Parsing

I’m traveling right now, but figured this was worth a post. Think Progress notes that the US’ legal advisor in Guantanamo was questioned by Senator Lindsey Graham (R):

GRAHAM: You mean you’re not equipped to give a legal opinion as to whether or not Iranian military waterboarding, secret security agents waterboarding downed airmen is a violation of the Geneva Convention?

HARTMANN: I am not prepared to answer that question, Senator.

This is what happens when you parse the way this administration parses. But we’ve only scratched the very tippiest tippy tip of the iceberg. Think of this: its been long accepted that a POW’s duties include trying to escape, if possible, and otherwise thwarting the will of the enemy as much as possible. As an example, I have a copy of the Bluejackets Manual (a World War 2 manual issued to Navy personnel) which admonishes readers to destroy anything that might be of use to the enemy before being taken captive, and to provide no information other than name, rank, and serial number lest the enemy be aided unwittingly.

In the spirit of POWs thwarting the will of the enemy, I’m waiting for someone to ask the administration whether, using this fine display logic, it should be considered American policy to court martial any Americans taken prisoner by the enemy who did not at least attempt to commit suicide during their captivity.