President Obama took the first key step in restoring America's image and credibility in the world by issuing an Executive Order to close the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay and to prohibit the use of torture by U.S. personnel.
I applaud his judgment and I wholeheartedly support this decision.
The Bush administration never understood what the Guantanamo detention facility symbolized to the rest of the world. They saw it as simply a prison, and just weeks ago, Dick Cheney commented that he thought "Guantanamo has been very well run." The problem with Guantanamo was never about its bricks and mortar. The problem with Guantanamo is that its very existence stains and defies the moral fiber of our great nation.
The Bush administration created the prison following the attacks of September 11th as a way to circumvent the rule-of-law, to legitimize the use of torture, and to justify the permanent detention of those denied the right to petition their imprisonment.
Guantanamo has cast a dark shadow over two centuries of America's moral leadership in the world.
I said over two years ago that in order to restore our international credibility, we must shut down the Guantanamo detention facility. Even President Bush and Secretary Gates agreed. But Guantanamo remained open because the Bush administration refused to provide a legitimate plan and a legal means to charge and try its detainees, and to relocate them to their respective home countries or to maximum security prisons in the United States.
Similarly, there is no circumstance, whatsoever, that justifies the use of torture. Congress passed legislation in December 2005 that banned the use of torture and limited the interrogation tactics of U.S. military personnel. The Subcommittee that I chair has also included provisions in military spending bills forcing the Defense Department to adhere to the strict interrogation guidelines set forth in the Army Field Manual. While these are the requirements for U.S. military personnel, the Bush Administration refused to hold our intelligence community to the same standards.
No longer must we wait for a U.S. President to act.
President Obama has taken the first step in correcting the mistakes of our past. He has made the right choice, and today's decision renews hope in American values and leadership around the world.
I've never had any use for the likes of Murtha, especially after what he said about the Haditha marines, most of them cleared of any wrong doing. However, I think that his suggestion of bringing the Gitmo guys to his district is a superior idea. I think that putting them into the general prison population would be just the ticket. After all, aren't they entitled to all the rights that the rest of us citizens are entitled to? They are not any different! I would think that after a short while they would all be somebodys girlfriend and would be begging to go back to Gitmo.
And to use your own narrative "these soldiers including officers from the lowest to the top should be put in the general prison population", and rightfully so, to my sense of justice and punishment , "sould be somebody's girlfriend", and would be begging to be court martialled and put on a firing line. Haditha will remain the only image of American military in the Iraq. Count on that.
Guantanamo is a name and symbol of great significance and it's closing will have an impact to our image around the globe. It's a step toward healing and unwinding the Gordon Knot of deceit by Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld-Haditha monstrosity.
President Obama has armed the Office of Legal Counsel who will review all that pertains to torture, army combatants and those detainees in located black sites. I join President Obama, Representative Murtha, and millions in the hope of restoring American image around the globe.
(I watch too much CNN...what do I know...CNN is tiring me....they think they ARE THE peoples spokesperson-not!)
If the prisoners were suspect enough to hold in GB, apply (with or without their knowledge) a personal tracking device. Either they re-enter a civil peaceful life or progess into lawlessness.
Maybe I'm watching too many science fiction movies. On the other hand, my reality says, "track them".
This was the condition of A Hitler, F Castro (has begun to deal with his beelzebub), DeKlurk, Lenin, Nepolian and Ramsees. Today in addition to Mr. Bush, several leaders lend themselves to this divisive demonic beelzebub spirit; Putin, Kim y Ill and Olmert.
Their behavior is very serious. The demon, beelzebub, causes one to invent an internal struggle and an enemy that must be casted out, as we saw in Mr. Bush's "war on terror". His enemy is internal, he can not cast out himself, therefore his head becomes divided, his kingdom is divided and a divided kingdom, the Bible says, "Can not stand"!!
But will Obama now start proceedings to close the School of the Americas - now called the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. Stop teaching how to torture if we're going to stop torturing!
Semper fi
These terrorist techniques have been used by authoritarian regimes, and are still being used by the same regimes in Central and South America to control, dominate, and terrorize their citizens.
Apparently, it is hard to convince religious fanatics through talks. Islamic terrorists are convinced that what they are doing is pious and according to the teachings of Quran. I am not clear how to handle such people. Last year, in Texas hundreds of women and kids were taken out of FLDS church. Recently on CNN news, it was shown that all of them rejoin the family in same compound.
back to the countries that are demanding their release.
Sir, this issue is not that black and white, or to someone of your status, not that red vs non-redneck.
"Symbolism will never be any more than symbolic." Carver
Way to go Obama.
Gee, did he actually do something within the 1st 100 days?
All skeptics and nay sayers, would like a spoon or fork ?
Gimme a break. The "war on terror" is just an excuse for the previous administration to do what ever they wanted in order to achieve their own political goals.
I'm not saying to stop pursuing the bad guys wherever they hide. Just don't declare a phony "war" that circumvents the Constitution that I've sworn to uphold and protect.
First, most of them need to be unconditionally released. Second, if they need work, they can handle security for Cheney, Rumsfeld, Tenet, Feith, Haynes, Yoo, Bybee, Gonzales, Addington, etc.
Semper fi
G. Carlin
Exactly!!!
In the post-modern world the struggle of symbols and perception is of vital importance.
Jihadists have zero chance defeating Western powers. Therefore, an important aspect of Jihadism has become the struggle in the Western media for Western public opinion and sympathy and hopefully policy adjustments that go their way.
Bush administration was not sophisticated enough to understand this.
The current admin.seems to be more sophisticated in the symbolism department.
We're Closing Gitmo!! ( in a year or so).
We're leaving Iraq!!( in 2 years or so).
Smart.
Now, tell me why we must "always" keep to the moral high ground! Does that extend to the theoretical destruction of the country? At what point do we fight an unlimited war?
I disagree that the Bush Administration had any disregard (I speak as a 26 yr Marine Vet).
Semper fi
But I hope you and I could actually agree on that. How can you believe in (as it seems you must - having served as a Marine, like a lot of my friends and family) the kind of nationalism that insists on perceiving "us" as the "good guys" unequivocally, without also insisting that we really BE the "good guys"? Makes sense, right?