Are the Iraqis mistreating American prisoners of war when they display them on television?
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has criticized the Iraqi telecasts, arguing that the Geneva Convention prohibits photographing or humiliating prisoners of war. Some legal scholars disagree. The Geneva Convention says prisoners must be protected against “insults and public curiosity.” It also prohibits “outrages upon personal dignity; in particular, humiliating and degrading treatment.” Unlike Iraqi television, American television has not shown interviews with Iraqi prisoners — though it is common to see footage of Iraqi prisoners. 4) What is the fedayeen? The fedayeen is a 20,000-strong militia commanded by Saddam Hussein’s son Qusay. It serves two purposes in the Iraq war: fighting coalition soldiers and preventing regular Iraqi soldiers from surrendering. Fedayeen, Arabic for “fighters willing to die for the cause,” is used to describe fighters in several countries. Saddam’s Fedayeen is typically used to attack and torture opponents of the regime and to ensure the loyalty of regul
