Gitmo Closing

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Byrdie714

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Obama signs order to close Guantanamo in a year

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama began overhauling U.S. treatment of terror suspects Thursday, signing orders to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center, review military war crimes trials and ban the harshest interrogation methods.

"We intend to win this fight. We're going to win it on our terms," Obama said as he signed three executive orders and a presidential directive in the Oval Office. Obama explained each order before he put his pen to them and occasionally solicited input from White House counsel Greg Craig to make sure he was describing them correctly.

With his action, Obama started changing how the United States prosecutes and questions al-Qaida, Taliban or other foreign fighters who pose a threat to Americans — and overhauling America's image abroad, battered by accusations of the use of torture and the indefinite detention of suspects at the Guantanamo prison in Cuba.

"The message that we are sending the world is that the United States intends to prosecute the ongoing struggle against violence and terrorism and we are going to do so vigilantly and we are going to do so effectively and we are going to do so in a manner that is consistent with our values and our ideals," the president said.

The centerpiece order would close the much-maligned Guantanamo facility within a year, a complicated process with many unanswered questions that was nonetheless a key campaign promise of Obama's. The administration already has suspended trials for terrorist suspects at Guantanamo for 120 days pending a review of the military tribunals.

In the other actions, Obama:

_Created a task force that would have 30 days to recommend policies on handling terror suspects who are detained in the future. Specifically, the group would look at where those detainees should be housed since Guantanamo is closing.

_Required all U.S. personnel to follow the U.S. Army Field Manual while interrogating detainees. The manual explicitly prohibits threats, coercion, physical abuse and waterboarding, a technique that creates the sensation of drowning and has been termed a form of torture by critics. However, a Capitol Hill aide says that the administration also is planning a study of more aggressive interrogation methods that could be added to the Army manual — which would create a significant loophole to Obama's action Thursday.

"We believe that the Army Field Manual reflects the best judgment of our military, that we can abide by a rule that says we don't torture, but that we can still effectively obtain the intelligence that we need," Obama said. He said his action reflects an understanding that "we are willing to observe core standards of conduct, not just when it's easy, but also when it's hard."

_Directed the Justice Department to review the case of Qatar native Ali al-Marri, who is the only enemy combatant currently being held on U.S. soil. The review will look at whether al-Marri has the right to sue the government for his freedom, a right the Supreme Court already has given to Guantanamo detainees. The directive will ask the high court for a stay in al-Marri's appeals case while the review is ongoing. The government says al-Marri is an al-Qaida sleeper agent.

An estimated 245 men are being held at the U.S. naval base in Cuba, most of whom have been detained for years without being charged with a crime. Among the sticky issues the Obama administration has to resolve are where to put those detainees — whether back in their home countries or at other federal detention centers — and how to prosecute some of them for war crimes.

In his first Oval Office signing ceremony, Obama was surrounded by retired senior military leaders. He described them as outstanding Americans who have defended the country — and its ideals.
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Obama signs order to close Guantanamo in a year - Yahoo! News
 
I don't find any info about how much is passed in congress?
 
Q&A: Closing Guantanamo
BBC NEWS | Americas | Q&A: Closing Guantanamo

Obama orders Guantanamo closure
BBC NEWS | Americas | Obama orders Guantanamo closure

Obama Upends Bush, Will Close Guantanamo
Obama Upends Bush, Will Close Guantanamo, President Wants Review Of Terror Suspect Trials And Ban Of Harshest Interrogation Methods - CBS News

Obama signs order to close Guantanamo Bay facility
Obama signs order to close Guantanamo Bay facility - CNN.com

Barack Obama reclaims 'moral high ground' after George Bush era
Barack Obama reclaims 'moral high ground' after Bush era - Telegraph

Camp exit
Barack Obama orders closure of Guantanamo Bay | The Sun |News

The two sides of Guantanamo Bay
The two sides of Guantanamo Bay | The Sun |News

Obama: America Will Not Torture
Guantanamo Bay Camp: President Obama Gives Order To Shut It | World News | Sky News
 
It's interesting thou...even I bet former President Bush and others has actually knew about it but didnt do a thing to prevent that from happening.

