• Obama announces new push to close Guantanamo Bay
    88 replies, posted
[t]http://imgkk.com/i/r7ok.jpg[/t] [t]http://imgkk.com/i/-yj3.jpg[/t] [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22358351[/url] [quote]US President Barack Obama has pledged a new push to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, amid a growing prisoner hunger strike there. At the White House, Mr Obama said the detention centre was "contrary to who we are" and harmful to US interests. He cited recent convictions of terror suspects to argue the civilian justice system was adequate for such trials. Congress has blocked efforts to close the prison, but Mr Obama said he would renew discussions with lawmakers.[/quote]
fucking finally
[QUOTE=Judas;40478187]fucking finally[/QUOTE] It's not his fault congress constantly keeps blocking him.
I know it's politics and all, but I think he is torn about the issue as a person. I bet you get much more difficult, realistic and less idealistic perspectives on issues like this when you're in the position that he is.
Due to the differences in rules of evidence (military vs civilian trial) there is a large probability of most, if not all, being found not guilty. Given that some have no home country to go to- where should we send them?
There are maximum security prisons in rural USA in which very few, if at all, have ever escaped.
[QUOTE=DrLuckyLuke;40478197]It's not his fault congress constantly keeps blocking him.[/QUOTE] He ought to have tried harder, especially for this.
Trying harder to punch a brick wall won't do much but hurt your hand.
really hopes this goes through
What he needs to do is parade this around and get the full public attention on him trying to close the place, make congress expose themselves as complete assholes when they block it and make sure that it doesn't look like it's his fault.
And where are you going to put the people that are there? In the states? I don't exactly like that idea.
It's kinda embarrassing that it's still active
[QUOTE=>VLN<;40478448]And where are you going to put the people that are there? In the states? I don't exactly like that idea.[/QUOTE] what do you think is going to happen
[QUOTE=Starpluck;40478477]what do you think is going to happen[/QUOTE] Clearly they will escape and massacre millions before finally being put down.
Well people are a strange bunch, they don't want the prison to stay open, but they don't want the inmates here.
[QUOTE=Phaselancer;40478542]Well people are a strange bunch, they don't want the prison to stay open, but they don't want the inmates here.[/QUOTE] Well let's release them back to their respective countries then. [img]http://www.facepunch.com/fp/ratings/rainbow.png[/img]
[QUOTE=>VLN<;40478448]And where are you going to put the people that are there? In the states? I don't exactly like that idea.[/QUOTE] You have more violent offenders living in cities between people and thats ok?
Congress needs to get its head out of its ass and just let him pass it this time
[QUOTE=Reds;40478427]What he needs to do is parade this around and get the full public attention on him trying to close the place, make congress expose themselves as complete assholes when they block it and make sure that it doesn't look like it's his fault.[/QUOTE] Which might just worsen any tensions in their relationship. A system that fights itself is really ineffective and weak, and it's usually up to a leader figure like Obama to mediate and prevent that from happening - not throwing another barrel of oil into the fire. In order to do that job, he needs authority and respect from people he probably won't impress by trying to hurt their public image in order to force them to change their stance under peer pressure. From a distanced German perspective I've always found it curious how much fuzz there is in the US about presidential elections. President's important no doubt, but he's not a king. It's all the other politicians arguing with him that wield the real power, as insignificantly small as it might be for an individual among them.
"We need a system with checks and balances where one branch won't dominate the other" "He needs to try harder"
This is all a load of bull. Obama could close it tomorrow through executive order if he wanted to.
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;40478320]He ought to have tried harder, especially for this.[/QUOTE] You'd have to an extraordinary president, no matter how good comparatively they seem, for them to willingly give up power they've been given previously. At least that's what history says. That's also why we're not going to see Bush-era, privacy-intrusive powers go away anytime soon even though every presidential candidate will say they'll get rid of them.
[QUOTE=>VLN<;40478448]And where are you going to put the people that are there? In the states? I don't exactly like that idea.[/QUOTE] [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermax#United_States[/url] Too late.
[QUOTE=sgman91;40479782]This is all a load of bull. Obama could close it tomorrow through executive order if he wanted to.[/QUOTE] Maybe he could, but the Republican lobby would go apeshit over it, saying it's a blocking of freedom of speech, autocracy, etc etc, completely ignoring the fact it breaches tons of human rights just so they can put Obama down. They might even convince the masses to get him impeached.
[QUOTE=Reds;40478427]What he needs to do is parade this around and get the full public attention on him trying to close the place, make congress expose themselves as complete assholes when they block it and make sure that it doesn't look like it's his fault.[/QUOTE] I wonder if he could release all documentation about every action that happens in there, see how congress scrambles to contain the situation that would cause
[QUOTE=viperfan7;40479917]I wonder if he could release all documentation about every action that happens in there, see how congress scrambles to contain the situation that would cause[/QUOTE]You think most people don't know in some form already? That's the problem, most of the U.S. has not only come to terms with it and accepted it, but there are many now who actually expect it and feel that it is necessary.
[QUOTE=sgman91;40479782]This is all a load of bull. Obama could close it tomorrow through executive order if he wanted to.[/QUOTE] I'm pretty sure his first day in office had that executive order. Executive orders are not the same as absolute power, so Congress didn't let it happen.
[QUOTE=Jamsponge;40479880]Maybe he could, but the Republican lobby would go apeshit over it, saying it's a blocking of freedom of speech, autocracy, etc etc, completely ignoring the fact it breaches tons of human rights just so they can put Obama down. They might even convince the masses to get him impeached.[/QUOTE] Can't put the blame on the Republicans this time. The dems had full reign to close it through congress, but passed the chance up. Everyone takes the blame on this one.
[QUOTE=Doctor Zedacon;40479939]You think most people don't know in some form already? That's the problem, most of the U.S. has not only come to terms with it and accepted it, but there are many now who actually expect it and feel that it is necessary.[/QUOTE] I mean full disclosure, videos, information on the people within, show the world what conditions are really like there
He promised to close Gitmo the first time in 2007 and has "pledged", "focused", "vowed", or "redoubled" efforts every year since. It also doesn't help the 2012 dem platform still being followed is much weaker on Gitmo than the 2008 platform was. U.S citizens as a whole don't want the inmates within the U.S, we can't send them back to their home countries who also don't want them, and we can't just kill them because that would be awful. Nothing is going to happen.
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