The Gitmo Dilemma

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  • Posted By: TopAssistant @ 12/09/2008 6:34:24 PM

    Obviously there are only two states in which to consider, Illinois or Delaware.

  • Posted By: TopAssistant @ 12/09/2008 6:33:58 PM

    Obviously there are only two states in which to consider, Illinois or Delaware.

  • Posted By: swalexander2000 @ 12/02/2008 3:40:01 PM

    Just how much lack of "change" will you Obama supporters ignore? As much as I hate to admit it, Obama and Bush are remarkably similar on spending, and like it or not Obama will not be able to just undo many of Bush's policies because while unpopular, they are necessary.

    And please, do not be so naive to believe that these guys in Gitmo are simply innocent political prisoners, some of the most violent men in the world today are housed there.

  • Posted By: enannatum @ 12/02/2008 12:41:41 PM

    Why don't we do the honorable thing and resettle these "Political Prisoners" from Gitmo in the USA, give them jobs, housing and dignity???

  • Posted By: lionssmile @ 11/08/2008 3:08:45 AM

    Repatriate means to send them to their home country not necessarily to be free in their home country and certainly not free to attack our soldiers. I'm sick of conservative whakos saying that liberals don't care about the safety of our country, ourselves or our soldiers. .Excuse me if I think that while fighting for human rights we shouldn't become what we are suppose to be fighting. CRAZY I KNOW!!!

    • Posted By: QUEEN OF CORONA @ 11/09/2008 5:41:38 AM

      CRAIG TAKE A GUEST AT WHO I AM . LET ME ANSWER YOUR QUESTION I WILL MAKE SURE THE OBAMA DOES THE RIGHT THING. HOW THERE ALL OF YOU ACT ALL HIGH AND MIGHTY ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS OR CIVIL LIBERTIES MUCH LESS THE CONSTITUTION WHEN YIOU ALL HAVE NO RIGHT EITHER WAY. YOU ALL HAVE BECOME THE SO CALLED TERRORIST THAT THUIS EXECUTIVE ORDER WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP PROTECT. WHEN THE COMMUNITY DECIDED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CIVIL LIBIRTIES VIOLATIONS PERPETRATED AGAINST MY PERSON FORTHE LAST 6 YEARS .OR YOU DON'T CALL THAT TERRORISM . BASICALLY I WAS JUST AS MUCH A PRISSONER AS IF I HAD BEEN PUT IN JAIL. WELL GUEST WHAT I NOT ONLY WHOLE THE DIRECTOR OF THIS PROGRAM RESPONSIBLE AND GUILTY BUT ALSO THE LOCAL AND SATE GOVERMENT AND ALL OF YOU. I WILL NOT REST UNTIL JUSTICE PREVAILS AND THE GUILTY ARE PUNISHED.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      QUENN OF CORONA

      • Posted By: captainjack40 @ 11/28/2008 4:53:00 AM

        Queen of Corona - what inner city school did you attend? Don't they teach spelling? Beside Bush didn't "arrest" the priwsoners in Gitmo. Our soldiers did and I have great faith in them. Execute the Gitmo prisonsers.

    • Posted By: Allen D @ 11/08/2008 12:11:35 PM

      Ok, what do you do with the Yemenis who are freed ( escape) from prisom whenever they want? Where do you send them. I say again, all foreign fighters captured in Afghanistan need to be executed or imprisoned for life. The very fact that they are in Afghanistan means they support Al-Qaeda and are committed to killing innocents and therefore are guilty. There is no reason for any of these foreign fighters to be in Afghanistan other than to support Al-Qaeda. They aren't just being picked up off the streets. The Left needs to realize that these peoples home countries are happy they are gone and don't want them back to cause trouble there. Clinton should have taken Bin Laden from the Sudanese and killed him a long time ago. They are not reformable.

      • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/10/2008 11:25:29 AM

        " The very fact that they are in Afghanistan means they support Al-Qaeda and are committed to killing innocents and therefore are guilty."

