[Prokopton]

"Since al Qaeda is not a state or nation, the conflict in which they were captured was very reasonably characterized as "not of an international character."

What? Is the WOT a "national" conflict? A civil war?
This is, on it's face, absurd.

[UCANSEE2]

"Since al Qaeda is not a state or nation, "


Al-Queda had been trying to establish rule of a country, in each of the nations it had invaded, and attempted to manipulate cooperation through the Islamic religion.

They were in the process of trying to take over Iraq. Saddam had all he could do protecting his palaces and government buildings, and Tikrit.

Al-queda has taken over rule of the outlying provinces, and in the midst of a coup d'etat.

The longterm goal was to take over the world in the name of Islam.

That is 'international character'.

[mvpel]

"Inter-national" - as in "between nations."