Steve,

>The US government does not consider those prisoners to be prisoners of war. They are considered to be "unlawful combatants," so the government claims that the Geneva convention does not apply.

>Google will show many links on this, here's one:

>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1773140.stm

From the above link:

"Airlifting suspects from Afghanistan to Cuba has been highly controversial. The conditions under which they are being held have drawn widespread international criticism."

"US officials have stressed that the pictures show the inmates who had just landed at the base. The detainees are not manacled or blindfolded while in their cells. "

"The US has allowed the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit the camp, and the Red Cross recommendations have been accommodated where possible. "

"Referring to the conditions, Mr Rumsfeld said: "It's not going to be a country club, but it is going to be humane."

Think Mr Rumsfeld is not the best person to talk about humanity.

This is a unilateral position of the U.S. government, to fit their needs.

Last night I was watching BBC TV, and in a news program they were discussing this subject (Geneva Convention), and interviewed a Red Cross official. He pointed out exactly the same point we are discussing now: both countries (the U.S. and Iraq) disrespected the convention, starting with the U.S., then they showed the Afeganistan POWs in Guantanamo, marching in chains in theirs orange clothes.

Regards,

Fernando