        So we should detain or kill everyone in Afghanistan?

  • Posted By: AshamedofYou @ 11/19/2008 10:54:14 PM

    I'll give you another reason Gitmo will be open in 1 year. Obama is a sad used car salesman not a President Elect. The left enjoyed making Bush's life horrible and exaggerating the abuses at Gitmo never mind that they stirred up the entire world's hatred of the US by perpetrating those exaggerations. Now that the Dems are sitting in the daddy chair they have to live with the hatred they have created while dealing with the fact that Gitmo is full of terrorists who will kill again after they are released. So he'll close his eyes, keep it open, and blame it on Bush somehow, and Newsweek will conspire with Obama to make it so.

  • Posted By: georgemarshall @ 11/15/2008 8:45:36 PM

    What kills me is people think Bush just decides who stays or goes. They are there for a reason. Do you remember 9-11? All of America flying their flags and vowing to get those responsible? Thats what the Bush administration did. If it happened under Clinton's watch it would have been what his administration would do. You have to take a step back and THINK what got us to this point. Do you think the our enemies go away with Bush? Bush is our leader. What was done had to be done and OUR job is not over. Americans need to stand UNITED so the our enemies do not taste victory.

  • Posted By: tchildress @ 11/13/2008 8:24:11 AM

    true, many of these "detainees" belong exactly where they are. however, what most americans know is only what our government tells us. The sad truth is only about 10 percent of these men have actuall links to terrorist activities. Obama sure has his work cut out for him. Rather than speak your opinions on biased half truths, educate yourselves with facts. I strongly urge you to read "EIGHT O'CLOCK FERRY to the WINDWARD SIDE" by Clive Stafford Smith. It is a sad but very intriguing first hand account story of what really goes on in GITMO. Yes, we all agree that something need to be done....Lets all PRAY that Obama has a plan for this too. Then again, maybe we should, as humans, PRAY that GOD has a master plan.

    • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/13/2008 9:15:11 AM

      "true, many of these "detainees" belong exactly where they are. "

      I disagree. Those who really ARE illegal combatants need to be put up against a convenient backstop and shot. This who are not need to be released.

      That is why we have the trial system. Either they're guilty or they're not, and I am not prepared to take Bush's insistence alone as evidence.

  • Posted By: miggetgirl @ 11/12/2008 6:23:41 PM

    You know I was terified of aobama becoming president after hearing the lies he said and all the not so truthfull pledges he made but now that he's sitting down and thinking twice about thing I think I will be able to deal with him for the next four years, but dont get me wrong if he scrues us I'm headin north or across the ocean!

  • Posted By: life2go @ 11/10/2008 8:19:14 AM

    A lot of people are talking about the wrongs of GTMO. But at the same time they offer no better option. Something had to be done and mistakes have been made, but then again we are all human. We had to hold THEM somewhere, if the complainers would like we can put the detainees in "Their back yards". We aren't just talking about soldiers like the ones in the different World Wars. Who are doing their duties and their jobs and when we've come to peace agreements have said "okay it is over" and stop. Most people don't live or want to die for war. But that isn't who we are talking about, these are radical, fanatics who won't stop. And I'll agree that not everyone held in GTMO should be there (but I would guess to say there that number is few), but if nothing else the last few years should go to prove that it ISN'T an easy task seperating the two. Have you forgotten the stories on how they've taken our people beat them, drag them behind vehicles, then hung their bodies and burned them (possibly alive)? They went out of their way on 9-11 to kill as many INNOCENT people as possible, to do as much damage as possible. But somehow we are the bad guys?

    And we aren't the only ones, look at Spain and them not allowing Bin Ladens son asylum. If that was America, there would be an uproar about our warmongering, hateful ways and most of that would come from inside our own borders. And that is SAD. When did protecting your home become a crime? My parents taught me not to start of the fight, but to finish it.

