Unlawful Enemy Combatants

The Bush administration decided that terrorism suspects around the globe would be considered “unlawful enemy combatants.” In turn, thousands of suspects were rounded up in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq, as well as Indonesia, Bosnia and even in the United States.

While some were captured on the battlefield, most were not. Frequently, bounties were paid for alleged enemies. Journalists and researchers have analyzed and reported on the bounty system and its outcome.

The Administration argued that this was a new type of war where the battlefield was everywhere and the Geneva Conventions, which had previously governed the laws of war, did not apply.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ABOUT UNLAWFUL ENEMY COMBATANTS

Quick General Reference on Unlawful Enemy Combatants

Wikipedia article on "Unlawful Combatant"

Specific References on Unlawful Enemy Combatants

U.S. Won’t Label Terror Suspects as ‘Combatants’

Unlawful Enemy Combatants: Further Reading

The Detention of Unlawful Enemy Combatants During the War on Terror by Colleen E. Hardy