Soldiers without rules

A SPOKESPERSON for the US military in Iraq, Col Jill Morgenthaler, has stated that the six US soldiers pictured torturing Iraqi prisoners did not receive in-depth training on the Geneva conventions governing the handling of captives.

Two very important conclusions may be drawn from this statement. Firstly, that the US administration cares little about international law or conventions, since it doesn’t feel the need to train its troops in either.

Secondly, it shows that in the absence of any clear guidelines, American troops will default to torturing and abusing prisoners in the most profane and humiliating manner.

Do American soldiers still need to be instructed in how to behave in a civilised manner?

Fahad Ansari,

66, Renmore Road,

Renmore,

Galway.