Afghanistan and Iraq Wars
The United States has refused to grant prisoner-of-war status to many prisoners captured during its 2001 invasion of Afghanistan and 2003 invasion of Iraq. The legality of this refusal has been questioned and cases are pending in the US courts. A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision seems to have given all prisoners under US control POW status. This is under dispute. Other captives, including Saddam Hussein, have been accorded POW status. The International Red Cross has been permitted to visit at least some sites. It has been alleged that many prisoners are held in secret locations or by friendly governments. Known sites include:
- Abu Ghraib prison – 32 km west of Baghdad, Iraq
- Bagram Air Base – near Charikar in Parvan, Afghanistan
- Camp Bucca – near Umm Qasr, Iraq
- Camp Delta – Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Read more about this topic: Prisoner-of-war Camp
Famous quotes containing the word wars:
“That doctrine [of peace at any price] has done more mischief than any I can well recall that have been afloat in this country. It has occasioned more wars than any of the most ruthless conquerors. It has disturbed and nearly destroyed that political equilibrium so necessary to the liberties and the welfare of the world.”
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881)