Hmmmm. Well, there's never any good excuse for imitating the wrongdoings of others...unless you believe in vengeance, and a lot of people do. It's frequently (if not usually) the wrong individuals who get punished after a war is over. The average German soldier was not usually the guy responsible for the heinous atrocities of the Nazis, although sometimes he was the guy responsible...

People always lose their bearings when they get caught up in vengeance, and take it out on people as innocent as themselves.

In the American West, the US Cavalry would wipe out an Indian camp. The Indians would then retaliate by killing any white civilians they could find. Both sides would, quite correctly, accuse the other side of committing atrocities, and charge out to slaughter more innocent people..."evening the score". This went on and on until the weaker side...the Indians...was either exterminated or subdued.

Therefore, I suggest that one should treat prisoners precisely the way that one would wish to be treated oneself, if taken prisoner. Any other course leads down the slippery slope to perdition, and will not help anyone.

The most honourable armies are the ones who respect their enemy, even if their enemy is not mature enough to respect them.

Murray - Well, I don't know what the statistics are...my guess is that a lot of westerners just use toilet paper, and that's it. This from casual observation, but maybe I'm wrong when I say "most".

Amos - The toothpaste? I have no idea. Maybe they're using it in lieu of soap? (I didn't notice soap among the list of amenities...although he did list shampoo) It's clear to me that the prisoners are committing certain acts (staring, masturbation, etc) as a gesture of contempt to their captors. I'm reminded of the American prisoners in North Korea (from the Pueblo) who used certain hand gestures when photographed...more subtle, but somewhat similar in intent.

These prisoners probably regard westerners as corrupt barbarians, being just as prejudiced against us as many of us are against them. "Building terrain models" out of food? It's amazing what boredom can do to people, isn't it? Maybe they are doing it precisely in order to puzzle their captors, again as a form of contempt...or maybe they're planning a prison breakout (suicidal, but entirely possible that they will attempt it).

How would anyone here really like to be captured by, say, Saddam Hussein...imprisoned without any expectation of release...interrogated and caged like an animal...and given three very nice meals a day (Yum!), 2 nice clean towels (Lucky me!), anti-dandruff shampoo (Cool!), a canteen (Bonus!), flouride toothpaste (Oh, joy!), and a Bible (Hallelujah!).

No knowledge of one's ultimate fate. No family contacts. Nothing to do. Utterly powerless. In the hands of one's sworn enemies, in a foreign land whose culture is largely incomprehensible according to one's own life experience.

Oh yeah, great fun. Why, it's a wonder the whole Middle East doesn't come forward right this minute and beg to be incarcerated in Guantanamo.

- LH