Cheney Criticizes Geneva Conventions at West Point

"Recently, West Point instructors have complained of the difficulty of persuading Army cadets to adhere to the principles of the Geneva Conventions in the war on terrorism....Finnegan [the dean of West Point], who is a lawyer, has for a number of years taught a course on the laws of war to West Point seniors....He always tries, he said, to get his students to sort out not just what is legal but what is right. However, it had become increasingly hard to convince some cadets that America had to respect the rule of law and human rights, even when terrorists did not. One reason for the growing resistance, he suggested, was misperceptions spread by '24,' which was exceptionally popular with his students. As he told me, 'The kids see it, and say, ''If torture is wrong, what about '24?''" That's exactly what these shows are designed to do--lead the sheep to believe that certain things are acceptable. (Editor's pick)