Obama gives Guantanamo Prisoners an extra 4 MONTHS before they get a trial

@Taskr36 (13963)
United States
January 21, 2009 8:56am CST
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (CNN) -- In one of his first acts in office President Obama has ordered the U.S. government to suspend prosecutions of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay for 120 days, military officials said Tuesday. Papers filed at the U.S. prison camp said the request is made "in the interest of justice and at the direction of the president of the United States." It seeks a delay in proceedings until May 20. http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/21/guantanamo.hearings/index.html To me, the most amusing thing about this is that the morons at the ACLU actually believe he's doing what they told him to. It's been made very clear that he's DELAYING prosecution. That means their trials are DELAYED for four months, yet those morons actually believe this promotes their agenda of letting all the terrorists go free. ""The very fact that it's one of his first acts reflects a sense of urgency that the U.S. cannot afford one more day of counterproductive and illegal proceedings in the fight against terrorism," said Rona, who was in Cuba to watch the proceedings scheduled this week." I have to give Obama credit on this one. He has somehow convinced these extremists that a four months delay "reflects a sense of urgency". Regardless of whether or not you agree with Guantanamo, or Obama, you have to admit, he really knows how to make people believe whatever he wants even when telling the truth. This is even more impressive than when he convinced people he supported gay marriage while saying he opposed it. Unbelievable.
7 responses
@Bd200789 (2994)
• United States
21 Jan 09
The procedures are illegal. Those prisoners have not been charged with anything.
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
21 Jan 09
Well they're terrorists, so they aren't covered by the same laws that require an American citizen to be charged with a crime. If they were, then Obama would also be violating their constitutional right to a speedy trial by keeping them locked up for another 4 months awaiting trial.
• United States
21 Jan 09
Exactly, TSKR. They are not US citizens, and they're not even alien citizens of another country. They are prisoners of war, terrorists, enemy combatants. They do not share the same rights that you have Bd200789, and they should NOT share those rights. Are you aware, that of those that were already released by President Bush, on grounds that their cases were weak and the evidence circumstantial at best, something like 60-70% were picked up AGAIN, on the battleground, trying to kill Americans!!??? It's an outrage.
• France
22 Jan 09
My understanding is that the trials were in danger of being dismissed if they went further immediately because evidence against the detainees included testimony taken while being illegally tortured. That evidence then becomes invalid if used, the cases dismissed, and the detainees released. I think the idea behind delaying the hearings is so the cases can be reviewed with the hope they can be conducted in accordance with US and International law (ie: the Geneva Convention?), and in line with the US Constitution. I welcome this break from the "shoot first, ask questions later" mentality of the Bush Administration - which is what got us in trouble in the first place. Of course it'd be great for our sense of national security to just execute these guys with no trial, but that would be unacceptable if we are also to lead the world in spreading and supporting freedom and democracy. One of the unfortunate burdens of living free is conducting ourselves in accordance with the law.
• United States
22 Jan 09
Just so you know, I have been attending some of the 'cases' that you are discussing. There is a lot of information the American people are not seeing that they would be mad as hades about. This would concern both our Government and the Detainees.
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
21 Jan 09
Yes it might take them 4 months longer to get out of Guantanamo, as Obama decides if it's good to close it, which I hope he does because a lot of innocent people are stuck there. But at least for those 4 months they won't be getting tortured or water boarded. Of course you can't just let everyone out. Some people might actually be dangerous. In fact, I'm sure there are several dangerous people there. But at least he's examining the process and not just letting them sit there forever, which seems to me what Bush was doing.
• United States
21 Jan 09
All I can say is that I hope you will take the time to read all the other comments on this one. Your comment is so nonfactual I don't know where to start.
• United States
21 Jan 09
You make some good points. All thru the campaigns I kept asking liberals why are you so in love with Obama and saying he will save your son (from the war) when he has said he wants to hit Afghanistan much harder, talked about invading Pakistan, etc? And what I kept reading and hearing: Oh that's just to appease the morons and get elected! I kept asking, why would they want a President that lies to get elected? Usually, no answer, or just that it's worth it (worth ANYTHING) to have him be President. The question remains: Where is the real Obama, and what are his real intentions? Where does the real Obama land on these topics? And no one seems to know the answer. Newt Gingrich, while acknowledging that he was wrong in predicting Hillary would be the nominee, has a theory. His thinking is that Obama is really much more of a centrist that anyone realized and that he was "brilliant" in his ability to allow the more extreme left siders to believe he was 'for them', without actually saying so -- thus getting their support to get into office, and then going centrist. Exactly what you're saying. All I can say is I sure HOPE and PRAY that is correct! Because if the extreme left is correct in thinking he misrepresented himself to get elected and will now jump wholeheartedly into doing their bidding, we are in serious trouble. And those prisoners of war (that's what they are, despite the cries otherwise) in Gitmo include those who had a major hand in the 9/11 attacks -- and at least one has admitted in court already that he did it. I can't imagine ANYONE in our country wanting to allow those particular terrorists in Gitmo to be set free!! And yet, it is true. That's what they want. So I hope and pray that the prosecutions continue after the 120 days is up. I'm starting to wonder if Obama is much much more of an idealist than anyone thought, too. I mean, he keeps saying there will be the rule of law and transparency to his administration. He announces new rules for lobbyists who work for him today too. And he wants to postpone the prosecutions in Gitmo in order to have a look at what's been going on, the process, the charges, etc. In other words, is he just wanting to make sure, to his satisfaction, that everything is above board, and then he will continue with the prosecutions? Let's hope so. Maybe idealist is the wrong word. Maybe he had a rude awakening when he started getting briefings like Bush was getting. If he is indeed brilliant at "handling" people, I sure hope he uses that for our good.
• France
22 Jan 09
I think he is an idealist in vision but realist in action. I think he's delaying proceedings to make sure everything's on board. Don't forget this guy was President of the Harvard Law Review, which is no small honor. It's probably safe to assume he has a deep understanding of American law. My feeling is he's more interested in protecting the reputation of the U.S., including Bush and Cheney, than the rights of the Gitmo detainees. Have you logged on to whitehouse.gov yet? I'm impressed so far with his efforts towards transparency. At least the communication infrastructure is in place. Of course, it's only day 2, so we'll see.
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
21 Jan 09
Well, it's the diplomatic way to go about it. This way he pleases those who want Guantanamo Bay closed, and those who want those people brought to justice. Now they'll go through a lengthy review process that will also allow for time to close that place down and move the prisoners to the US, which after all was Obama's plan and promise. After the 'review' they'll most likely conclude that changes will have to be made, which again will allow for those people to be tried in some way, now in the US. That again will appease those who want those people brought to justice. Since the trials will be speedy and humane with more 'justice' for the prisoners involved, the ACLU and whoever else wants those prisoners to be treated nicely and send back home, will be happy, too. Both sides will think they achieved something. Yep, you are right, he can make both sides believe that he agrees with them;)
• Japan
21 Jan 09
Well i think this is for the best. Lord knows through I history we have excuted enough innocent men. Now, Most of these people will probably never see the light of day again. But as he said in his speech We don`t throw away our values to do to win this war. Fair and open trials are the only way handle this. I don`t think he is trying to get over on anyone.just doing what he said he would.
• United States
21 Jan 09
LOL... perhaps 0bama will gain the support of everyone like me if he keeps this up. Unfortunately, this will lose him most of the votes he received from others. This could lead to 0bama being a one term President. In the next election, if everyone who voted McCain votes for 0bama and everyone who voted for 0bama votes for the other guy, we know what happens!