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Obama: Gitmo Likely Won't Close in First 100 Days
Closing Guantanamo Bay More Difficult Than People Realize, President-Elect Tells George Stephanopoulos in Exclusive Interview on "This Week"
By MARY BRUCE
Jan. 11, 2009
President-elect Barack Obama said this weekend that he does not expect to close Guantanamo Bay in his first 100 days in office.
"I think it's going to take some time and our legal teams are working in consultation with our national security apparatus as we speak to help design exactly what we need to do," Obama said in an exclusive "This Week" interview with George Stephanopoulos, his first since arriving in Washington.
"It is more difficult than I think a lot of people realize," the president-elect explained. "Part of the challenge that you have is that you have a bunch of folks that have been detained, many of whom may be very dangerous who have not been put on trial or have not gone through some adjudication. And some of the evidence against them may be tainted even though it's true. And so how to balance creating a process that adheres to rule of law, habeas corpus, basic principles of Anglo-American legal system, by doing it in a way that doesn't result in releasing people who are intent on blowing us up."
But Obama said unequivocally that it will close. "I don't want to be ambiguous about this. We are going to close Guantanamo and we are going to make sure that the procedures we set up are ones that abide by our Constitution. That is not only the right thing to do but it actually has to be part of our broader national security strategy because we will send a message to the world that we are serious about our values."...
President-elect Barack Obama said this weekend that he does not expect to close Guantanamo Bay in his first 100 days in office.
"I think it's going to take some time and our legal teams are working in consultation with our national security apparatus as we speak to help design exactly what we need to do,"
But Obama said unequivocally that it will close.
Annie: Now It's 'Whoops' On Guantanamo Bay ...One thing to promise, another to deliver.
Can you please post the link from Obama's campaign website, or any where else credible, where he promised to close Gitmo in the first 100 days.
Thanks.
No, but lots of groups from the left going nuts! They said he pledged to.
"The president-elect said another campaign promise to shut down the federal detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, may have to wait.
He said it would be a challenge to close the facility, as he had promised, within the first 100 days of his administration."
because now he is getting the national security breifings that Bush has had for 8 years and sees that the guys in gitmo are actually the bad guysBo not able?
Why not, he promised this.
No, but lots of groups from the left going nuts! They said he pledged to.
I think it's going to take some time and our legal teams are working in consultation with our national security apparatus as we speak to help design exactly what we need to do," Obama said in an exclusive "This Week" interview with George Stephanopoulos, his first since arriving in Washington.
"It is more difficult than I think a lot of people realize," the president-elect explained. "Part of the challenge that you have is that you have a bunch of folks that have been detained, many of whom may be very dangerous who have not been put on trial or have not gone through some adjudication. And some of the evidence against them may be tainted even though it's true. And so how to balance creating a process that adheres to rule of law, habeas corpus, basic principles of Anglo-American legal system, by doing it in a way that doesn't result in releasing people who are intent on blowing us up."
And one of his first jobs will be to close down the controversial Guantanamo Bay detention centre.
More like wishful thinking...
A lot of people really do want this guy to succeed myself included. The only good thing thus far is that Obama seems inclined to let slide promses that now appear to be in error.
Just watch though. If Gitmo is still open a year from now and we still have troops in Iraq, moveon and KOS will be on him like stink on a skunk.
I'm shocked, shocked I tell you that a president would move in a calm, deliberative fashion, and adapt to changing facts and reality.
It was great having a president who acted impulsively, on gut reactions; one who never admitted a mistake! Good times!
The article states that Obama still intends to close Gitmo. The nerve of him, not sticking to his 100 day pledge! You're right though. If we're still torturing people a year from now, and holding them without charges in Guantanomo a year from now, Obama deserves to catch some crap then.
I'm shocked, shocked I tell you that a president would move in a calm, deliberative fashion, and adapt to changing facts and reality.
It was great having a president who acted impulsively, on gut reactions; one who never admitted a mistake! Good times!
The article states that Obama still intends to close Gitmo. The nerve of him, not sticking to his 100 day pledge! You're right though. If we're still torturing people a year from now, and holding them without charges in Guantanomo a year from now, Obama deserves to catch some crap then.
Okay, thanks I had no idea he was supposed to close it within 100 days, and I've never heard a single liberal demand that it had to be closed within a 100 days.
But if that's what he promised, and it takes him 200 days instead, he should be impeached and run out of office.
If we're still torturing people a year from now, and holding them without charges in Guantanomo a year from now, Obama deserves to catch some crap then.