    As far as Obama backpedaling, of course he is, he started it during his acceptance speech. No should be surprised. I know and most should (but what is sad is that they don't) that it takes "TIME" to make changes. It is like trying to stop and turn a ship, it doesn't happen on a dime. But of course that isn't how Obama ran his campaign. I really don't want to hear or read the "poor Obama look at the mess he inherited", he didn't jump or get pushed into this. He campaigned for two years making a ton of promises of CHANGE, YES WE CAN....last thing they should be saying is OKAY, WELL WE'LL SEE OR TRY. Obama wasn't my choice, so yes I'll admit it will be nice when the veil drops and people realize he isn't the PERFECT FIX for our failed nation. I do hope that he succeeds in most ways (definitely not in all things he wants), but if he fails as a President then we all lose. Which is something alot of Dems didn't understand. They wanted to make sure Bush failed in so many ways that it wasn't healthy for us as a country.

    • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/10/2008 11:54:15 AM

      "A lot of people are talking about the wrongs of GTMO. But at the same time they offer no better option. "

      Sure we did. The fact that you ignored it is not our problem.

      • Posted By: life2go @ 11/12/2008 6:39:03 AM

        Let me clarify my statement....one there are a lot of people on the street, that complain and yet haven't educated themself enough on the actual topic to make a decision or thought of their own (that whole idea of 'do something, we don't know what that is but do it". And the next option it seems is to do nothing, there are a lot of people out there that have the impression that anything we do is "evil, hateful and wrong" so basically we should just sit back and do nothing, because somehow doing nothing is better than making mistakes. I have ignored the ideas but what Obama and his team it seems if finally realizing is that nothing about GTMO is quick or easy. I just hope that Obama is ready to make the tough and RIGHT choices even in the face of his people disagreeing with him and not just try to make everyone happy.

  • Posted By: Mimi13 @ 11/07/2008 11:48:47 PM

    I certainly hope President-Elect Obama is a lot brighter than Dan Ephron. Gitmo needs to be closed down ASAP. Repartriate those who can be repatriated. Grant asylem to those that can't. Imprison any who are actually criminal. Expedite a court system to separate the guilty from the innocent. It doesn't seem all that complicated to me.

    • Posted By: Allen D @ 11/08/2008 11:54:13 AM

      how long would you inprison a terrorist? And when they finish their sentence, then what? A foreign born person caught on the battlefields of Afganistan should be imprisoned for life if not killed in battle for the safety of the world( London and madrid bombings!!)

      • Posted By: Mimi13 @ 11/09/2008 1:16:23 PM

        The problem, Allen, is that so many of the people in Gitmo were not "captured" on a battlefield. They were turned in for bounty. There are teachers, doctors, businessmen, students, who had nothing to do with terrorism. We made no effort to separate the guilty from the innocent and just threw them all together. There may be some evil people imprisioned in Gitmo -- but that does not justify incarcerating people who never did anything wrong indefinitely. Cheney and Rumsfield created a mess. They had no long term plan for ANYTHING associated with this misbegotten war. But, the fact that the Bushies did it wrong does not relieve Obama from the reponsibility to put things right. There has to be some rule of law over Gitmo and the detainees -- or the United States has no moral standing in the world.

        • Posted By: Forty4 @ 11/11/2008 8:06:20 AM

          You wouldn't happen to have a credible link on these "doctors, students and businessmen" that are detainees, would you?

    • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/08/2008 8:57:52 AM

      You're SO 20th Century.

  • Posted By: Combat Goldfish @ 11/07/2008 1:45:11 PM

    We're not fighting a country, the geneva convention doesn't apply to these warriors. We've all seen what they do once they capature an american.

    Placing these people in a cell on an island is nothing compaired to what enemies have done to soldiers and contractors.

    Sometimes the things that are done are a necessary evil.

    • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/07/2008 2:03:26 PM

      "We're not fighting a country, the geneva convention doesn't apply to these warriors."

