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03 LC 21 7492
House Resolution
768
By: Representatives White of the 3rd, Post 2, Yates of the 85th, Post 1, Wilkinson of the 41st, Douglas of the 73rd, Amerson of the 9th, and others
By: Representatives White of the 3rd, Post 2, Yates of the 85th, Post 1, Wilkinson of the 41st, Douglas of the 73rd, Amerson of the 9th, and others
A RESOLUTION
Commending the bravery of the American armed forces and
demanding treatment of American prisoners of war in accordance with the Third
Geneva Convention; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the armed forces of the United States currently at war with Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom have now largely taken control of Baghdad and are continuing efforts to pacify the country; and
WHEREAS, a number of American military personnel have been taken prisoner by the Iraqi military and the possibility of more Americans falling into Iraqi hands is still very real, while American forces are holding thousands of Iraqi soldiers who were captured or surrendered; and
WHEREAS, the Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, signed in Geneva on August 12, 1949, commonly known as the "Geneva Convention," prescribes international rules concerning the treatment of prisoners of war, and more than 190 nations, including the United States and Iraq, are parties to that agreement; and
WHEREAS, Article 12 of the Third Geneva Convention requires the humane treatment of prisoners of war and provides that they be protected against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity; and
WHEREAS, Article 17 of the agreement prohibits the infliction of physical or mental torture or any other form of coercion upon prisoners of war in order to obtain information of any kind and protects prisoners who refuse to answer questions from threats, insults, or exposure to unpleasant or disparate treatment; and
WHEREAS, Article 23 of the document provides that a prisoner of war may not at any time be sent to or detained in areas in which they may be exposed to the fire of the combat zone, nor may a prisoner´s presence be used as a shield from military operations; and
WHEREAS, the convention requires that a government holding prisoners of war grant representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross free access to all prisoners of war; and
WHEREAS, the government of the United States is treating captured members of the Iraqi military forces in accordance with the Third Geneva Convention and is facilitating Red Cross access to these prisoners; and
WHEREAS, the Iraqi government has splintered and it is impossible to point to an entity in charge of the armed forces, so that each Iraqi military commander of any rank of any unit, great or small, must consider himself a representative of the government and will be held personally responsible for complying with the Geneva Convention with regard to the treatment of American prisoners of war.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body commend the bravery and professionalism of the members of the American armed forces in the prosecution of the war against Iraq.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body condemn any mistreatment of American prisoners of war and insist that any Iraqi military personnel who have charge of American prisoners of war treat them in accordance with the Third Geneva Convention.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the public and the press.
WHEREAS, the armed forces of the United States currently at war with Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom have now largely taken control of Baghdad and are continuing efforts to pacify the country; and
WHEREAS, a number of American military personnel have been taken prisoner by the Iraqi military and the possibility of more Americans falling into Iraqi hands is still very real, while American forces are holding thousands of Iraqi soldiers who were captured or surrendered; and
WHEREAS, the Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, signed in Geneva on August 12, 1949, commonly known as the "Geneva Convention," prescribes international rules concerning the treatment of prisoners of war, and more than 190 nations, including the United States and Iraq, are parties to that agreement; and
WHEREAS, Article 12 of the Third Geneva Convention requires the humane treatment of prisoners of war and provides that they be protected against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity; and
WHEREAS, Article 17 of the agreement prohibits the infliction of physical or mental torture or any other form of coercion upon prisoners of war in order to obtain information of any kind and protects prisoners who refuse to answer questions from threats, insults, or exposure to unpleasant or disparate treatment; and
WHEREAS, Article 23 of the document provides that a prisoner of war may not at any time be sent to or detained in areas in which they may be exposed to the fire of the combat zone, nor may a prisoner´s presence be used as a shield from military operations; and
WHEREAS, the convention requires that a government holding prisoners of war grant representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross free access to all prisoners of war; and
WHEREAS, the government of the United States is treating captured members of the Iraqi military forces in accordance with the Third Geneva Convention and is facilitating Red Cross access to these prisoners; and
WHEREAS, the Iraqi government has splintered and it is impossible to point to an entity in charge of the armed forces, so that each Iraqi military commander of any rank of any unit, great or small, must consider himself a representative of the government and will be held personally responsible for complying with the Geneva Convention with regard to the treatment of American prisoners of war.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body commend the bravery and professionalism of the members of the American armed forces in the prosecution of the war against Iraq.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body condemn any mistreatment of American prisoners of war and insist that any Iraqi military personnel who have charge of American prisoners of war treat them in accordance with the Third Geneva Convention.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the public and the press.