Bush and Chiney are a bunch of stuck up stupid and rich assholes. :roll:
 
So who wants the "detainees" moved to their state?
 
Barbaro said:
I heard the Alcatraz is available. Nah.

Anyway, the rumor had it that they may send some of the detainees to Camp Pendleton in CA.

I recall last year a detainee was released. He ended up in Iraq, and committed suicide bombing.

A friend of mine posted the article on the Facebook. There it is-

Guantánamo detainee resurfaces in terrorist group - International Herald Tribune
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Yes, several of them have gone back to their terrorist ways and groups.

We still have one detainee in our local brig:

Justice to review al-Marri's case
 
McCain's right to say that Obama made a hasty judgment on this.
 
Harold and Kumar would be so delighted to hear this. After all, they and everyone else wouldn't have to argue sublantics, and face "meat sandwiches".
 
Reba said:
So who wants the "detainees" moved to their state?
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Only 3 states are in the running to take on these terrorists--California, Kansas and South Carolina.

The reasoning is simple: those 3 have military prisons
 
Byrdie714 said:
Only 3 states are in the running to take on these terrorists--California, Kansas and South Carolina.

The reasoning is simple: those 3 have military prisons
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Well, my state of South Carolina doesn't want them, and our Congressmen are fighting it.

It's very easy for those of you to say "close Gitmo" if it doesn't affect your town.
 
Byrdie714 said:
Only 3 states are in the running to take on these terrorists--California, Kansas and South Carolina.

The reasoning is simple: those 3 have military prisons
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I got newspaper today and they're thinking about Ft. Leavenworth, KS. Thats about 45 min away from my home. :eek2: . My wife used to work for military as Civilian office support in Ft. Leavenworth. It's a high security Military facility. I've been there to visit her at work. Until we had first Desert Storm war, The security become higher and require up to date entrance sticker on car and require ID, no visitiors allowed unless directed by Captains. Luckily, I was there before it happened.

Basically, Ft. Leavenworth have offices, dormitories for Military personnel, training ground and high security prision just right next to City of Leavenworth. It have several mile long fence with barbed spiral wires on top wrapped around Ft. Levenworth.

Ft. Levenworth is being used for high profile criminals. Some are secretly held there while publicly stated it was in other prison. If you read history of Ft. Levenworth and who was held there will freak you out :eek2:

Remember Panaman dictator, Manuel Noriega was arrested and he was exported to Ft. Levenworth. It was a news of the day back then in KS.

Personally, Ft. Leavenworth would be the best choice for holding terrorist cuz if they escaped, it'll be harder for them try to navigate from middle of USA than near ocean where they can steal boat and take off. It would be easier for military to find them.

So that's why Kansas is the center of the USA (actually city of Smith Center, Ks is the exact center of the USA)

I was told that Sunflower Army Ammutation Plant in Desoto, KS (not far where I live) where they makes bombs for WWII, It was a secret faculity and they transported workers in a windowless bus so workers don't know where they are located, It was the #1 target from Russia during cold war. It was kept secret till after Sunflower Army Ammutation plant closed and finally reveal its secret. :eek2: That's scary cuz I'm just only 18 min away from nuke strike!! :eek2: Betcha I would be evaporized immediately before I know it. :lol:

Catty
 
I just read an article that talked about sendin' them to Europe. Wonderin' if they are goin' to take them in ?
 
Maria said:
I just read an article that talked about sendin' them to Europe. Wonderin' if they are goin' to take them in ?
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Link, please? I would like to read that article as well.
 
Is this the one from the Christian Science Monitor?


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Closing: Guards at Guantánamo’s Camp 6 detention center Wednesday. The war-crimes court has been suspended for review. President Obama has ordered the camp to shut within a year.
Brennan Linsley/AP



Restraints: Shackles used at Guantánamo. The camp was a source of sharp disagreement between the US and Europe.
Brennan Linsley/AP




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Closing Guantánamo: Will Europeans take detainees?
Europeans, who have long pushed to close the controversial facility, are hesitant to take some of its inmates.
By Robert Marquand | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
from the January 23, 2009 edition

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Paris - On no single issue has Europe been more in disagreement with America than the Guantánamo detention center. The camp was a focus of anti-US protest here, synonymous with the image of a bullying world power using torture to obtain confessions from terror suspects.

