Deinonychus antirrhopus

Stop Press! Sofla Defends Alberto Gonzales

In this thread over at Brad DeLong's blog. Sofla writes the following,

As the following citation shows, the GC in this article 38 does charge the power holding the pows to provide space and facilities for outdoor games and sports (probably soccer fields were imagined or something like that).

That may indeed be quaint and outmoded, and if that was what now-AG AG meant, Okrent is right to call out those who use it as a smear against AG AG's positions.

We critics of this administration's horrid human rights abuses with regard to both declared POWs and supposed non-POWs, ought not to engage in the kind of loose and wrong rhetoric this would represent. There is ample to point to as absolute disgraces to this country, our military's reputation, etc., without stretching a comment beyond the limits of reasonable interpretation.

For, if people hearing our side lambast AG AG with this hear of the provisions in the GC he was referring to, it makes the rest of our case weaker. (If they'd misrepresent and distort this, how much should we believe the rest of their outlandish, horrible IF true, charges?)

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Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (Article 38)

While respecting the individual preferences of every prisoner, the Detaining Power shall encourage the practice of intellectual, educational, and recreational pursuits, sports and games amongst prisoners, and shall take the measures necessary to ensure the exercise thereof by providing them with adequate premises and necessary equipment.

Prisoners shall have opportunities for taking physical exercise, including sports and games, and for being out of doors. Sufficient open spaces shall be provided for this purpose in all camps.

While not exactly a ringing endorsement...or even an endorsement at all, it is good to see that getting to the truth is what matters. Good work Sofla. I also have to hereby retract my claim that Sofla only takes the liberal view.