ABSTRACT
The subject of U.S. treatment of “enemy prisoners” after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 casts serious doubt on any claim that the U.S. record on this particular public policy is one of exceptional virtue. Despite diplomacy helping to construct international standards designed to protect prisoners in peace and war, Washington has engaged in the abuse of prisoners similar to many other democracies. Britain in dealing with Northern Ireland and Israel dealing mainly with Palestinians come to mind. To be sure, the United States treated enemy prisoners better than some other states in history. Several notorious comparisons can be noted: the Soviet and Nazi treatment of each other’s prisoners in World War II; the Japanese treatment of allied prisoners in that same war; and the Chinese and North Korean treatment of American P.O.W.s during the Korean War.1 To be sure, the United States has not been the worst offender in this area; at the same time, it has engaged in torture and other cruel acts-despite its claims to moral superiority and concern for the rights of all.
