Jan 13 2009
As Israel Fights Terrorists, Obama Plans To Free Terrorists
Obama has so far been a major disappointment to the radical left. He has selected a lot of centrist democrats, has left the major players in place at the Pentagon and is dumping his radical liberal policies in the face of a serious economic crisis (even to the point of proposing massive tax cuts). Very few radical liberals are in positions of power. And those that have fancy new titles (like the Global Warming Czar – or Queen of hot air) will probably turn out to be figure heads spouting rhetoric with no progress to be seen.
So what does Obama do to throw the far left a bone? He takes the dumb and risky step of closing GITMO:
President-elect Barack Obama plans to issue an executive order on his first full day in office directing the closing of the Guantánamo Bay detention camp in Cuba, people briefed by Obama transition officials said Monday.
So his first official, high profile act of office will be to free the killers there? We know there will be an uptick in terrorist attacks, they have to send Obama a message (they would do it to whomever was coming in as President). I can tell by the unprecedented security and closing of bridges across the Potomac this inauguration is looking like a celebration under siege. DC is turning into the Green Zone in Baghdad – not a good sign. And certainly not a sign of power and strength.
So what does closing GITMO mean? Where will these killers go?
One transition official said the new administration expected that it would take several months to transfer some of the remaining 248 prisoners to other countries, decide how to try suspects and deal with the many other legal challenges posed by closing the camp.
…
“I thought he was trying to manage expectations of how quickly those detainees who remain can be sorted into two categories: those who will be released and those who will be prosecuted,†Ms. Mendelson said.
Here’s the legal rub. Most of these people were arrested on the field of battle. Others were literally kidnapped at gun point where evidence was collected. And of course some where water-boarded (which is done to our fighting forces as part of their training against rough interrogation techniques). There was no torture in the literal sense, but the media blitz has provided a lot of defense ammunition that will drag trials on forever.
As I noted in my Democrat Contract With al Qaeda back in February 2006, the left is still making good on its promises to help our enemies:Â
SECOND, We will enact legislation to release all Al Qaeda members now held in custody in the GITMO Gulag, while providing legal counsel to all who have been unfairly detained during this unfortunate international misunderstanding between Al Qaeda and America. We will ensure all detainees have options for bail and parole so they can continue with their life’s efforts while the legal issues surrounding their detention are worked out. Every ex-detainee will be provided the services of an ACLU lawyer.
And who can forget how the other Senator from Illinois – Dick Durbin – compared our US forces detaining these killers to Nazis and other mass murders? Of the original nine promises to al Qaeda I predicted the Dems would enact only a few are still left undone, and efforts have been made across all of them. It is a sad state to watch supposed leaders kow tow to those who killed so many of us on 9-11. But that is the way of the liberal – appeasement at any cost.
This is really a dumb move by a neophyte politician trying to gain acceptance in all corners – no matter how incoherent the actions are. Why does the plight of 248 Jihadist killers warrant the attention of the President, superseding the 100’s of thousands now in harms way on the battle field? Why do these thugs deserve to be the focus of the first act of our new President while many Americans are struggling to survive economically? Why is this more important than any other issue?
Obama is going to be the classic liberal disaster. If his first message is to the detainees in GITMO he has already started off way down the wrong path.
I tell people that the fact that I did not vote for Obama, all I have to do is sit back, watch, chuckle, and listen to them whine, groan, and moan. It is as the only way for them to learn the real purpose of our federal government, which is to protect our country so that we can enjoy our freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and the right to bear arms, then we need one or two attacks.
What a shame if that is the only way to teach them.
What is worse is that we are going to be poorer in four years than we are today.
Did Obama really declare that we are at the end of a financial crisis? Is that close to the “Mission Accomplishment” banner on USS Alabama?
The financial crisis is not over and won’t be over for a while. The signs may be there that things are turning around but inflation will slow it down.
One thing I notice is that there are now more quiet, unhappy and worried Americans. The people that I work with are unhappy with the benefit reductions. The latest news of layoffs is Planned Parenthood and they are blaming this on Madoff. I learned last night that every year my contract will lay people off – the hopes are that other contracts will pick us up are still high unless Obama changes plans. Obama wants to gut the defense, intelligence, and military and we are part of this group.
Anyone see the latest on pension plans. It’s getting close to a crisis. Wall Street ain’t the last crisis.
In spite of it all, we need to think positive….
“And of course some where water-boarded (which is done to our fighting forces as part of their training against rough interrogation techniques). There was no torture in the literal sense, but the media blitz has provided a lot of defense ammunition that will drag trials on forever.”
And this, of course, ignores the fact that, when waterboarding was done to our troops by the Japanese in WW II, we convicted them of war crimes.
So – when it’s done to us, waterboarding is torture. When we do it to somebody else, it’s not “torture in the literal sense”.
And why is that, AJ?