      The Geneva Convention applies to all signatory nations, regardless of whom they fight. We are a signatory nation.

      "We've all seen what they do once they capature an american. "

      And you want to be like them? We should use their example as a role model?

      "Placing these people in a cell on an island is nothing compaired to what enemies have done to soldiers and contractors. "

      Their crimes do not justify ours.

      "Sometimes the things that are done are a necessary evil. "

      Rubbish. The ends do not justify the means. We established that at Nuremburg.

      • Posted By: Combat Goldfish @ 11/07/2008 2:23:52 PM

        When dealing with traditional prisoners of war, as the United States did in World War II, Korea, and even Vietnam, it was reasonable to err on the side of leniency and treat detainees with deference and respect. Terrorists, by contrast, present a much greater threat to themselves, their guards, and all Western nations should they escape or be released. Moreover, the diffuse and clandestine nature of their operations also mean that a much greater proportion of the intelligence on which we rely to thwart future attacks must come from captured operatives.

        More importantly, the Geneva Conventions did not anticipate the threat posed by today???s militant Islamists. The Geneva Conventions were drafted by civilized countries for the treatment of civilized soldiers. The terrorists we fight today, by contrast, are not dutiful conscripts or professional soldiers; they are would-be martyrs motivated by a fanatical and uncompromising ideology. Granting them the panoply of rights under the Geneva Conventions is inconsistent with the history and underlying assumptions of those treaties.


        "And you want to be like them? We should use their example as a role model"?
        I never stated that I wanted to be like them or our government or military should copy their acts when capturing the enemy.

        "Placing these people in a cell on an island is nothing compaired to what enemies have done to soldiers and contractors. "




        "Sometimes the things that are done are a necessary evil. "

        "Rubbish. The ends do not justify the means. We established that at Nuremburg"

        There is no "we" unless of course, you happened to be there. And at which point we fought actually countries. Times changes, rules changes, things get broke and bent. Regardless of how certain people feel towards the means of providing safety to the american people.

        • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/07/2008 2:35:59 PM

          "When dealing with traditional prisoners of war, as the United States did in World War II, Korea, and even Vietnam, it was reasonable to err on the side of leniency and treat detainees with deference and respect."

          The Geneva convention requires that we treat unconventional troops the same as POWs until such time as they are found to be unlawful combatants by a competent tribunal. That didn't happen.

          You seem to have a very low opinion of the rule of law. You seem to think it can't compete with a pack of murderous savages. Problem is, it HAS, time and time again, throughout our history...So why the rush to throw away our principles?

          • Posted By: Combat Goldfish @ 11/07/2008 2:39:36 PM

            I'm sure that's how you read it in a book, correct? Not on the battle field.

            • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/07/2008 2:58:32 PM

              I did my time, junior. First time around, over there.

              Soldiers - at least DISCIPLINED soldiers - obey the UCMJ and lawful orders from the civil authority. We also took an oath. Do you remember your oath?

              A soldier who despises the constitution (in this case, article VI) is not an asset to the republic.

              • Posted By: Combat Goldfish @ 11/07/2008 4:20:00 PM


                Amazing how you result to childish insults to help people understand you're view. The first time around and this time, are completely different. That's like saying WW1 is the same as WW2.

                Bringing up me remembering my oath has nothing to do with the subject at hand.

                • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/07/2008 5:10:36 PM

                  The law has not changed.

                  But you seem to have no respect for the rule of law, so I don't really expect you to understand anything about principles.

                  • Posted By: Combat Goldfish @ 11/07/2008 6:22:18 PM

                    Some people mistake opinions for thoughts.

                    We may agree to disagree. Nothing more nothing less, because clearly you can only see things one way.

                    • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/08/2008 9:03:57 AM

                      Yeah, I'm funny that way. I see no reason to see things through the eyes of people who are too scared to remember the principles this nation was founded on.

