Fourth of July and POW's

Yesterday the NYT had an oped about British treatment of American revolutionary soldiers during the American War for Independece. More American's died in prison than on the battlefield.

There was no Geneva Convention back then. But Europeans did have some agreed upon rules for war which included humane treatment of POW's. But the British didn't follow those rules in the treatment of American's held prisinors. They said they weren't POW's, they were rebels, and so didn't deserve humane treatment.

Sometimes things just don't change.