--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That is because the conflict with al…" description: "\"That is because the conflict with al Qaeda is not governed by the Geneva Conventions, which applies only to international conflicts between states that..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/709/john-yoo-14735_al_that-is-because-the-conflict-with-al-qae_135326.jpg" --- # That is because the conflict with al Qaeda is not governed… ![“That is because the conflict with al Qaeda is not governed by the Geneva Conventions, which applies only to international conflicts between states that have signed them.” quote by John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/709/john-yoo-14735_al_that-is-because-the-conflict-with-al-qae_135326.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/709/john-yoo-14735_al_that-is-because-the-conflict-with-al-qae_135326.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/709/john-yoo-14735_al_that-is-because-the-conflict-with-al-qae_135326.jpg) > “That is because the conflict with al Qaeda is not governed by the Geneva Conventions, which applies only to international conflicts between states that have signed them.” [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The conflict with al Qaeda falls outside traditional war law because it is a non‑state, asymmetrical fight, not a state‑to‑state war. **In simple terms:** Al Qaeda war isn’t covered by Geneva rules. Key Takeaway Recognize limits of existing war law. Themes law terrorism international relations ethics Mood analytical serious Type legal policy When to use this quote - military planning - policy drafting - humanitarian aid - counter‑terrorism training Key Concepts non‑state actors asymmetric warfare legal frameworks Questions to Reflect On - How should law evolve for non‑state conflicts? - What ethical limits apply? A Different Perspective Existing conventions may not address new threats adequately. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Al](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/al/) [Applies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applies/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Between](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/between/) [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Conflicts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflicts/) [Conflicts States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflicts-states-1543401/) [Conventions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conventions/) [Geneva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/geneva/) [Geneva convention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/geneva-convention/) [Geneva Conventions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/geneva-conventions-764647/) [Governed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governed/) [International](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international/) [International Conflicts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international-conflicts-1543402/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Qaeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/qaeda/) [Qaeda Governed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/qaeda-governed-1543400/) [Signed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/signed/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/which/) ## Related quotes > [Human rights advocates, for example, claim that the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners is of a piece with President Bush's 2002 decision to deny al…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/human-rights-advocates-for-example-claim-that-the-mistreatment-of-2/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [There are pros and cons about the policy decision whether to follow the Geneva Conventions in a war where they do not legally apply.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/there-are-pros-and-cons-about-the-policy-decision-whether-to-follow/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [Human-rights advocates, for example, claim that the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners is of a piece with President Bush's 2002 decision to deny al Qaeda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/human-rights-advocates-for-example-claim-that-the-mistreatment-of/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [The United States of course wants to follow the highest standards of conduct with regard to enemy combatants who follow the rules of war.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/the-united-states-of-course-wants-to-follow-the-highest-standards-of/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [It is important to recognize the differences between the war in Iraq and the war on terrorism. The treatment of those detained at Abu…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/it-is-important-to-recognize-the-differences-between-the-war-in-iraq/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [It is very clear from the text of the Geneva Conventions that families have the right to know about the whereabouts of their missing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurer/it-is-very-clear-from-the-text-of-the-geneva-conventions-that/) [Peter Maurer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurer/) > [But in Afghanistan, the general rule was that since you were fighting the Taliban, which was not a lawful government force, the Geneva Conventions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaroslav-trofimov/but-in-afghanistan-the-general-rule-was-that-since-you-were-fighting/) [Yaroslav Trofimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaroslav-trofimov/) > [Prisoners, according to the law, who are non-U.S. citizens and are detained outside the U.S. - including in Guantanamo Bay - are denied 'habeas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/prisoners-according-to-the-law-who-are-non-u-s-citizens-and-are/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [Not enough countries, not enough armies, not enough armed groups are abiding by the fundamental human values enshrined in the Geneva Conventions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurer/not-enough-countries-not-enough-armies-not-enough-armed-groups-are/) [Peter Maurer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurer/) > [We need to understand that the Geneva Conventions are