Stick with first plan

The captured al Qaeda fighters that are currently being held at the U.S. military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, are part of an international gang of terrorists. Their operations transcend political boundaries and are a threat to every nation in the world. They are, by their very nature, not protected by a convention designed to regulate international warfare between individual and clearly-defined states or governments. \nThe language of the Convention is also clear about the status of detained Taliban soldiers. According to Article II, "the present Convention shall apply to all cases of declared war or of any other armed conflict which may arise between two or more of the High Contracting Parties…" Given that the Taliban regime was not a signatory party to the Convention, its soldiers are not covered by it, either.\nArticle II goes on to state that countries that did sign the Convention are still bound by its provisions in their relations with non-signatories if "the latter accepts and applies the conditions thereof." But the U.S. and the United Nations have never recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. Taliban officers did not have the authority to deny or accept the conditions of the Convention, even before Sept. 11. \nIn order for Geneva to apply now, the U.S. would have to unilaterally reverse the position of the entire international community and recognize the Taliban as having once been the legitimate government of Afghanistan. \nSince day one, the Bush Administration has bent over backwards to treat the detainees at Guantanamo Bay fairly, even though it was clear that the Geneva Convention did not apply. They have been provided with medical attention, three culturally correct meals each day and have even been given free copies of the Koran. None of the detainees have been mistreated. \nThe language of the Convention is clear. The president should have stuck with what he knew was right, instead of giving in to political pressure from his opponents.