Media Does not Know a Damn Thing!

Now first off, I should tell you that I am not in the United States right now. I am in Iraq, where the fighting is taking place daily. So, I am not (thankfully) watching the onslaught of coverage of the Marine who shot a rouge belligerent (who the media call an insurgent). For if I were, I would (I am sure) be yelling at the TV in a futile attempt at trying to get the idiot talkinghead to hear me, "You fool! the Geneva convention does not apply to rouge belligerents! Agggh!"

In my net surfing, I have read several commentators say the same thing; the Geneva Convention does not apply. On the left, there is a furor over this interpretation of international law. The fact that it is the correct interpretation does not matter to the left. Now, I am not advocating a wholesale disregard for the GC by the United States. It is wise for the US to adhere to the GC in this war even though the other side does not. However, it should be kept in mind that in the long run, they just do not apply to belligerents who do not wear a uniform and does not fight in a recognized Army.

Moreover, assuming for argument sake the GC does apply to these belligerents, in the Marine's case (from the reported facts) he would be justified in the shooting. One of the well known (except in media social circles) tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) of the rouge belligerents is to fake death or injury and then shoot as the soldier or Marine gets near. Moreover, even if the person were dead, another TTP of the belligerent is to booby trap the dead body. In fact, some Marines were killed and injured (in the very Fallujah action) by both booby-trapped bodies and wounded soldiers pretending to surrender. As a result, the belligerents have forfeited the (perceived) right under the GC by their violation of the GC with these TTP. Another blatant violation (if the GC applies) is the use of places of worship as a military garrison (to store weapons) or attack from. The Marines were attacked repeatedly from that mosque. If anyone should be condemned for GC violations (again assuming they apply) it would be the media's favorite cause the "insurgents" fighting the Marines. (This argument does not, of course, even get into the sawing off the heads [of civilians who's crime is just being present in Iraq (and God forbid helping the Iraqis)] by that same darling of the media known as insurgents)

There are some great articles on the web on this subject I would commend:
"Damned if they do, Dead if they don't" by Mark Alexander
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/markalexander/ma20041119.shtml

Also, "War Crimes?" by Oliver North
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/ollienorth/on20041119.shtml