not just some historical documents born of another time, created for another purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurer/we-need-to-understand-that-the-geneva-conventions-are-not-just-some/) [Peter Maurer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurer/) > [What's happened at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq is one of the grossest violations of human rights under the Geneva Conventions that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/what-s-happened-at-the-abu-ghraib-prison-in-iraq-is-one-of-the/) [Carlos Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/) > [Military police know what to do, they know the Geneva Conventions, and their objective is to provide a safe, secure, fair environment for prisoners…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-karpinski/military-police-know-what-to-do-they-know-the-geneva-conventions-and/) [Janis Karpinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-karpinski/) > [I didn't plan that there'd be this awful situation in which our European governments, just to start the story off, breaking the Geneva conventions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-redgrave/i-didn-t-plan-that-there-d-be-this-awful-situation-in-which-our/) [Vanessa Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-redgrave/) > [Al Qaeda doesn't abide by the Geneva Conventions, so in my opinion, they should not be afforded the protections of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/al-qaeda-doesn-t-abide-by-the-geneva-conventions-so-in-my-opinion/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [I haven't decided if he deserved to eat bread made out of sticks or live in a rancid puddle, probably because I haven't made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/i-haven-t-decided-if-he-deserved-to-eat-bread-made-out-of-sticks-or/) [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) ## More by John Yoo > [American soldiers had to guard prisoners on the inside while receiving mortar and weapons fire from the outside. Guantanamo is distant from any battlefield,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/american-soldiers-had-to-guard-prisoners-on-the-inside-while/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [A decision by the Supreme Court to subject Guantanamo to judicial review would eliminate these advantages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/a-decision-by-the-supreme-court-to-subject-guantanamo-to-judicial/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [This is not to condone torture, which is still prohibited by the Torture Convention and federal criminal law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/this-is-not-to-condone-torture-which-is-still-prohibited-by-the/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [We can guess that the unacceptable conduct of the soldiers at Abu Ghraib resulted in part from the dangerous state of affairs on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/we-can-guess-that-the-unacceptable-conduct-of-the-soldiers-at-abu/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [Nonetheless, Article 5 makes clear that if an Iraqi civilian who is not a member of the armed forces, has engaged in attacks on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/nonetheless-article-5-makes-clear-that-if-an-iraqi-civilian-who-is/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [I believe that the power to declare war is most important in limiting the powers of the national government in regard to the rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/i-believe-that-the-power-to-declare-war-is-most-important-in-limiting/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [In light of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, critics are arguing that abuses of Iraqi prisoners are being produced by a climate of disregard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/in-light-of-the-abu-ghraib-prison-scandal-critics-are-arguing-that/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [There was nothing wrong - and everything right - with analyzing a law that establishes boundaries on interrogation in the war on terrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/there-was-nothing-wrong-and-everything-right-with-analyzing-a-law/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [President Bush and his commanders announced early in the conflict that the Conventions applied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/president-bush-and-his-commanders-announced-early-in-the-conflict/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [Congress has created and funded a huge peacetime military that has substantial abilities to wage offensive operations, and it has not placed restrictions on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/congress-has-created-and-funded-a-huge-peacetime-military-that-has/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [It is also worth asking whether the strict limitations of Geneva make sense in a war against terrorists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/it-is-also-worth-asking-whether-the-strict-limitations-of-geneva-make/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [The Justices are currently considering a case, argued last month, which seeks to extend the writ of habeas corpus to al Qaeda and Taliban…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/the-justices-are-currently-considering-a-case-argued-last-month-which/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [I believe that the power to declare war is most important in limiting the powers of the national government in regard to the rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/i-believe-that-the-power-to-declare-war-is-most-important-in-limiting-2/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [Without territory, it does not even have the resources to provide detention facilities for prisoners, even if it were interested in holding captured POWs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/without-territory-it-does-not-even-have-the-resources-to-provide/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [It is the policy of the United States not to engage in torture, and there are federal criminal laws that prohibit torture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/it-is-the-policy-of-the-united-states-not-to-engage-in-torture-and/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) [Explore