***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 8 - LIVE THREAD***

Various | 3/27/2003 | Me

[Centurion2000]

Good Morning.

This is the Daily Thread of Operation Iraqi Freedom - LIVE THREAD.

It is designed for general conversation about the events of the day. In depth discussion of events should be left to individual threads - but links to the threads or other articles is highly encouraged. This allows us to stay abreast of the situation in general, while also providing a means of obtaining specific information.

Please have mercy on us dial up limited FReepers! Limit the big graphics, post links instead. A breif description of what the graphic is would help:

Special thanks to null and void for keeping these running over the weekend and Monday, to all of you for keeping these threads alive, the AdminMods for their tolerance, mhking for the video links, and, of course, Belly Girl...

[Catspaw]

Sorry, Dog, I changed channels too late to find out where Ollie is. Maybe Basra.

It is great to hear his reports again. I was getting a little worried about him.

[Timeout]

Darn. The audio broke up when Ollie was explaining how they tell if an EPW is military or civilian. Something about their trapezius muscles...built up from_________[garbled]. Then something about the marks their boots would have made on their feet, even if they're now wearing sandals. This was garbled too. Anyway, they can tell who these guys are.

[oceanperch]

I keep hearing that they cannot show they captured up close according to the Geneva Convention.

What exactly is the Geneva Convention and what does it say about video taping POW's?

[Peach]

Thanks for clarifying (as much as we can at this time)

[Carolina]

Kofi doesn't just want our money. He/the UN wants a cut of the money to "administer" humanitarian aid.

You know, (here's my nasty side showing), what would he be doing now in his native Ghana had Mad Halfbright not inflicted him on us all? As it is, he lives a princely life.

[Nam Vet]

Good morning all. Rats! Only about 3 1/2 - 4 hours of sleep again in the office chair! And I wonder why I'm so tired this last week. Watching FOX coverage, of course.

BTW, I double checked with my Kurd buddy last night, and the troops I reported landing near Mosul TUESDAY night (FR scoops national media again) did NOT have armor. He was very happy though when I told him armor was on the way. Next info I get out of Kurdistan area will be reported here right away.

Nam Vet......P.S....Good Morning Belly-Girl

[Catspaw]

Geneva Convention:

http://193.194.138.190/html/menu3/b/91.htm

[Mr. Mulliner]

I'm not so much concerned about our troops who can take some precaution. I'm concerned about a huge civilian population and the political fallout that could come from this.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Ollie reported that there is a way to tell civilians from military EPWs even in civilian clothes. He said that the military have built up biceps and marks on their legs where they wore boots. Most civilians there wear sandals. Also the best dead giveaway is that the military is better fed than the civilians. Saddam's morons missed that one.

Ollie also reported that they are within 50 miles of Baghdad.

[The Wizard]

all these removed comments, looks like the teenagers were here last night

[Timeout]

The Geneva Convention (GC) governs legalities and illegalities of war-making. Combatants cannot deliberately endanger civilians, all combatants must wear uniform and rank insignia, etc. All nations are subject to the GC.

POW conventions are established in the GC. They musn't be used for propaganda purposes. Ollie just stated something incorrectly. Surrendering prisoners can be televised, including their faces. Once they are secured and officially become EPW's, they can no longer be displayed.

The GC is the basis for war crimes tribunals after the conflict.

[pollyg107]

Thanks to all of you for this thread. I've got to go get dressed for work now. This thread is my only source of news while I'm at the office. I've lost a few pounds during the last week, because I spend my entire lunch break reading FR. I sincerely appreciate your efforts.

[Carolina]

Morning, NV. Does your Kurd buddy think he'll get to visit Kurdistan after this war?

[The Wizard]

I support these comments completely, been here all 8 days, and until now this has been running just fine.....get the program or get out

[Dog]

Another find of Chem suits....F%F was just mentioning it...no details yet.

[An.American.Expatriate]

The Geneva Convention is a set of rules governing the conduct of war. Most famously, the conventions provide details reagrding the treatment of prisoners of war - no forced labour, must feed, cloth & protect etc...

Among these is a paragraph about not publically humiliating a POW (subjecting to public ridicule). This was adopted at a time when prisoners were paraded through the streets and subjected to whims of the masses. Nowadays, this paragraph is interpreted to mean using the POW in a demeaning way for propaganda. There is some debate as to whether a "group" photo of POWs being led into captivity meets this standard (obviously, since that's thats the only photos released, the opposition says it does!!). However, pictures, videos etc.. as released by Iraq and shown on AJ definately fall under this prohibition.

BTW: shooting surrendering soldiers is also against the Geneva Convention as well as using a truce or feigned surrender as a ruse.

[Dog]

Centcom briefing beginning now...

[oceanperch]

My son was laughing at the TV when I looked up I saw the UN guys talking and thought I heard that they where asking for 60 (billion?) dollars for hamanatarian aid. So does each country have to contribute? Didn't Ted Turner give a million once?

[An.American.Expatriate]

Were comments removed?? I'll have to look back...

[Miss Marple]

I am certain the water will be tested immediately, and if any suspicious contaminants are in it they will announce it.

We have not had control of Basra so the burden would be on the Iraqis, not us.

On the other hand, the Arab press makes stuff up about us anyway, so whatever happens is probably immaterial.

I still think we should take out Al Jazeera.