What Excuse Remains for Obama’s Failure to Close GITMO?

[Kevin_Kennedy]

The excuse-making on behalf of President Obama has always found its most extreme form when it came time to explain why he failed to fulfill his oft-stated 2008 election promise to close Guantanamo. As I’ve documented many times, even the promise itself was misleading, as it became quickly apparent that Obama — even in the absence of congressional obstruction — did not intend to “close GITMO” at all but rather to re-locate it, maintaining its defining injustice of indefinite detention.

But the events of the last three days have obliterated the last remaining excuse. In order to secure the release of American POW Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the Obama administration agreed to release from Guantanamo five detainees allegedly affiliated with the Taliban. But as even stalwart Obama defenders such as Jeffery Toobin admit, Obama “clearly broke the law” by releasing those detainees without providing Congress the 30-day notice required by the 2014 defense authorization statute (law professor Jonathan Turley similarly observed that Obama’s lawbreaking here was clear and virtually undebatable).

The sole excuse now offered by Democratic loyalists for this failure has been that Congress prevented him from closing the camp. But here, the Obama White House appears to be arguing that Congress lacks the authority to constrain the President’s power to release detainees when he wants. What other excuse is there for his clear violation of a law that requires 30-day notice to Congress before any detainees are released?

But once you take the position that Obama can override — i.e., ignore — Congressional restrictions on his power to release Guantanamo detainees, then what possible excuse is left for his failure to close the camp?

What Excuse Remains for Obama’s Failure to Close GITMO?

So why should Obama not be held accountable for his lie about closing Guantanamo Bay Prison?

What lie?

The lie where he said he'd close Guantanamo Bay Prison.

 

[Meister]

As usual republicans taking the fact Obama got a POW back for 5 government officials as a bad thing and thinks he should just do as he pleases...maybe next time to please the republican assholes we can let them know a war THEY STARTED that has gotten a soldier taken POW 30 days before hand and then he or she will die or be executed because they need to know before hand.

1 deserter for "5 government officials"? That's what you and your ilk are calling terrorists these days, government officials?

You truly are a blooming idiot, Blanch.

They are government officials of the Taliban which IS the official and correct ruling government of Afghanistan. You people listen and are brainwashed with to much media in the US...

Taliban is a government?

 

[Meister]

As usual republicans taking the fact Obama got a POW back for 5 government officials as a bad thing and thinks he should just do as he pleases...maybe next time to please the republican assholes we can let them know a war THEY STARTED that has gotten a soldier taken POW 30 days before hand and then he or she will die or be executed because they need to know before hand.

1 deserter for "5 government officials"? That's what you and your ilk are calling terrorists these days, government officials?

You truly are a blooming idiot, Blanch.

When were they charged with Terrorism?

Got a link?

Thanks in advance.

When were they "government officials"?

Stay tuned

 

[theDoctorisIn]

1 deserter for "5 government officials"? That's what you and your ilk are calling terrorists these days, government officials?

You truly are a blooming idiot, Blanch.

They are government officials of the Taliban which IS the official and correct ruling government of Afghanistan. You people listen and are brainwashed with to much media in the US...

Taliban is a government?

Yes, they are. They governed Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.

 

[Meister]

As usual republicans taking the fact Obama got a POW back for 5 government officials as a bad thing and thinks he should just do as he pleases...maybe next time to please the republican assholes we can let them know a war THEY STARTED that has gotten a soldier taken POW 30 days before hand and then he or she will die or be executed because they need to know before hand.

1 deserter for "5 government officials"? That's what you and your ilk are calling terrorists these days, government officials?

You truly are a blooming idiot, Blanch.

They are government officials of the Taliban which IS the official and correct ruling government of Afghanistan. You people listen and are brainwashed with to much media in the US...

Oh...the taliban is a banned party in Afganistan....fyi
I have no idea where you get your facts from, Blanch

 

[Meister]

They are government officials of the Taliban which IS the official and correct ruling government of Afghanistan. You people listen and are brainwashed with to much media in the US...

Taliban is a government?

Yes, they are. They governed Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.

They are banned now, Doc....hence, they aren't government officials.

 

[The T]

Yes.

You underestimate Obama's intent and how he will close the place.

I think you dislike Obama and that has made you fabricate some sinister intentions of his to close Guantanamo when he has shown absolutely no willingness to do so. He campaigned on it and then reneged. That's the real story.

Judging from his actions? His lawlessness? Skirting the Constitution? NOT being held to account? NO...I have it correct, and he IS predictable.