all 45 John Yoo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) ## More Al quotes > [I like 'The Usual Suspects'. Great film. I also like 'Scarface', films like that. Lots of gangster films. I really like watching all kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkhad-abdi/i-like-the-usual-suspects-great-film-i-also-like-scarface-films-like/) [Barkhad Abdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkhad-abdi/) > [Al Jazeera is a representation of, you know, diversity in the Arab world. In our newsroom, we have every single nationality, we have every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadah-khanfar/al-jazeera-is-a-representation-of-you-know-diversity-in-the-arab/) [Wadah Khanfar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadah-khanfar/) > [If the practice is torture for the al Qaeda operative who masterminded the killing of three thousand Americans, why weren't there court-martials in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-a-rodriguez-jr/if-the-practice-is-torture-for-the-al-qaeda-operative-who/) [Jose A. Rodriguez, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-a-rodriguez-jr/) > [Searches of al Qaeda sites in Afghanistan, undertaken since American-backed forces took control there, are not known to have turned up a significant cache…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/searches-of-al-qaeda-sites-in-afghanistan-undertaken-since-american/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [Nobody had race savvy like Al Unser in his prime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/nobody-had-race-savvy-like-al-unser-in-his-prime/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [There are many causes of violent deaths in America - murders and traffic accidents - that we do not approach with the same 'no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-c-blair/there-are-many-causes-of-violent-deaths-in-america-murders-and/) [Dennis C. Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-c-blair/) > [If you want to join the Republican party, they have to let you in. There's nothing they can do about it. I mean, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/if-you-want-to-join-the-republican-party-they-have-to-let-you-in/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Brian came back in on the road and Al stayed, but Al's the original member of the group.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-johnston/brian-came-back-in-on-the-road-and-al-stayed-but-al-s-the-original/) [Bruce Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-johnston/) > [News is the backbone of our network; the main commodity and the main successes of Al Jazeera came out of our involvement in covering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadah-khanfar/news-is-the-backbone-of-our-network-the-main-commodity-and-the-main/) [Wadah Khanfar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadah-khanfar/) > [And beyond that, the next issue is how do we guarantee one of these weapons, not necessarily this missile, but nuclear weapons ends up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-eagleburger/and-beyond-that-the-next-issue-is-how-do-we-guarantee-one-of-these/) [Lawrence Eagleburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-eagleburger/) > [I started, actually, as an analyst on African affairs, mainly on Al Jazeera. I remember the first few series were about Saudi students, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadah-khanfar/i-started-actually-as-an-analyst-on-african-affairs-mainly-on-al/) [Wadah Khanfar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadah-khanfar/) > [Bin Laden is dead, and most of his friends are dead. But did it need to cost a trillion dollars and two land wars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/bin-laden-is-dead-and-most-of-his-friends-are-dead-but-did-it-need-to/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Mistreatment of al Qaeda members and their friends and hangers-on is something I number among my moral concerns. But it's number 1,000,000,001.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/mistreatment-of-al-qaeda-members-and-their-friends-and-hangers-on-is/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Success means eliminating Al Qaeda's ability to launch terrorist attacks against the United States and our allies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/success-means-eliminating-al-qaeda-s-ability-to-launch-terrorist/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) > [In the world of celebrity, there is one universal law: if there's a scandal or death, Al Sharpton will be there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-amos/in-the-world-of-celebrity-there-is-one-universal-law-if-there-s-a/) [Shawn Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-amos/) [Browse all 218 Al quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/al/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That is because the conflict with al Qaeda is not governed by the Geneva Conventions, which applies only to international conflicts between states that have signed them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Yoo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/that-is-because-the-conflict-with-al-qaeda-is-not-governed-by-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Al" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/that-is-because-the-conflict-with-al-qaeda-is-not-governed-by-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/709/john-yoo-14735_al_that-is-because-the-conflict-with-al-qae_135326.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/709/john-yoo-14735_al_that-is-because-the-conflict-with-al-qae_135326.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/709/john-yoo-14735_al_that-is-because-the-conflict-with-al-qae_135326.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That is because the conflict with al Qaeda is not governed by the Geneva Conventions, which applies only to…” — John Yoo", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Yoo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "That is because the conflict with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/that-is-because-the-conflict-with-al-qaeda-is-not-governed-by-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/that-is-because-the-conflict-with-al-qaeda-is-not-governed-by-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```