                      • Posted By: Combat Goldfish @ 11/10/2008 12:24:14 PM

                        I've remembered them, followed them. Doesn't mean I have to agree with every law. Nor does it mean I have to comment on nearly every single comment posted by someone on newsweek to fill some void.

        • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/07/2008 2:37:12 PM

          "More importantly, the Geneva Conventions did not anticipate the threat posed by today???s militant Islamists."

          Utter rubbish.

          1. The GC provides for unconventional troops, in article V.

          2. The idea that the terrorists are more dangerous than Togo's Japan or Hitler's Germany is patently ridiculous. Stop panicking.

  • Posted By: funkdome @ 11/08/2008 1:07:00 PM

    Such hypocrisy. Lay the blame on Bush, but all this article does is demonstrate how necessary it was. These are the same issues that faced Bush, only he had a partisan press out to destroy him. It is laughable to see the liberal media change their tune so quickly.

    • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/10/2008 11:24:48 AM

      It is never necessary to do an end-run around the constitution, or a ratified treaty.

  • Posted By: Allen D @ 11/08/2008 11:51:29 AM

    if the " detainess" are released by Obama and commit another terrorist act abroad on in America will he and the left be guilty? Yes. People have to realize these are not muggers and drug dealers. They are not criminals but murderers. You can't release a person who wants to commit terrorist acts. They will do so as soon as they are free. Doesn't the left in this country understand this? If a released terrorist fulfills his goal , trust me, Obama will be a 1 term president and the Dems will not be elected as Commander-in-Chief for decades.

    • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/10/2008 8:35:45 AM

      "They are not criminals but murderers."

      Murderers aren't criminals?

  • Posted By: daddycrc @ 11/08/2008 1:36:11 PM

    I say HANG them all on a Saturday in the town squares where everyone can watch and learn what happens when you mess with the GOOD OLD US of A.
    We all know OBAMA is a Muslim, He is going to let all of them GO and bring them into the country to help take over. They will be killing all non muslims in less than 2yrs of there release.
    All of us Americans might as well fight, and to teach our kids to fight as they do in all 3rd world countrys. IT IS COMING.

    • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/10/2008 8:35:06 AM

      Bwahaha! What's it like to live in constant fear, Cletus?

  • Posted By: C. MacLean @ 11/10/2008 8:23:18 AM

    Why do we assume that every single one of the detainees will turn immediately into master terrorists if we release them? John McCain is a perfect example of a POW who was tortured yet became a citizen. In fact, I don't recall any stories of POW's of any country being released and becoming terrorists or seeking revenge on the country who held them.

    And to those who claim they were terrorists to begin with - are we sure about that? Clearly, they weren't all terroritsts, and it seems doubtful they are all now irrevocably radicalized. We have psychiatrists there, don't we? As far as those who can't go home, we have a responsibility to find a home for them. We are the United States - surely we have the resources and know-how to figure that out?

    For those who clearly were terrorists to begin with, we have international precedence for imprisoning war criminals - why treat the ones that are clearly terrorists any differently? Spandeau prison held Nazi war criminals, and it doesn't seem unreasonable to think we can't build one or modify an existing one if we have to.

    There are plenty of solutions for this, including the commander in chief deciding to place them in a military prison - if Leavenworth needs to be fortified to house them, let's get it done.

    Why assume we can't do this? Yes, we can.

  • Posted By: nickpr53 @ 11/10/2008 4:55:06 AM

    I didn't realize Gitmo was that problematic. To the Yemeni Government I want to say.. these are your citizens, they are your responsibility. BUt... had Bush not put us in this awkward position in the first place. I'm pretty sure Gitmo's radicalized detainees more than anything else. It's the kind of place that completely destroys the image and dream of America, and even with the difficulties you mentionned, I still feel it should close. It would be a mistake to keep it open, and I know where this mistake will fit on obama's profile at http://www.spinwhip.com/obama :s

