Potential charges against U.S. for violations of the Geneva Convention

I begin this post with the words of Colin Powell given to President Bush when Powell was Secretary of State in the Bush Administration, "If you break it, you own it!" Indeed we have broken the State of Iraq. And in doing so, the Bush Administration, as well as our allies, did not give adequate consideration to Powell's much quoted words. Now this President and Vice President, representing our country in all our names, may not have paid sufficient attention to the Geneva Convention, as it pertains to the civilian population of Iraq during a conflict or war.

In the 1949 Geneva Convention, Part 2 titled, "GENERAL PROTECTION OF POPULATIONS AGAINST CERTAIN CONSEQUENCES OF WAR" Article 16 through Article 18 states the following:

"Article 16 The wounded and sick, as well as the infirm, and expectant mothers, shall be the object of particular protection and respect. As far as military considerations allow, each Party to the conflict shall facilitate the steps taken to search for the killed and wounded, to assist the shipwrecked and other persons exposed to grave danger, and to protect them against pillage and ill-treatment."

"Article 17 The Parties to the conflict shall endeavor to conclude local agreements for the removal from besieged or encircled areas, of wounded, sick, infirm, and aged persons, children and maternity cases, and for the passage of ministers of all religions, medical personnel and medical equipment on their way to such areas."

"Article 18 Civilian hospitals organized to give care to the wounded and sick, the infirm and maternity cases, may in no circumstances be the object of attack but shall at all times be respected and protected by the Parties to the conflict."

It is apparent now that the civilians are on their own and we have not actively engaged in their protection as required by the Geneva Convention. Yes, this is a different war with different rules. We have not been able to protect the Civilian population to this point. I don't know if there ultimately will be charges brought against President Bush or VP Cheney by Iraqi's or other people. But the cost of war keeps going up and the stakes have become even higher and our President has decided to increase the bet. Time will tell, as it usually does, but so far Bush has lost on every point of reason.