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Discourses of difference: civilians, combatants, and compliance with the laws of war

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2006

HELEN M. KINSELLA
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Extract

Why have President Bush and his administration consistently, and publicly, stated their commitment to fully comply with the laws of war protecting civilians while, simultaneously, refusing to fully comply with the laws of war protecting prisoners of war? How do we understand President Bush and his administration’s unquestioning acceptance of the protection of civilians, but the rejection of the same for prisoners of war? Are the strategic and normative costs of each so dissimilar as to justify this difference? Considering the recent exposé of abuses and torture of prisoners of war held in both Iraq and Cuba, the answers to these questions are not merely academic.

Type
Research Article
Information
Review of International Studies , Volume 31 , Supplement S1: Force and Legitimacy in World Politics , December 2005 , pp. 163 - 185
Copyright
© 2005 British International Studies Association

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