Comments on: Colombia Misused Red Cross Symbol in Betancourt Rescue

By: Fersboo

Fersboo — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:30:16 +0000

I agree with Yetanotherjohn, if one side is abusing the rule set, than it would only seem right that the other side be allowed to disregard the rules.

As to RC workers or press being killed because of this incident or incidents similar, maybe they should stop letting their organizations be used by groups like FARC, HAMAS, AQII, etc. etc. ad nauseum.

By: Steve Plunk

Steve Plunk — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:13:47 +0000

Is rescuing civilian hostages a military mission even though military personnel are used? Perhaps it is a law enforcement action. Are law enforcement actions covered under the Geneva Conventions? No shots were fired and the rebels were not harassed in any way so it seems it was only a rescue mission. Thoughts?

By: rpk

rpk — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:43:23 +0000

I would be much more concerned if I had seen the same concern over the years when certain misunderstood Muslim groups routinely used ambulances to move men and supplies, posted fake photos of Israel bombed ambulances, and generally violated all conventions on the treatment of prisoners. As noted above, when only one side is complying it is a disadvantage to the side that follows the "rules".

By: William d'Inger

William d'Inger — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:08:44 +0000

The answer is simple. Hold an open and honest trial in the full glare of a free press, and if the miscreant is guilty, give him/her a stiff penalty. That way, both the good guys and the bad guys will know where Columbia stands on the issue.

By: The Florida Masochist

The Florida Masochist — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:36:28 +0000

This all reminds me of the James Bond novel and book, On Her Majesty's Secret Service. In both, Bond employs the help of the head of the Union Corse(Marc Ange Draco) and his men to attack Blofeld's HQ in Switzerland. They do it by impersonating a Red Cross flight.(In the movie they were supposed to be bringing supplies to Italian flood relief victims) While flying there, the Swiss air force(Does neutral Switzerland really have an AF?) sends up fighters as ATC tells the helicopters to land. No flight plan had been followed. Draco, unphased by all this blarneys his way on to the target. By telling ATC and the fighters he is carrying passengers. "You're carrying passengers?" "Of course I'm carrying passengers, distinguished representatives of the World Press." The planes and ATC then leave Draco and Bond's flight alone

By: John425

John425 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:18:27 +0000

I'm ready to believe that the Red Cross sanctity is an anachronism. Today's warfare is against those to whom the sign of the Cross is anathema and the wearing of one only invites additional violence against the wearer.

By: fredw

fredw — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:16:49 +0000

What's the big deal; the Geneva Conventions are "quaint and outdated" (Alberto Gonzales US Attn Gen) , remember. The important thing was rescuing the hostages, we'll worry about the ramifications in the future, in the future.

By: Anderson

Anderson — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:21:13 +0000

YAJ, that's not the point.

The point is that some Red Cross workers who otherwise would've lived, will end up being dead after too many incidents like this, because bad guys who otherwise would've trusted them, won't.

Bad guys are indeed bad, hence the name, but bad is not always a synonym for utterly depraved. Even bad guys typically like babies and candy and neutral third parties who minister to the wounded. (Al Qaeda is one of a few exceptions, I'm sure, but not everyone bad is al Qaeda.)

By: yetanotherjohn

yetanotherjohn — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:10:57 +0000

Actually, it only works if both sides are playing by the same set of rules. If only one side is playing by those rules, it just becomes an advantage to the other side. Isn't there something in the geneva convention about not chaining prisoners neck to walls also?