )at the direction of their bosses) that were specifically written as a way to attempt to justify doing the limbo under the Geneva Convention Bar…how the hell do people actually even possibly just a tiny bit think that it ISN’T “systematic contravention of the Geneva Convention”? I mean, fuck, the memo should probably have been entitled “Justifications to use if we’re caught systematically contravening the Geneva Convention”! -Joe, contravene THIS! \<\> ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iraqi-prisoner-shell-game/250770/6 "2004-06-17T14:48:35Z")
NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! BUSH GOOD! CLINTON BAD! CLINTON BAAAAD! BUSH GREAT AMERICAN, CLINTON SLIMEBALL! I’m not LISTENING TO YOU! LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA!!! ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iraqi-prisoner-shell-game/250770/7 "2004-06-17T19:01:31Z")
> [@China Guy](#): > > a few rouge elements. Like J. Edgar Hoover? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iraqi-prisoner-shell-game/250770/8 "2004-06-17T19:56:13Z")
Exactly how many times do you need to violate the Geneva Convention and other international laws before it stops being “Oh, boys will be boys!” and starts being “war criminal that we need to invade and overthrow”?