Atlantis moral debate

[Sayuri-Ryuu]

So, in Atlantis season one, the team manages to capture a Wraith. Two actually. Shepard names them Steve and Bob.

Heres what happens to them: Steve is experimented on by the Hoffans and the humans in "Poisoning the Well"; they were trying to create a drug that would stop the Wraith from feeding on people. Steve died as a result.

Bob was shot dead by Sheppard in.......urm, The Gift", I think, in an effort to get information out of him.

Both of these entirely goes against the Geneva convention, which consist of four treaties formulated in Geneva, Switzerland, that set the standards for international law for humanitarian concerns. The Third Geneva convention basically says that prisoners of war are protected and cannot be harmed until their "final repatriation."

So, was what Sheppard and the Hoffans/humans did to the Wraith right or wrong? Was it justified? Can the Geneva convention only apply in certain situations, or should it be ignored when dealing with unknown threats? (like life-sucking aliens?) Should they have gotten into trouble over it? Can human law govern inter-planetary disputes? Can human law only govern over situations that were expected when the law was written, and therefore can't apply to situations like, for instance, fighting aliens?

What do you think? And serious discussion, people, ok?  

[kittyfox_kumiko]

eek Um...give me a minute to sort my thoughts out...

Well, there's always Sheppard's remark about the Wraith and the Geneva Convention: "They'd have tried to feed on everybody."

I understand why Steve died: The vaccine had to be tested in order to protect the Hoffans from mass genocide. Why Bob died is beyond me. I still don't know why he was shot.  

[Sayuri-Ryuu]

Teyla was connected with his mind, trying to get information out of him, but he fought back, or struck at her mentally. Anyway, she cried out in pain, and Sheppard shot Bob to get him to stop attacking her. And....well, he just didn't stop. He probably was a bit stressed, what with the three Wraith hive ships on their way.  

[kittyfox_kumiko]

I thought the Wraith had stopped mentally attacking Teyla by then.  

[Sayuri-Ryuu]

Well, he was attacking her when Sheppard shot him first, but yes, he had definitely stopped when Sheppard shot him to death.  

[kittyfox_kumiko]

That was too much. He was already a prisoner.  

[Sayuri-Ryuu]

Yeah, but on the other hand, he could have communicated telepathically with the other Wraith who were attacking the city, and pass them info. Would they have had to kill him anyway?  

[kittyfox_kumiko]

Not if they kept him isolated.  

[Sayuri-Ryuu]

In a room, by himself? That wouldn't have stopped telepathic communication.  

[kittyfox_kumiko]

No, but it would've left him with nothing to say, if you get my drift.  

[Sayuri-Ryuu]

I suppose. He could have told them about the humans state-of-mind, I guess, but yeah, nothing else.  

[kittyfox_kumiko]

He may even have been a valuable prisoner. Dang...  

[Sayuri-Ryuu]

Until Sheppard loses his thread and shoots him. Yep.  

[kittyfox_kumiko]

Not that he didn't deserve to be shot, though. He could've killed Teyla if he wanted.  

[Sayuri-Ryuu]

Or left her a mindless drone. Which is worse.