12 John Yoo Quotes for You to Enjoy

John Yoo

American Educator

Born: Jul 10, 1967

Al Al-Qaeda Any Future Legal War

Related authors: Bill Nye Booker T. Washington Horace Mann John W. Gardner Michael Pollan Michael Porter Temple Grandin Timothy Leary

In light of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, critics are arguing that abuses of Iraqi prisoners are being produced by a climate of disregard for the laws of war. John Yoo

War Light Prison Ghraib Scandal Critics Laws Arguing Abu Abuse Climate Prisoners Iraqi Being Produced Disregard

The effort to blur the lines between Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib reflects a deep misunderstanding about the different legal regimes that apply to Iraq and the war against al Qaeda. John Yoo

It is important to recognize the differences between the war in Iraq and the war on terrorism. The treatment of those detained at Abu Ghraib is governed by the Geneva Conventions, which have been signed by both the U.S. and Iraq. John Yoo

War Terrorism Important Differences Those Ghraib Recognize Signed Detained Both Abu Between Geneva Governed Been Iraq Conventions Which Treatment

Nonetheless, Article 5 makes clear that if an Iraqi civilian who is not a member of the armed forces, has engaged in attacks on Coalition forces, the Geneva Convention permits the use of more coercive interrogation approaches to prevent future attacks. John Yoo

Future Approaches Member Civilian More Prevent Attacks Clear Armed Armed Forces Geneva Geneva Convention Forces Makes Nonetheless Permits Iraqi Article Convention Engaged Use Coalition Coalition Forces Who Coercive Interrogation

While Taliban fighters had an initial claim to protection under the conventions, they lost POW status by failing to obey the standards of conduct for legal combatants: wearing uniforms, a responsible command structure, and obeying the laws of war. John Yoo

War Legal Obey Protection Lost Claim Responsible Status Wearing Obeying Laws Structure Had POW Failing Taliban Command Conduct Conventions While Uniforms Fighters Standards Initial

This is not to condone torture, which is still prohibited by the Torture Convention and federal criminal law. John Yoo

Law Criminal Prohibited Criminal Law Torture Federal Still Condone Convention Which

It has never demonstrated any desire to provide humane treatment to captured Americans. If anything, the murders of Nicholas Berg and Daniel Pearl declare al Qaeda's intentions to kill even innocent civilian prisoners. John Yoo

Innocent Humane Daniel Civilian Never Prisoners Provide American Any Intentions Anything Declare Even Captured Al Pearl Desire Treatment

Al Qaeda operates by launching surprise attacks on civilian targets with the goal of massive casualties. Our only means for preventing future attacks, which could use WMDs, is by acquiring information that allows for pre-emptive action. John Yoo

Once the attacks occur, as we learned on Sept. 11, it is too late. It makes little sense to deprive ourselves of an important, and legal, means to detect and prevent terrorist attacks while we are still in the middle of a fight to the death with al Qaeda. John Yoo

Death Legal Fight Too Late Important Sense Too Late Once Ourselves Detect Prevent Attacks Learned Makes Terrorist Occur Still Middle While Little Deprive Means Sept Al Al-Qaeda

American soldiers had to guard prisoners on the inside while receiving mortar and weapons fire from the outside. Guantanamo is distant from any battlefield, making it far more secure. John Yoo

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