Gates: Congress should find way to shut Guantanamo(calls for WH and Congress to discuss the issue)

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

Gates: Congress should find way to shut Guantanamo By Susan Cornwell
15 minutes ago



WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday Congress should look for ways to close the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, but said any solution must ensure some detainees would remain incarcerated for life.

"Is there a way statutorily to address the concerns about some of these people who really need to be incarcerated forever but that doesn't get them involved in a judicial system where there is the potential of them being released, frankly?" Gates said at a congressional hearing.

"I just don't know the answer," he said.

Gates called for Congress and the White House to discuss the issue.

The United States has faced international criticism over its continued detention of about 385 suspected al Qaeda and Taliban members at the Guantanamo Bay military prison in Cuba.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070329/pl_nm/guantanamo_gates_dc

[lovuian]

1. They make a mess and want Congress to help them

pathetic

[plcdude]

2. I don't believe congress

opened it. Whoever created this attrocity should uncreate it. Now who would that be?

[earthboundmisfit]

3. Without judicial involvement, how is it judged who should be incarcerated FOREVER?

"...some of these people who really need to be incarcerated forever but that doesn't get them involved in a judicial system where there is the potential of them being released..."

So who & what determines which of these people should remain incarcerated for f*ckingEVER???

[Miss Chybil]

4. Exactly my question. Some of them may need to be locked up for the rest

of their lives and some of them may be completely innocent. That's why we have a judicial system.

[ninkasi]

5. Well, we used

to have a judicial system, until Bushco took over. We don't have that anymore, if he decides you're an enemy. Of course, there needs to be no rights to an attorney, trial, or humane treatments of detainees...Bush is the Decider, and he gets to make those decisions all by himself, and doesn't have to answer to anyone about why he made them. Apparently, he thinks it's ok to lock people up for life, without charges being brought, or evidence being brought forth, or lawyers being involved, or trials being held. He's the DECIDER, dammit!

[Sherman A1]

6. Excuse me, but who is the Secretary of Defense?

Doesn't he have enough authority to close the prisons? Or at least enough to get the ball rolling? Why must he look to Congress, perhaps he should just talk with the Decider.

[underpants]

10. Gates got told in short order where he falls in the hierarchy

Rummy may be gone but he installed all his minions in the top spots.

If they close Gitmo what sort of perversion are we going to need to statesponsor that might MIGHT slow down Cheney's lust for blood? I ask you.

[Solly Mack]

7. Gates is acting as if he is helpless in all this

The MCA of 2006 (as bad as that law is) gives him certain authorizations that could help curtail abuses until GTMO can be closed.

And in addition to that, he is Sec. of Defense - he has the power to shape policy and he can do a great deal toward ending the abuses at GTMO (and elsewhere).

If he wanted to...

[The Stranger]

8. It is a U.S. Concentration Camp circa 2007, but don't talk (or even post) about it.

No one wants to believe it is really true.

[Judi Lynn]

9. Detainees in Cuba might be moved to U.S. sites

Detainees in Cuba might be moved to U.S. sites
By Rob Hotakainen
McClatchy Newspapers
Article Last Updated: 03/29/2007 11:15:25 PM MDT

Washington - Congress is considering closing Guantanamo Bay as a detention facility and transferring its prisoners to military facilities in the U.S.

The topic set off a hot debate Thursday, with some members of Congress saying they were afraid that moving the prisoners could be dangerous.

Rep. Duncan Hunter of California, the top-ranked Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, said he was against any plan that would move people he called terrorists to American communities.
(snip)

It's not clear, however, how many of those who've been held at Guantanamo are terrorists such as Mohammed and how many were turned over to American forces for money, out of personal or tribal rivalries, or simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
(snip/...)

http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_5552036