Russia condemns United States for human rights record...Russia condemns us..What's next? China condemning the U.S as well?

[Dodece]

I wonder if we can't cut the bullshit in this discussion right now. The prisoners that the United States holds down in Guantanamo Bay to the best of our knowledge are terrorists. They have chosen to engage in a war without any kind of state backing, and have conducted themselves in a way that is contrary to the laws of civilized warfare. No soldier is permitted to wear civilian dress, and hide within a civilian population. We have a word for that, and they are called spies, and yes under the Geneva Conventions they have no rights. If a nation captures a spy it has a right to execute them without trial, and technically speaking that nation has every right to torture them as much as they want.

If you want to be even more technical about it, or anal about it as the case may be. Terrorists are not signatories to the Geneva Conventions. They don't have a legal right to the protections that document affords. Just as they are not obligated to conduct themselves in accordance with them. Which they themselves actively refuse to do. You cannot actively deny something, and hide behind something at the same time. Until they get the sanction of a state. Which cannot only take responsibility but resolve a war. They have no way to be released. They cannot surrender, and obey orders to cease hostilities. Releasing them is just the same as arming them, and putting them back on the battlefield.

The United States has no affirmative obligation to these people. Not that these people have any regard for the way civilized human beings conduct themselves anyway. So they probably don't even appreciate the fact that the United States is actually pretty fair with them given what they have done. From all we have heard these people may have been scared, shamed, or irritated. They haven't however been killed, physically harmed, or in fact been driven to madness. They belong in those cages, because they are dangerous animals.

As for drone strikes, and collateral civilian casualties. Once again the United States isn't hiding active soldiers in the middle of apartment complexes. I hear a lot of bitching, but no real solutions for how to root out people that are actively attacking Americans. Well any ideas beyond surgical strikes. I suppose you want what armed soldiers risking their valuable lives for a person who ain't worth shit. Who are often being shielded by people who know what they are, but either don't care, or fully support what they are doing. I am sorry, but the United States has tried time and again to not have to use drones.

They have tried to use the Pakistani intelligence services which is full of traitors. Who warn the terrorists that they are coming. The United States has handed out fliers. Offered rewards for information. Hell just about everything short of dropping bombs from the stratosphere. Guess what the bombs are the only things that seem to actually work. All I get from complaints about civilian casualties is a desire to surrender.

That all said I am most disturbed by the nihilism on display in this thread. How the United States treats terrorists who murder, cheat, and use children as shields. Is in no way comparable to a state that jails women for singing a song in a church asking for god to kill a petty tyrant. If you can't see the distinction between those two things then you are completely and utterly fucking lost.