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Obama's Gitmo release
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Anonymous
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I was going to put this under the "Obama's mistake" posting, but it seemed like that thread was getting long and busy...Plus, I'm sure many of you probably disagree that it's a "mistake".
I don't know about closing down Gitmo. I know the President is eager to make a statement, reverse Bush policy, and make changes, but I think this is going to be easier said than done. There certainly seems to be a lot of logistics involved that don't seem to have well-thought through. Have ALL 250 detainees been cleared and can we feel comfortable with that? Where are they going to go anyway? - back to their homeland...assuming they'll be accepted there (not to mention tortured)? I understand that a lot of the information is highly classified so as to not give away what may or may not be known, but it seems like with a lot of these guys you give them an inch and they'll take a mile. And what if this is indeed the case? If it comes back to bite us in the butt? Besides, I'd be surprised if the detainees WANT to leave - 3 square meals a day, a bed, opportunity for prayer, medical attention - probably a much better living condition than in their home country, training camps, or where ever they come from. On the flip side, I know some argue it's a human rights issue (although I personally am not really convinced with that thought). And, also, out of respect for the President, we should trust and respect his decision. But... |
Anonymous
| you're not going to get anywhere wtih this on this board. Why bother? |
jsteele
Site Admin Online
Site Admin Online
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Given that there have been a number of successful and scores of attempted suicides among Gitmo detainees, I don't think those guys are enjoying their stay in the Cuban sun. If you've made any attention at all to the stories of released detainees, you would be confident that not a single one wants to stay there.
The closure is not going to happen over night. Some reports said that it may take a year. So, there is time to resolve outstanding issues. Gitmo is a stain on everything for which the US stands. Can you imagine a place where people are held indefinitely without charge and subject to physical and emotional abuse? It sounds remarkably like Siberian camps in the Soviet Union. A place to which you simply disappear. We used to be taught that things like that were bad and we needed to spend billions on missiles to protect ourselves from a country that would do such a thing. |
Anonymous
| I'm pretty sure that "Wherever they come from" is better than imprisonment, and I don't think regular access to a military prison cafeteria is going to change that. But I'll give you coupons for Whoppers if you drop this thread. |
Anonymous
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"Besides, I'd be surprised if the detainees WANT to leave - 3 square meals a day, a bed, opportunity for prayer, medical attention - probably a much better living condition than in their home country, training camps, or where ever they come from.
On the flip side, I know some argue it's a human rights issue (although I personally am not really convinced with that thought). " Wow, you are amazingly ignorant and the shining example of the ugliest perspective our nation has to offer. I wholeheartedly support true political discussion and substantive differences on policy between liberal and conservative positions but your post is truly disgusting. Its unfortunate that Republicans and conservatives are so often associated and lumped in with some of these followers. If you want Republicans to win elections in the future you may want avoid flaunting your stupidity. |
Anonymous
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Just because Obama proposes to close Gitmo, Doesn't mean that they're just going to pat them on the back and let them free. They might be put into other facilities.
Also, Bush had already removed 500 of the 750 prisoners there...Have you been living in utter fear this whole time since then? |
Anonymous
Boy, you are naiive |
Anonymous
OP, you are naive. They don't want to stay there. How can they plot to kill thousands of innocent Americans if they are incarcerated? 
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Anonymous
Bravo, PP. I couldn't agree more! |
Anonymous
But as you suggested, not all Republicans think this way. I just heard a story on This American Life (www.thisamericanlife.org -- the segment on reactions to the inauguration) about a military defense attorney who had voted for Bush both times who has become disgusted with the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo. Let's assume (or at least hope) that there will be Republicans running for office who share this attorney's concerns. |
Anonymous
| Hey, McCain was one -- but you all successfully vilified him. |
Anonymous
Gee, generalize much? |
Anonymous
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Here is one suggestion that I read a while back in one of the European non-english speaking discussion forums:
Bush decided to that instead of using the international Geneva convention, he would instead apply the internation fishing laws. After all, the detainees are orange and near a coastal region Few of you know what damage this whole fiasco has done to the image of the US. Just read foreign news sites. |
Anonymous
| Let's hope that Obama and his team are more careful about releasing the Gitmo detainees than folks were under Bush--I read today on Fox News online (I think) that a detainee released several years ago from Gitmo is now number two in Al Qaeda in Pakistan. Apparently he was released to the Saudis..... |
Anonymous
| PP here: here's the article I referred to: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,481849,00.html |