What is the difference between an enemy combatant, an unlawful combatant, and a prisoner of war?
“The term ‘lawful enemy combatant’ means a person who is: • a member of the regular forces of a State party engaged in hostilities against the United States; • a member of a militia, volunteer corps, or organized resistance movement belonging to a State party engaged in such hostilities, which are under responsible command, wear a fixed distinctive sign recognizable at a distance, carry their arms openly, and abide by the law of war; or • a member of a regular armed force who professes allegiance to a government engaged in such hostilities, but not recognized by the United States. The term ‘unlawful enemy combatant’ means: • a person who has engaged in hostilities or who has purposefully and materially supported hostilities against the United States or its co-belligerents who is not a lawful enemy combatant (including a person who is part of the Taliban, al Qaeda, or associated forces); or • a person who, before, on, or after the date of the enactment of the Military Commissions Act of
