[AFPhys]

Would it be legit to use these EPW's to contact their former unit and tell them they're being treated well...AND that they haven't a snowball's chance of prevailing?

The quick answer is that GC forbids coercion, but I suspect there are acceptable methods to do that. I don't know the full answer, but I bet ONA- does...

Weigh in on this, ONA!!! --- PING

[ONA-ASIS]

This area is a little grey, but I would say no. Even if the POW concerned wanted to, I'm pretty sure we couldn't (hence why we haven't had interviews with Iraqi POW's either in this or the first Gulf war).

However, letters from the POW's to their families isn't forbidden under the GC. It's just a matter of getting them to the families (something Saddam won't be keen on at all).