Terrorists are state actors

Submitted by Stuart Fagin (United States), Jul 28, 2014 at 19:35

Contemporary terrorists are indeed state actors; this was established by the US government when it began recognizing certain states as sponsors of terrorism. The principle has been made more apparent in the last few years as several terrorist organizations, ISIS, Hamas, and Hezbollah began to control territory.

Treating captive terrorists as you would POW's is made problematic by the fact that they are not uniformed. This creates the intended uncertainty that the captured individual is part of a terrorist group, and the attendant need for some adjudication.

I agree with Mr., Walters that military tribunals are best, and particularly his point that the proceedings should be inquisitorial. By necessity the proceedings need to act as trial as well.

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