Effect of sleep deprivation on Cognitive Function

First class of the day was International Law and we were dealing with the Geneva Convention and how it may or may not apply depending on the political classification of a) whether the hostilities amount to a conflict, b) whether it is of an international character and c) who decides the "competent authority" that determines the status of prisoners where there are "doubts".

So it kicks off with a discussion of article 4 of the Third Geneva Convention where as long as certain criteria are met, a person belong to that regular force is granted the protections as a POW under the said Convention (otherwise, the person gets protection under the 4th Convention which governs civilians).

So I get suddenly called on to respond to the question of whether this undermines the sovereignty of the state by legitimizing to a certain extent insurgent forces.

S: *desperately trying to clear mind of cobwebs* Um *beat* well *beat* could you repeat the question?

(Question is repeated)

S: *stalling for time while trying to come up with a coherent response* I think that *beat* that it is a gross um overstatement of the sentiment because because the object of the Geneva Convention is to um civilize law and um put a civilizing gloss on the um *some literal hand waving* atrocities of war. And and as such it cannot be truly said to be legitimizing these forces.

*Gathering steam* An alternative way of looking at it as per the text um textbook is that the Geneva Convention is a series of unilateral declarations by Contracting Parties um High Contracting States to um obey the convention.

*Valiantly attempting to summarize* So it cannot be said to be legitimizing these forces insofar as the Convention insofar *realizes he used insofar again* tries to civilize war. *Buries face in hand*

And I spaced out during International Commercial Arbitration and again during First Amendment. Gah.

Peace.