A lawsuit reveals there are many Americans stranded overseas because they are unable to board planes: The US government changed rules, leaving them stranded.
The Geneva Conventions govern how the United States treats civilians during combat operations. These rules relate to, among other things, repatriating, civilian protections, and required government planning (Legal citations at end).
Because of combat-related decisions and policies, the US government has denied a class of US citizens access to transportation systems. The stranded Americans are stranded because of the US government's decision, and its refusal to provide a suitable alternative method meeting the US government's requirements.
These repatriation issues -- affecting stranded American civilians -- may implicate subsequent alleged war crimes attached to DOJ OLC legal counsel. Until these stranded Americans are repatriated, DOJ OLC and the White House cannot lawfully ignore any Geneva obligation related to evidence retention, prisoner treatment, or civilian protection.
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