The Geneva Conventions and the War on Terror

   The Geneva Conventions are a set of rules, or standards, that were established in 1949. The standards in the Conventions ensure the humane treatment of people captured and detained during times of war.    The Geneva Conventions are essential to the safety of Americans because they protect those in foreign countries that may be captured and detained. The Coventions are meant to ensure safety in circumstances that could be otherwise dangerous and/or deadly in times of war.
   John Yoo and the Justice Department felt that the rules of the Geneva Convention should not apply to al Qaeda because the members were not POWs, they didn't sign the Convention, nor did they follow any of the rules themselves. In fact, they publicly and brutally broad casted executions of captured victims, directly breaking the rules of the agreement.
  In 2002, for the first time in history, President Bush decided not to apply the Geneva Convention standards to al Qaeda due to the nature of the group. This was a huge mistake because when you take away the standards and limitations of what can be done during times of war, the issues become very subjective.