Geneva, 12 August 1949

Obviously, war is an unpleasant business. Depending on your viewpoint, being a prisoner of war could be better or worse than being on the front line dodging bullets. When it comes to being a prisoner of war, the Geneva Convention governs the way you should be treated. I have always assumed that countries just paid lip-service to the convention and the realities of war made battlefield adherence almost impossible. Obviously, with the detaining of prisoners on both sides The Convention is important in the Iraq conflict. But, who decides what is humane treatment (article 13) or respect for honour (article 14)?

While having a brief look at The Convention, I came across The International Committee for the Red Cross’ pages on their work in Iraq. It’s almost been overlooked – as news media scramble for their own (exclusive) view on the war – that there are some more impartial observers. In reality, of course, the good people who work for the Red Cross must have opinions on the war but their daily reports make an interesting, alternative reading.

On this day…