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Americans Want CIA to Respect Geneva Convention
- Many adults in the United States believe the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) should avoid the use of forceful interrogation techniques, according to a poll by Gallup released by USA Today. 57 per cent of respondents want the CIA to abide by the same Geneva Convention standards that apply to the U.S. military.
The 1949 Geneva Convention defines prisoners of war as members of rival armed forces captured during a conflict. Since the start of the war on terrorism on October 2001, there have been contradictory arguments after captured members of al-Qaeda and the Taliban were defined as "unlawful combatants" who were not subject to the Geneva Convention.
In November 2005, the Washington Post reported on the existence of secret U.S. prisons for purported terrorism suspects located in Eastern Europe. U.S. president George W. Bush declared, "Anything we do to (protect the American people), any activity we conduct, is within the law. We do not torture."
In July, the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee expressed "grave concerns" over seven topics related to the U.S. human rights record, including the "detention, rendition and torture of non-citizens."
On Sept. 7, Bush acknowledged that the CIA operates secret prisons in foreign countries, adding, "Information from the terrorists questioned in this program helped unravel plots and terrorist cells in Europe and in other places. It's helped our allies protect their people from deadly enemies. This program has been, and remains, one of the most vital tools in our war against the terrorists. It is invaluable to America and to our allies."
Polling Data
When Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) questions suspects whom they believe to have information about possible terror plots against the United States, do you think they should have to abide by the same Geneva Convention standards that apply to the U.S. military or they should be able to use more forceful interrogation techniques than the Geneva Convention standards that apply to the U.S. military?
Abide by Geneva Convention | 57% |
Able to use forceful techniques | 38% |
Other / Depends | 2% |
No opinion | 3% |
Source: Gallup / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,003 American adults, conducted from Sept. 15 to Sept. 17, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.