President-Elect Obama Plans to Shut Down Guantanamo Bay Prison
Guantanamo Bay Prison, a place where "suspected terrorists" were being held indefinately, many without even being charged with anything, may soon be shut down.
President-elect Barack Obama, like his prime presidential rival Senator John McCain, had pledged to close Gitmo. Both wanted to separate themselves in the eyes of voters from the policies of the George W. Bush Administration. Many have called those policies violations of fundamental human rights.
Obama plans to make the proclamation to shut it down within his first week in office, which begins January 20. His hope is to close it within his first 100 days, but bureaucratic delays and logistics may make that difficult.
The prison at Guantanamo Bay is seen in various parts of the world as evidence of American tyranny, cruelty and hypocricy. Let's hope the closure begins a real change in American policy and will be more than just a symbolic jesture.
Comments
Closing one prison and sending everybody somewhere else and doing the same thing is void. If they let them have attorneys and a fair trial, or release them because there's no good reason to hold them, that would be something.
Posted by: Mad Greg | January 16, 2009 01:12 AM
Greg closing it's a start. You have to start somewhere. You can't fix the whole lousy system at once. But I agree they need to charge them or let them go. It's overdue.
Posted by: Smart Gina | January 16, 2009 07:44 PM
Sometimes tough choices have to be made to keep America safe. Do you want you and your family to be attacked by terrorists? God gave us the right and the responsiblity to protect our own. But if there's no charges against someone then charge them or let them go.
Posted by: Christian Andy | January 17, 2009 06:54 PM
Let us hope for the best. I believe we'll have more focus on fairness and equality and human rights than we've had in eight years. Many laws will be changed. Things will get better!
Posted by: TawTew the Naturally Perfumed | January 18, 2009 05:14 AM
Who watches the watchmen?
Posted by: I'm Watching You | January 19, 2009 03:19 AM
Bush approved torture for "suspects" who weren't even charged. Bush gave orders that he knew would mean 1000s dead in a war started for a bogus reason (WMD). So why aren't Bush and his cronies in Gitmo?
Posted by: Angry American | January 19, 2009 09:29 PM
Obama, don't be a wimp. Bury that hell hole, but leave it up for a month. Send Bush and company there to stay for a while. Let them see what it's like to be humiliated and threatened with no possibility of bail, no attorney and no charges filed against them, meaning they can't present any defense. And let them taste their own medicine--let them be waterboarded.
Then let's hear Bush say humiliation and violations of American Constitutional principles is good. Then let's hear him say waterboarding isn't torture.
If that doesn't work, let him sign up and serve four years in the military so he can actually do something useful. Be sure to send him to the front lines in Iraq. Let him learn first hand that everywhere in Iraq is the frontlines.
He ain't my Commander in Chief no more. My duty of respect for the man officially ended today. Good riddance, and see you in hell.
Posted by: Rev. Bootie | January 21, 2009 03:48 AM
I'm like the girl who meets the guy who says he's built like John Holmes. I'll believe it when I see it.
Posted by: Kelly Clarksville | January 25, 2009 01:25 PM
Free at last,
Free at last.
Good God Almighty,
Free at last!
Posted by: You Got Two Feet in My Keys | February 8, 2009 09:53 PM