Posted on 10/19/2005 8:54:52 AM PDT by Rebelbase
US soldiers in Afghanistan burnt the bodies of dead Taliban and taunted their opponents about the corpses, in an act deeply offensive to Muslims and in breach of the Geneva conventions.
An investigation by SBS's Dateline program, to be aired tonight, filmed the burning of the bodies.
It also filmed a US Army psychological operations unit broadcasting a message boasting of the burnt corpses into a village believed to be harbouring Taliban.
According to an SBS translation of the message, delivered in the local language, the soldiers accused Taliban fighters near Kandahar of being "cowardly dogs". "You allowed your fighters to be laid down facing west and burnt. You are too scared to retrieve their bodies. This just proves you are the lady boys we always believed you to be," the message reportedly said.
"You attack and run away like women. You call yourself Taliban but you are a disgrace to the Muslim religion, and you bring shame upon your family. Come and fight like men instead of the cowardly dogs you are."
The burning of a body is a deep insult to Muslims. Islam requires burial within 24 hours.
Under the Geneva conventions the burial of war dead "should be honourable, and, if possible, according to the rites of the religion to which the deceased belonged".
US soldiers said they burnt the bodies for hygiene reasons but two reporters, Stephen Dupont and John Martinkus, said the explanation was unbelievable, given they were in an isolated area.
SBS said Australian special forces in Afghanistan were operating from the same base as the US soldiers involved in the incident, although no Australians took part in the action.
The incident is reminiscent of the psychological techniques used in Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison.
in breach of the Geneva conventions.
The Talibani are not signatories to the Geneva conventions, so it’s is impossible for our treatment of them to be in breach of those conventions.
The fact that they behead their prisoners alive might have given the journalist some clue as to the inablicability of those rules in this conflict.
Geneva Conventions either apply to both parties or neither. In this case, the Islamic terrorists, who are war criminals on a scale not seen in living memory, are not parties to the GC and thus can claim no protection under its provisions.
Hillary's not going to like this.
I find it outrageous that a newspaper that purports itself to be anything other than a tool of the enemy, would publish this.
It does absolutely no good.
Its one thing to rub crap in the faces of the Taliban, they deserve it, but to publicize this tactic at home is treason.
It is the equivalent of showing how we interrogated Japanese soldiers in WWII to get information that could save lives. We did not publicize the methods because it would have turned our own people against us. Like making sausage, some things are best not viewed by the general public.
Next time, maybe they shouldn't wait until they're dead?
Islamic fascists fighters do not fall under the rules of the Geneva Convention. They are "unlawful combatants", not regular Army soldiers who are protected under International rules and laws.
Under the United States military "Law of Armed Conflict" (LOAC) rules, the Taliban fighters are not given the same rights and privileges as would be awarded lawful combatants.
For instance, LOAC rules state that an opposing force must wear a distinct and recognizable military uniform. This is a big deal. If any military soldier, airman, or seaman is caught behind enemy lines not wearing his uniform, he is treated as a spy, and there are no POW, Geneva Convention, or International laws to protect him or her.
The Taliban chooses to fight outside the laws of the Geneva Convention, yet this liberal Australian newspaper wants them awarded such a privilege.
No dice.
Hopefully they poured pig fat over the bodies first to help perpetuate the conflagration......
It takes about 20 seconds for my browser (Mazilla) to put up the page. Every other site loads instantly on my computer...and YES...I AM LOGGED IN! ;^)
Notice that the Australian writers were quick to point out that none of their soldiers took part in this event.
I having the same problems. V e r y s l o w
Burning corpses is allowed, even under Geneva conventions.
The media is trying to slam the nation as usual. As others point out, these terrorists burn corpses all the time, film beheadings, etc. They show NO respect for any other religion, I'll be damned we should respect theirs.
Osama could have come claimed the bodies of his relatives, but he didn't show up.
Something about whole this thing smells.
First. don't assume this video exists and is true IE. I can edit and photo shop anyhting to look like a war crime
and second the PSYOP message has been in use for over two years, I came up with it when we were going after Taliban in Zabol province we printed it on leaflets and also braodcast it on the ludspeakers from helicopters. it really pissed them off and they would come out and fight after we used this message
"taunted their opponents about the corpses, in an act deeply offensive to Muslims"
Cry me a river. Flying planes filled with civilians into buildings full of people just trying to make a living was "deeply offensive" to me and all of us. These Taliban and Al Qaeda slime started this thing. If the cry baby sub-humans don't like it, maybe they should think twice next time before bringing it with the USA. And maybe the cry baby sub-humans at the Sydney rag ought to talk about the corpese of charred Australians killed in the two Bali bombings instead of wringing their hands over the treatment of Taliban beasts.
Boo-frickin-hoo...
Good question...they're not so "tough" now that they're out of power. F**k the Taliban!
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