 

[Kevin_Kennedy]

You underestimate Obama's intent and how he will close the place.

I think you dislike Obama and that has made you fabricate some sinister intentions of his to close Guantanamo when he has shown absolutely no willingness to do so. He campaigned on it and then reneged. That's the real story.

Judging from his actions? His lawlessness? Skirting the Constitution? NOT being held to account? NO...I have it correct, and he IS predictable.

Yes, many of his actions have been reprehensible, he has broken the law and ignored the Constitution, but that doesn't mean he's so much as tried to close Guantanamo. As this episode proves, he could do so unilaterally tomorrow, but he wants to hide behind Congress as if they're somehow stopping him because it's a controversial issue.

 

[Moonglow]

As usual republicans taking the fact Obama got a POW back for 5 government officials as a bad thing and thinks he should just do as he pleases...maybe next time to please the republican assholes we can let them know a war THEY STARTED that has gotten a soldier taken POW 30 days before hand and then he or she will die or be executed because they need to know before hand.

Are you implying that Glenn Greenwald is a Republican, or that I am? Neither I nor Greenwald have any issue with the trade made by Obama, merely the hypocrisy in claiming that he can't act on Gitmo without Congressional approval and then going ahead and unilaterally making this move.

What will be done with the prisoners at GITMO? The US refused as did other nations..We are stuck with a Bush era problem...

 

[LordBrownTrout]

Why would he close it? He can just make swaps now without congressional approval. Clear violations of law on several accounts but no one is holding him accountable anymore.

 

[jillian]

The excuse-making on behalf of President Obama has always found its most extreme form when it came time to explain why he failed to fulfill his oft-stated 2008 election promise to close Guantanamo. As I’ve documented many times, even the promise itself was misleading, as it became quickly apparent that Obama — even in the absence of congressional obstruction — did not intend to “close GITMO” at all but rather to re-locate it, maintaining its defining injustice of indefinite detention.

But the events of the last three days have obliterated the last remaining excuse. In order to secure the release of American POW Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the Obama administration agreed to release from Guantanamo five detainees allegedly affiliated with the Taliban. But as even stalwart Obama defenders such as Jeffery Toobin admit, Obama “clearly broke the law” by releasing those detainees without providing Congress the 30-day notice required by the 2014 defense authorization statute (law professor Jonathan Turley similarly observed that Obama’s lawbreaking here was clear and virtually undebatable).

The sole excuse now offered by Democratic loyalists for this failure has been that Congress prevented him from closing the camp. But here, the Obama White House appears to be arguing that Congress lacks the authority to constrain the President’s power to release detainees when he wants. What other excuse is there for his clear violation of a law that requires 30-day notice to Congress before any detainees are released?

But once you take the position that Obama can override — i.e., ignore — Congressional restrictions on his power to release Guantanamo detainees, then what possible excuse is left for his failure to close the camp?

What Excuse Remains for Obama’s Failure to Close GITMO?

So why should Obama not be held accountable for his lie about closing Guantanamo Bay Prison?

excuse???

you mean congress passing legislation to block it's closure isn't enough?

 

[The T]

Why would he close it? He can just make swaps now without congressional approval. Clear violations of law on several accounts but no one is holding him accountable anymore.

^^ Precisely^^

Glad you get it>

 

[The T]

The excuse-making on behalf of President Obama has always found its most extreme form when it came time to explain why he failed to fulfill his oft-stated 2008 election promise to close Guantanamo. As I’ve documented many times, even the promise itself was misleading, as it became quickly apparent that Obama — even in the absence of congressional obstruction — did not intend to “close GITMO” at all but rather to re-locate it, maintaining its defining injustice of indefinite detention.

But the events of the last three days have obliterated the last remaining excuse. In order to secure the release of American POW Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the Obama administration agreed to release from Guantanamo five detainees allegedly affiliated with the Taliban. But as even stalwart Obama defenders such as Jeffery Toobin admit, Obama “clearly broke the law” by releasing those detainees without providing Congress the 30-day notice required by the 2014 defense authorization statute (law professor Jonathan Turley similarly observed that Obama’s lawbreaking here was clear and virtually undebatable).

The sole excuse now offered by Democratic loyalists for this failure has been that Congress prevented him from closing the camp. But here, the Obama White House appears to be arguing that Congress lacks the authority to constrain the President’s power to release detainees when he wants. What other excuse is there for his clear violation of a law that requires 30-day notice to Congress before any detainees are released?

