Obama: Gitmo Not Likely To Close In First 100 Days (VIDEO)

In an interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC's "This Week," President-elect Barack Obama said that he was committed to closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay but was not sure it would be possible to do so in his first hundred days.

"I don't want to be ambiguous about this. We are going to close Guantanamo and we are going to make sure that the procedures we set up are ones that abide by our Constitution," Obama said. "That is not only the right thing to do but it actually has to be part of our broader national security strategy because we will send a message to the world that we are serious about our values."

However, Obama explained, "it is more difficult than I think a lot of people realize." "Part of the challenge that you have is that you have a bunch of folks that have been detained, many of whom may be very dangerous who have not been put on trial or have not gone through some adjudication. And some of the evidence against them may be tainted even though it's true. And so how to balance creating a process that adheres to rule of law, habeas corpus, basic principles of Anglo-American legal system, by doing it in a way that doesn't result in releasing people who are intent on blowing us up."

Watch:

The full exchange:

STEPHANOPOULOS: You also agreed on Guantanamo when you say you want to shut it down. You say you're still going to shut it down. Is it turning out to be harder than you expected, will you get that done in the first 100 days?

OBAMA: It is more difficult than I think a lot of people realize and we are going to get it done but part of the challenge that you have is that you have a bunch of folks that have been detained, many of whom who may be very dangerous who have not been put on trial or have not gone through some adjudication. And some of the evidence against them may be tainted even though it's true. And so how to balance creating a process that adheres to rule of law, habeas corpus, basic principles of Anglo American legal system, by doing it in a way that doesn't result in releasing people who are intent on blowing us up.

STEPHANOPOULOS: So not necessarily first 100 days.

OBAMA: That's a challenge. I think it's going to take some time and our legal teams are working in consultation with our national security apparatus as we speak to help design exactly what we need to do. But I don't want to be ambiguous about this. We are going to close Guantanamo and we are going to make sure that the procedures we set up are ones that abide by our constitution. That is not only the right thing to do but it actually has to be part of our broader national security strategy because we will send a message to the world that we are serious about our values.

Comments

[FreedomAgain]

I am more concerned with enforcing and complying with Geneva conventions than closing Gitmo. As far as the prisoners, how can you know whats true when you have a confession from someone thats been drugged and warerboarded a hundred times.

[truegreen]

As long as Obama is committed to closing Gitmo, i am fine with that.

[rogerze]

I've heard, for example, the argument that it should be military courts, and not federal judges, who should make decisions on these detainees. I actually agree with that.

-Obama.

[aOsO]

Misleading headline, vintage Hufpost.

[SURRYMARK]

SHET.
Did he have to say "folks?"
Couldn't he have at least said "alleged" bad people?

[AnnfromCA]

Well, I called this one right. :)

I knew it wasn't going away.

[NCYvonne]

What part were you right about?

That he's going to close Gitmo or that it might not happen within the first 100 days?

Did Obama ever say "I'll close Gitmo in the first 100 days"?

[lab221]

Gitmo needs to be closed as soon as possible. We've heard enough of Bush and Cheney lies that they have not tortured. Thank our Good Lord these two will be gone in just a few more days.

[AnnfromCA]

Gitmo can't be closed until we figure out, obviously, what to do with detainees.

Sometimes, issues are over-simplified in elections. I knew he couldn't just close it.

That's all.

I predict it will be far longer than 100 days, too.

[pinkbunny]

Did you even read the article??

Obama said that he would close it, but that it won't be easy. It's a very complicated matter, and the legalities and the security issues are a nightmare.

Unless you are a constitutional law expert, you have no idea what the heck you are talking about.

[MomfromTexas]

"The information may be tainted." Translation: Information gotten through torture, which should not be allowed in a court of law. This imposes a serious problem in having the evidence needed in a court, while still abiding by the constitution and the Geneva Convention. I don't think there is any doubt that everything Obama was saying was in reference to this.

[AnnfromCA]

Oh yes, the torture stuff will go away. We can't figure out how to use our intelligence information. To me, that's the problem.

[StillIRise]

Do you always limit your reading to the headlines?

[miamia]

Chil.dish rethug.

.