DOS Memo re: Talking Points on Guantanamo Detainees Treatment and Status. Memo states i) all detainees are treated humanely; ii) they are very dangerous people; iii) International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) has access to them; and iv) they are not Prisoners of War under the Geneva Conventions.
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• S/WCI Press Guidance January 15, 2002
RELEASED IN FULL
TREATMENT OF DETAINEES IN GUANTANAMO
Q: Please update guidance rebutting allegations of the inhumane treatment of the
prisoners in Cuba. Do we have a interpretation of the Geneva Convention that
allows us to designate the detainees as "unlawful combatants" as opposed to
prisoners of war?
-ALL DETAINEES IN THE CONTROL OF THE UNITED STATES ARE BEING TREATED HUMANELY . THEY ARE VERY DANGEROUS PEOPLE WHO ARE PROPERLY HELD AS CRIMINALS PENDING INVESTIGATION AND QUESTIONING TO PREVENT FURTHER TERRORIST ACTS.
-THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE RED CROSS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE DETAINEES AT GTMO TODAY TO INSPECT CONDITIONS.
-- THE DETAINEES AT GTMO DO NOT QUALIFY AS PRISONERS
OF WAR UNDER THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS. THEY ARE
UNLAWFUL COMBATANTS WHO HAD NO LEGAL RIGHT TO
ORGANIZE THEMSELVES TOGETHER FOR THE PURPOSE OF
CONDUCTING HOSTILITIES AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.
• UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE REVIEW AUTHORITY: SHARON E AHMAD DATE/CASE ID: 16 NOV 2004 200303827 DOS-000441
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-REFER YOU TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
DOS-000442
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(
Drafted:LS/WCI — Mike Newton, x7-5093
. Cleared:LL:DKaye ( )
DOD:MSteuk ( )
JCS: Cbrooks ( )
DOS-000443
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