Obama just signed executive orders

[cali]

ordering the closing of Gitmo and the compliance of all agencies questioning terrorist suspects with with the army field manual which specifically bans torture.

[derby378]

1. The Army Field Manual does not trump the Bill of Rights

Seriously, why couldn't Obama merely reassert the Fifth and Eighth Amendments?

[tekisui]

2. That wasn't enough to stop people before?

I don't know.

[4 t 4]

4. They were told to do it

before by Rummy

[cali]

5. because he wanted to specifically ban waterboarding and other practices

which bushies and others refused to define as torture.

[jmg257]

7. Definition of "people" probably...

"United States v. Verdugo-Urquirdez, 110 S. Ct. 3039 (1990)."... While this textual exegesis is by no means conclusive, it suggests that "the people" protected by the Fourth Amendment, and by the First and Second Amendments, and to whom rights and powers are reserved in the Ninth and Tenth Amendments, refers to a class of persons who are part of a national community or who have otherwise developed sufficient connection with this country to be considered part of that community"

I imagine the 5th and 8th would also be included in this USSC ruling?

[underpants]

3. Impressive open event

Obama just signed four EO's
-close Gitmo in a year
-no more torture (US ARMY Field Manual)
-set up group to advise on clearing Gitmo
-al-Marri related (he is not going anywhere-court or otherwise)

[COStorm]

8. It's more complex than that

I doubt Gitmo will be closed. Hence...."-set up group to advise on clearing Gitmo".

The situation is more complex than what people seem to be discussing. You have 70 people in Gitmo that no country will agree to take in.

I don't believe using the word "release" is accurate it's more like "inflict" these people on the world. How or why do you release someone from prison that you know will try to murder you?

Personally I feel this is an attempt to address promises made on the campaign. However, there's no possible way to actually make good on it. President Obama is not going to take the political risk that someone he releases from Gitmo will be seen on a film beheading someone....potentially an American.

You have Khalid Sheikh Mohammad and those like him that will be tried under war crimes in Article III courts.

And you have a group made up of detainees who can't be released and can't be tried -high level terrorist and such.

I expect to see six months from now an explanation from the White House stating that they tried to close Gitmo, BUT, couldn't because there's no other place to house these people.

[Beetwasher]

9. You Don't Know What The Fuck You're Talking About

No one is suggesting letting everyone in Gitmo be released, that's not what closing Gitmo means. They will be given real, legitimate trials and imprisoned if found guilty. It will be done in federal courts and they will be imprisoned in federal prisons.

There's no reason why these people can't be put into regular federal prisons or tried via the federal judiciary system. The only reason they were put into Gitmo in the first place is so Bushco. could torture them without it being done on US soil. Many of these people are totally innocent of ANY crime.

[Contrary1]

10. Well, since Obama is president

I would imagine that he could order that they be held just about anywhere he chooses in the US. One here, one there...it's not like we don't have more than a few prisons here.

Maybe they can release the 80 year old moonshiner recenty sentenced to 30 months to help make room.

[JetCityLiberal]

11. Go back to defending that racist scum limbaugh

you are "better" at that crap.

you believe limbaugh is not racist...

Keep it up, you are very transparent.

[Supply Side Jesus]

6. I'm Not Use to this!!!!

Some guy who gets elected and does what he says....Jesus save me!