BTW jkat – wish i could just agree with you – i do in a philosophical kind of way – not in a real world kind of way. Wish i could see the world so black and riight, i mean white, i sees far too much grey.

Geneva Conventions ..

Article 3

1. Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention, or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction founded on race, colour, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria.

To this end the following acts are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to the above-mentioned persons:

(a) Violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture;

(b) Taking of hostages;

(c) Outrages upon personal dignity, in particular, humiliating and degrading treatment;

hope that clears this up ..

Article 1
For the purposes of this Convention, torture means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions.

there ya go .. now you too can “know” .. it’s not your personal decision.. the definition is a matter of law .. an individual’s particular or willful ignorance or inability to ascertain or understand doesn’t enter into the matter at all .. it’s a matter of definition not left to individual discretion ..

what is injury? sleep deprivation? being lied to? waterboarding?

Just don’t know

http://www.zimbio.com/Daniel+P…..HAMMED+100

and as to the past:

“Should any American soldier be so base and infamous as to injure any [prisoner]. . . I do most earnestly enjoin you to bring him to such severe and exemplary punishment as the enormity of the crime may require. Should it extend to death itself, it will not be disproportional to its guilt at such a time and in such a cause… for by such conduct they bring shame, disgrace and ruin to themselves and their country.” – George Washington, charge to the Northern Expeditionary Force, Sept. 14, 1775

there ya go .. Dust .. hasn’t changed a bit for those who’ve worn/wear the uniform for the past 233 years …