But once you take the position that Obama can override — i.e., ignore — Congressional restrictions on his power to release Guantanamo detainees, then what possible excuse is left for his failure to close the camp?

What Excuse Remains for Obama’s Failure to Close GITMO?

So why should Obama not be held accountable for his lie about closing Guantanamo Bay Prison?

excuse???

you mean congress passing legislation to block it's closure isn't enough?

And OBAMA violating a LAW he signed. You get it don't you MS. Faux Lawyer?

 

[JakeStarkey]

What Excuse Remains for Obama’s Failure to Close GITMO?

Congress's refusal to let him do it?

 

[The T]

What Excuse Remains for Obama’s Failure to Close GITMO?

Congress's refusal to let him do it?

Damn straight...and as an added BONUS? Obama broke the LAW that he signed by neglecting to notify them 30 days in advance.

YOU are an IDIOT Starkey.

 

[FA_Q2]

With this "Hostage Swap" he just pulled? What do you think he's doing? He's trying to empty the place.

That's just partisan nonsense.

Why?
I think you are incorrect here. This might be exactly what he is doing – testing the waters to see what the reactions are of the public and congress when he unilaterally does as you suggest.

How is that a partisan opinion? That has nothing to do with whether or not anyone thinks that is the correct decision to make. This does give him the opportunity to gauge the response when others are released.

 

[FA_Q2]

The excuse-making on behalf of President Obama has always found its most extreme form when it came time to explain why he failed to fulfill his oft-stated 2008 election promise to close Guantanamo. As I’ve documented many times, even the promise itself was misleading, as it became quickly apparent that Obama — even in the absence of congressional obstruction — did not intend to “close GITMO” at all but rather to re-locate it, maintaining its defining injustice of indefinite detention.

But the events of the last three days have obliterated the last remaining excuse. In order to secure the release of American POW Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the Obama administration agreed to release from Guantanamo five detainees allegedly affiliated with the Taliban. But as even stalwart Obama defenders such as Jeffery Toobin admit, Obama “clearly broke the law” by releasing those detainees without providing Congress the 30-day notice required by the 2014 defense authorization statute (law professor Jonathan Turley similarly observed that Obama’s lawbreaking here was clear and virtually undebatable).

The sole excuse now offered by Democratic loyalists for this failure has been that Congress prevented him from closing the camp. But here, the Obama White House appears to be arguing that Congress lacks the authority to constrain the President’s power to release detainees when he wants. What other excuse is there for his clear violation of a law that requires 30-day notice to Congress before any detainees are released?

But once you take the position that Obama can override — i.e., ignore — Congressional restrictions on his power to release Guantanamo detainees, then what possible excuse is left for his failure to close the camp?

What Excuse Remains for Obama’s Failure to Close GITMO?

So why should Obama not be held accountable for his lie about closing Guantanamo Bay Prison?

excuse???

you mean congress passing legislation to block it's closure isn't enough?

Yes, that mean congress. Passing those bills that Obama didn’t sign.

Oh wait, he signed that bill…..

Never mind that, Obama is not really accountable for his own actions. It’s all those evil republicans fault.

 

[Moonglow]

If Oblama broke the law, then Congress needs to confront him with charges...

 

[FA_Q2]

If Oblama broke the law, then Congress needs to confront him with charges...

Do you really think that this is a charge that is worthy of an impeachment? Do you really think that the democrat senate will address it even if that were the case?

The FACT is that Obama broke the law. That is cold hard fact. If you cannot admit that then it is soley a case of partisan blinders. It goes without saying that the people no longer care though. They are so jaded that they don’t care when the president breaks the law. This is what you get, though, when EVERYTHING is illegal.

 

[Kevin_Kennedy]

As usual republicans taking the fact Obama got a POW back for 5 government officials as a bad thing and thinks he should just do as he pleases...maybe next time to please the republican assholes we can let them know a war THEY STARTED that has gotten a soldier taken POW 30 days before hand and then he or she will die or be executed because they need to know before hand.

Are you implying that Glenn Greenwald is a Republican, or that I am? Neither I nor Greenwald have any issue with the trade made by Obama, merely the hypocrisy in claiming that he can't act on Gitmo without Congressional approval and then going ahead and unilaterally making this move.

What will be done with the prisoners at GITMO? The US refused as did other nations..We are stuck with a Bush era problem...

As they've been convicted of no crimes, I'd suggest letting them go wherever they want. They should probably be given some sort of reparations for pain and suffering as well.