What is the Detainee Treatment Act 2005 (US)?

Introduction The Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 (DTA) is an Act of the United States Congress that was signed into law by President George W. Bush on 30 December 2005. Offered as an amendment to a supplemental defence spending bill, it contains provisions relating to treatment of persons in custody of the Department of Defence,… Read More

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What is a Ghost Detainee?

Introduction Ghost detainee is a term used in the executive branch of the United States (US) government to designate a person held in a detention centre, whose identity has been hidden by keeping them unregistered and therefore anonymous. Such uses arose as the Bush administration initiated the War on Terror following the 9/11 attacks of… Read More

What is a Prisoner Exchange?

Introduction A prisoner exchange or prisoner swap is a deal between opposing sides in a conflict to release prisoners: prisoners of war, spies, hostages, etc. Sometimes, dead bodies are involved in an exchange. Refer to Hannibal Directive. Geneva Conventions Under the Geneva Conventions, prisoners who cannot contribute to the war effort because of illness or… Read More

What was Deolali Transit Camp?

Introduction Deolali transit camp was a British Army transit camp in Maharashtra, India. Established in 1861, the camp remained in use throughout the time of the British Raj. It served to house soldiers newly arrived in the country and those awaiting ships to take them to Britain. It also housed a military prison and during… Read More

What is Duty to Escape?

Introduction A duty to escape is a requirement that military personnel attempt to escape from captivity if taken prisoner of war. It is referred to in Second World War prisoner of war films including 1963’s The Great Escape but was not actually a duty imposed on British officers at the time. The duty was formally… Read More

Who was Naser Jason Abdo?

Introduction Naser Jason Abdo (born 01 April 1990) is an American former US Army Private First Class who was arrested 28 July 2011, near Fort Hood, Texas, and was held without bond for possession of an unregistered firearm and allegedly planning to attack a restaurant frequented by soldiers from the base. He was convicted in… Read More

Who was Dwight J. Loving?

Introduction Dwight Jeffrey Loving (born c. 1968) was one of six military personnel on death row until President Barack Obama commuted his sentence to life without parole on 17 January 2017. Loving, a private in the United States Army, was sentenced to death following his conviction for murdering two military soldiers, working as part-time taxi… Read More