The European Union collectively called for closing "Gitmo." Now, Barack Obama, who is deeply admired in Europe, has ordered Gitmo trials to be halted, and signed an executive order Thursday to close Guantánamo within a year.

It sounds like Europe's dream scenario. Yet European states are not rushing to take detainees, a step considered essential to closing the camps.

Rather, on the eve of a Jan. 26 meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels that takes up the question, there's more temporizing than unity – and a possibility that some states that say they will take inmates considered wrongly detained may hide behind bureaucratic moves to tie such help to a collective EU agreement. Such agreement may be difficult.

In France, and also in Germany, where Chancellor Angela Merkel was first in Europe to call for closing Guantánamo – foreign and interior ministers are now making conflicting statements over a willingness to play host.

"We know of interest from Finland, Ireland, Germany, Portugal, Britain, and Sweden," says Lotte Leicht, director of EU affairs at Human Rights Watch in Brussels. "But some of these states are also hinting that help should be spread among all states in a collective decision.

"The Europeans said for years they would assist inmates if only the Bush administration would decisively close Guantánamo," she continues. "Now we have a new reality with a new president. So to say the EU can only help if we do it together may be a bad excuse not to, rather than a real effort."

European nations are mainly looking at the 60 of the 245 detainees who have been scrutinized and cleared for release – but cannot go home to China, Algeria, Uzbekistan, Russia, Syria, Libya, and other states, due to fears of reprisal.

Albania took five Chinese Uighers in 2006. Some human rights groups have called for the Obama administration to take the remaining 15 Uighers as a show of good faith.

Portugal and non-EU member Switzerland this fall suggested they would take inmates unconditionally; some diplomats see statements this week by Spanish President José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero as an affirmative sign.

The Netherlands has given a definite "No," and Austria, Denmark, and Poland have sounded negative in press reports.

European diplomats say it is early days, that the Obama White House has made no formal requests for relocation, and that many nations are waiting for a fuller reading of what the Obama team will bring to transatlantic relations.

As one American diplomat in Europe put it: "They all said no before, and now they want to say yes, but there are domestic and legal hurdles to surmount."

European expert Charles Kupchan, of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, says that, "It would be an important gesture of goodwill and would get the transatlantic relationship off on the right foot … to have help with the prisoners. It would mark a clear break with the Bush years, when Europe was unwilling to help."

But in an EU that is often characterized as divisive and dissembling on hard national problems, and that could not agree this freezing winter on how to collectively deal with gas shut-offs in the Russia-Ukraine dispute, the Obama team may have to be patient.

The administration wants help in its efforts on Afghanistan, but this week, military officials in Germany, France, Britain, and Italy suggested that, at least for now, they would not be sending more troops there.

On Guantánamo, there was a chorus of support from within the relevant quarters in the EU bureaucracy – both before and after Jan. 20. EU Commissioner for Justice Jacques Barrot said this week that Obama's move to close down the detention center was "a chance for a new partnership between Europe and the US." Thomas Hammarberg, the commissioner for human rights at the Council of Europe, on Jan. 19 called for the EU to offer asylum to those who can't return home.

But these voices vie with statements and popular sentiments that the problem is one America caused and thus should deal with. "America created Guantánamo. It has to come up with the solution," as Austria's interior minister, Maria Fekter, stated this week.

Germany's foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has repeatedly called for help with Guantánamo in an election year in which he is Chancellor Merkel's main competitor. But this week, Wolfgang Schauble, the interior minister and a member of Merkel's party, sounded a different note, saying that the republic should only take persons of German nationality, of which there are none. "The United States holds responsibility for the people who have spent years in Guantánamo," he said.

Jennifer Daksal at Human Rights Watch in Washington counters that while the US is primarily responsible, "There now a recognition that Guantánamo is everybody's problem. It is part of the terrorist recruiting narrative. For years, the Europeans have indicated they would help, but Bush never put forward a plan. Now, Barack Obama is ready to do this."


Closing Guantánamo: Will Europeans take detainees? | csmonitor.com
 
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