Killing an Army that is retreating is part of war, sorry to hurt your delicate sensibilities. IF that was done after a cease fire had been agreed to or if they were trying to surrender then yes you might have a point, but it wasn't - so you don't.
The Iraqis
had agreed to withdraw. Bush decided, for no good rreason, to disregard the agreement and allow his air force to go on a "turkey shoot". Absolutely disgraceful and disturbing. How anyone who claims to be a Christian can display such wanton disregard for human life is beyond me.
As far as the unlawful combatant issue - we have rights and RESPONSABILTIES under the Geneva Convention. This is to protect all troops. If you fight outside the bounds of the convention then you should not expect treatment consistant w/ honorable soldiers.
Bollocks. International Law is not conditional. You either act in accordance with the rules or you don't. It highlights the obsession with revenge that seems to underly a lot of your country's behaviour. Don't you think the most powerful country in the world should act with intelligence and try and set an example of moderation. How can Bush go on about liberty, democracy, justice and freedom with a straight face? The lesson is an obvious one - America couldn't give a flying fuck about those ideals if "America's security" is at stake. I'm sure you don't see a problem with that and therein lies the problem.
Do the Arabs fighting in Afghanistan fall into the following "captured members of irregular forces who are under responsible command; have a fixed distinctive sign (such as an insignia, uniform or other marking) recognizable at a distance; carry arms openly; and conduct their operations in accordance with the laws and customs of war."
I think not
Probably not - but if they aren't members of an opposing army then how can you be fighting a war against them? They are terrorists and therefore criminals and subject to justice under the law. Why are they being held without trial and tried under Military Tribunal. The US is simply making up "law" on the hoof to suit what it wants to do anyway: torture, imprisonment without trial, summary justice and in some cases murder.
I presume I don't need to go back over the glorious history of America's backing for death squads and other "terrorists" who have fought without insignia...
Why not just admit that America under Bush is a vindictive bully that is empowered to do anything it wants, instead of wrapping everything up in crap about liberty and freedom.