  • Posted By: upset-1 @ 11/09/2008 11:34:02 AM

    All that i have to say here about this issues is with regards to the bush adminstration handleing of these legal issues is that it should have been giving a lot more consideration prior to their designating GITMO as a place of imprisonment of these war criminals an now all i can say is that it is F.U.B.A.R. But here again this is just typicaly thinking of this bush adminstration . ho ray that it is finally comming to a close this will be agreat day for our country when it is finally over with thank you

  • Posted By: expatincebu @ 11/07/2008 6:05:24 PM

    Let them all go home. Close Gitmo permanently, not just the concentration camp but the whole base, give it back to Cuba. Apologize to the entire world for our behavior. Send all bush admin documents to the world court for evidence in crimes against humanity prosecutions.

    Anything less is to do nothing at all, is to let the cancer continue to grow.

    • Posted By: Allen D @ 11/08/2008 11:56:55 AM

      If they all go home they will kill innocent people, they are terrorist. They are NOT criminals. Their goal is to kill all who don't believe their brand of Islam. If we let them go, what do we do with them when they are caught again in Afghanistan killing our troops and torturing/killing the Afghan people?

    • Posted By: Scottanderson34 @ 11/07/2008 7:01:49 PM

      Come on, you can't just do that. I agree, many in Gitanamo are probably just hapless victims. But not all.
      There are some held in Gitmo, that are very dangerous, and a thoughtful solution needs to be implemented. I agree, stop the torture, and tr If not, then there are some real problems as to why you are holding these peoople in the first place.
      Comment: Let them all go home. Close Gitmo permanently, not just the concentration camp but the whole base, give it back to Cuba. Apologize to the entire world for our behavior. Send all bush admin documents to the world court for evidence in crimes against humanity prosecutions.

      Anything less is to do nothing at all, is to let the cancer continue to grow.

      • Posted By: david001 @ 11/07/2008 7:04:32 PM

        Don't even try to reason with these fanatic liberals. They are half the reason we were attacked in the first place.

        • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 11/08/2008 8:59:44 AM

          ISo, what's it like, being a foaming-at-the-mouth zealot?

    • Posted By: Lee Holmes @ 11/08/2008 3:46:34 AM

      The cancer is already growing. And in many cases it is the same persons who denounced GTMO who are responsible.[They also predate GTMO and Abu Gharib by years,yet it is still continuing].

      See: All Earlier Posts By ''Lee Holmes''.

      ''When it comes to this,I should prefer moving to another country. Russia perhaps. Where despotism can be taken pure,and without the base alloy of hypocrisy''

      Abraham Lincoln [R-Ill].

    • Posted By: graywolf @ 11/07/2008 8:15:42 PM

      And where will you go?
      Why would you stay in America - the hateful.
      Do you throw a party every Sept. 11?

  • Posted By: Craig-in-Alaska @ 11/08/2008 11:28:21 AM

    What an opening to a real problem, "...the flawed justice system ", and "...made messier over seven years", all laid on the previous administration, appears to be the beginning of a system of excuses (provided by the media). Putting an aerosol can of liquid tire repair in a steel belted radial tire is a messy and flawed fix too; but on a deserted rural highway it is the best fix. In 2001 quick and decisive action was required; it was a real threat.
    Stop providing readymade excuses for the new president, he campaigned on his ability to bring change and solve problems. As an engineer it is just everyday business to solve problems and correct errors and omissions. Does the political sector of our country lack that ability?
    If Mr. Obama cannot fix the problems facing this nation it is not someone else who is to blame, he signed on for the job; and it is a tough on; every president inherits problems (the Clinton left a raft of them). But he was not drafted, he volunteered, the problems were there when he announced his himself a candidate for the office of President of the United States of America.
    So just let the media report what is actually happening (???Just the facts, nothing but the facts???), not their opinion and selective view of the events. Mr. Obama is at the plate, he is up to bat; let the umpire (American citizen) call the balls and strikes as they come; and we will all hope for a home run.

    Craig, woking in Republis of Georgia

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