1) Are we AT WAR with the Taliban or any specific terrorist group? If YES, then why aren't the combatants being viewed as POWs? And what constitutes us being at war? We didn't FORMALLY declare it under the requirements in the Constitution. If NO, then are those groups our ENEMY? It would seem so since there was talk of trying Walker for TREASON.
2) Were we AT WAR with the USSR during the time of the so-called "Cold War"? During the time when we EXECUTED several people for spying for the Soviets, did we trade with them? During the time they SHOT DOWN, KILLED AND DETAINED many of our so-called "cold-warriers", did we maintain an embassy in each other's country?
3) What's the difference between the USSR and China now? They BOTH are(were) totalitarian regimes that see the relatively FREE U.S. Society and its market economy as the greatest threat to the hold they have over their people ... don't you think? They both threaten(ed) to attack US cities with nuclear weapons. They both spy(ied) on us. The Chinese Defense Minister predicted we would be AT WAR in just a few years. China SEIZED our aircraft in INTERNATIONAL WATERS and held the crew HOSTAGE. The Chinese sell weapons to those we have and are currently fighting. So are we in a COLD WAR with the Chinese? Did the Clinton Administration help the Chinese (supply them with access to formerly restricted ... secret in some cases ... information and technology)? Did they do it to help the U.S. or to line their own pockets and that of their party?
I'm not sure I accept your "definition" of and "requirements" for TREASON.
Yes.
"If YES, then why aren't the combatants being viewed as POWs?"
To keep the Geneva convention from dictating to us what we will do with these clowns, that's my best guess.
"And what constitutes us being at war?"
Them killing us, us killing them.
"We didn't FORMALLY declare it under the requirements in the Constitution. If NO, then are those groups our ENEMY?"
There was no need for the congress to declare war, we did not initiate hostilities, someone else did.
The act of initiating hostilities against another nation, is what congress is charged with, defending our citizens and our soil and anywhere in the world for that matter, from attackers is what the president, in his role as commander in chief is charged with.<p.More later
My definition?
You didn't read well, I was quoting Chief Justice John Marshall.