Since they haven't figured out what to do with all the people there (and the new people we capture) I don't see this as a huge victory. Its simbolic, but if they don't solve the underlying problems in a few years we'll have to close the next place we put them.
On the lighter side, one congressman proposed re-opening Alcatraz for them since there is such opposition to Gitmo in the Bay Area.
As a symbol it is worth it. Just ending the flawed tribunal system that has been ruled unconstitutional time after time by the supreme court is a step in the right direction.
I am all for putting people in jail that deserve to be there, but I think that it was like a witch hunt.
It's always nice when people who's opinions I respect just happen to agree perfectly with MY own opinions.
We are The United States of America! If we are to set an example to the world of what individual freedoms can do for both individuals and nations, then we don't stoop to the level of dictators, despots, and terrorists who hold prisoners without just cause and use inhumane methods to "gather information."
Two cheers for Obama. The news about Guantanamo Bay is goood news. But this will be merely symbolic unless the Obama Administration also shuts down the extradordinary rendition programs that have been in use for at least twenty years. Closing our own torture facility is good, but it will be meaningless if all we do is start outsourcing torture to unscrupulous allies. Switching from a torture chamber run by the U.S. in Cuba to a torture chamber run by Egyptians (or whoever) would be morally hollow. I believe that torture is a grave assault on human dignity that can never be justified. My hope and prayer is that President Obama's opposition to it will be comprehensive rather than symbolic.
Well. It turns out that Obama is pro-torture. Mismatch between rhetoric and action is becoming a pattern with this administration.
LA Times: "Under executive orders issued by Obama recently, the CIA still has authority to carry out what are known as renditions, secret abductions and transfers of prisoners to countries that cooperate with the United States." -de
8 comments:
Since they haven't figured out what to do with all the people there (and the new people we capture) I don't see this as a huge victory. Its simbolic, but if they don't solve the underlying problems in a few years we'll have to close the next place we put them.
On the lighter side, one congressman proposed re-opening Alcatraz for them since there is such opposition to Gitmo in the Bay Area.
As a symbol it is worth it. Just ending the flawed tribunal system that has been ruled unconstitutional time after time by the supreme court is a step in the right direction.
I am all for putting people in jail that deserve to be there, but I think that it was like a witch hunt.
It's always nice when people who's opinions I respect just happen to agree perfectly with MY own opinions.
We are The United States of America! If we are to set an example to the world of what individual freedoms can do for both individuals and nations, then we don't stoop to the level of dictators, despots, and terrorists who hold prisoners without just cause and use inhumane methods to "gather information."
Hurray for the end of Guantanamo!
Two cheers for Obama. The news about Guantanamo Bay is goood news. But this will be merely symbolic unless the Obama Administration also shuts down the extradordinary rendition programs that have been in use for at least twenty years. Closing our own torture facility is good, but it will be meaningless if all we do is start outsourcing torture to unscrupulous allies. Switching from a torture chamber run by the U.S. in Cuba to a torture chamber run by Egyptians (or whoever) would be morally hollow. I believe that torture is a grave assault on human dignity that can never be justified. My hope and prayer is that President Obama's opposition to it will be comprehensive rather than symbolic.
I second all that has been said in the comments.
If we act like terrorists, then the terrorists have won.
Very true, we can never act like terrorists.
Well. It turns out that Obama is pro-torture. Mismatch between rhetoric and action is becoming a pattern with this administration.
LA Times: "Under executive orders issued by Obama recently, the CIA still has authority to carry out what are known as renditions, secret abductions and transfers of prisoners to countries that cooperate with the United States."
-de
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-rendition1-2009feb01,0,4661244.story
That is a disturbing article. It is sinister to declare that we will not compromise our values and then oh ah well just compromise them in secret.
I guess I will get started writing letters again.
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