Apparently we did not learn our lesson from Moussaoui’s trial. Dammit.

One wonders if Justice Stevens has read the Geneva Conventions.

Or if he is aware that we refused (rightly so) to sign on to the First Additional Protocol of 1977, an attempt to turn the conventions on their head and drag civilians into the fray by allowing guerillas to use them as shields.  To hide among them.

Does anybody get this?  The Geneva Conventions exist to protect the defenseless.  Non-combatants.

I can’t remember where I saw this point made recently, probably at Ace’s, but we’ve all seen films where enemies captured not in uniform can be treated as spies and shot.  Hollywood did not make that up, the Geneva Accords did not attempt to defend those who hide among the populace.

What’s the alternative? 

Recently we’ve seen reports from Iraq about insurgent groups indicating their willingness to cease hostilities.  Fine and dandy.  That’s a good thing.

If you disarm them, and can take steps to make sure they don’t rearm.

If the boys from Alabama, under legal orders from Robert E. Lee stacked their weapons at Appomattox, then that was a pledge to stop fighting.  That’s what we need from these goobers.

Absent that, well.  Absent that you don’t have anything except a murderer on the loose.