GITMO should remain in operation for a number of important reasons the most important of which is to send the message that the US has a special place for those who would attack us—exactly the opposite message that those who worry about world opinion espouse. The fact that it raises such consternation among the weak willed shows its effectiveness as a place of perceived punishment. Fight terror with terror. With friends like the UN who needs enemies!!!
Secondly, remind the fat commie in Venezuela that we have a room with a view for him once we get tired of his bloviating.
Thirdly, it is the only good thing going on in Cuba.
Lastly, what is the endgame—they criticized the POTUS for not being omniprescient on the future of Iraq, yet offer no clue as to what to do with these wayward jihadists—-“Oh just let them go; the world will then love us and no one will ever atttack us again—Kumbaya”.
BHO should invest in developing the beachfront around GITMO and turn it into a tourist destination for the US military (free R&R choice) and civilians (who can go see the animals in their cages as part of some Eco-terrorism tour). There, I just stimulated the economy–I can be president too!!!
Not to worry. When the dirty bomb goes off in NY the MSM will go into massive 24/7 overdrive to convince the public that it was a result of Bush’s mistreatment of these poor, unfortunate, innocent pratitioners of the religion of peace. Obama? Obama? Who’s he?
With this announcement, we are now officially less safe from attack. The Arab mind will see this as a sign of weakness, and an invitation to strike.
Liberals have completely misconstrued why we have not been attacked on our soil since 9-11. It has nothing to do with interdiction of attacks, nothing to do with surveillance, nothing to do with our enemy’s CAPABILITIES. The jihad has retained the capability to do us arm for the entire time, but they were afraid of what else the cowboy might have in store for them.
We have not been attacked because we exacted the consequences necessary to cower the enemy, even though they ceaselessly bloviate. Our willingness to stand and shed blood in Iraq is what made us safe from attack, and now with this display of weakness we once again become a target.
Though we have attempted to frame our offensive actions as defensive and altruistic, the Islamists see our actions in Iraq and Afghanistan as punitive and retaliatory. They will see our closing of Guantanamo as the beginning of capitulation, in my opinion.
I find it amusing, but in a very sad way, that you all think you just know for sure that treating detainees this way has “kept us safe”, while people that actually deal with terrorists on a regular basis say the exact opposite.
Most people who voted for Obama are too young to remember Jimmy Carter.
Guy…..the reason that people think that “waterboarding” kept us safer is because after months of interrogation no information was gleaned. So the President authorized “waterboarding” for 3 terrorists. Those terrorists were involved deep in operation and planning of the al Queda organization, something we knew little about. We are told that the information that we got helped us prevent other attacks, gave us plans, names and operations. That information stopped other attacks, we a safer.
Where will they put these detainees. Brother I don’t know. Their countries won’t take them back, the europeans will not have them. We are simply, stuck with them. We have to put them in the court system or turn them loose here. Neither is a good choice. I think, in the future, the best thing to do will be to shoot them on the battle field (thats what they do to us given the opportunity) so let us get on a level playing field. I think Obama’s administration is in for a shock. He is about to find out that governing in far more difficult than campaigning with a friendly media.
Cannot wait! Once Obama understand the realities, then we can move forward…no more arguments against the left-wings. Obama can issue this EO…he has NO plans on what to do with the detainees…so what is he going to do?
The Left will say that the terrorists have gotten stronger so the Bush policies have not worked.
Just wait.
I cannot wait! YAY!!
Here is the thing that has been lost in people’s minds during the past 8 years:
9/11 was al Qaeda’s *second* attempt to bomb the World Trade Center. The second attempt was hatched, planned for, and trained for during the Clinton administration. Bin Laden had no more knowledge of who would win the 2000 elections than the rest of us did when that plan was being executed, and frankly he didn’t care. 9/11 happened due to the Democrats utterly failing to do anything substantial to combat global terrorism. We even allowed an opportunity to snag Bin Laden during the Clinton administration.
9/11 happened less than eight months after Bush took office. There has not been a single successful terrorist attack in the US since and we know several have been thwarted and there are probably more we don’t know of. Obama wants to return to the same policies that caused 9/11 in the first place. Bin Laden must be overjoyed.
I believe Obama will not make the world safer. I believe Obama is going to get a lot of people killed. My son will be old enough for military service in 10 years and I don’t want him having to clean up Obama’s mess as we are still cleaning up Carter’s mess. al Qaeda, the Taliban, Hezbollah and by extension Hamas are creations of Carter’s policies of “when the going gets tough, the tough get going … in the opposite direction”.
Great post, Cross.
One thing I have read about Hitler and WWII was his notion that England was WEAK because they had done away with the draft. Perception became reality.
Weakness shown is weakness confirmed, imho. Telling THIS enemy that we “won’t hurt them” is RIDICULOUS. What will they fear about us? Are you telling me that the United States of America should adapt the tactics of abused women: “If I just act nice and sweet, he won’t hurt me”?????? We all know the outcome of that mindset-MORE ABUSE/terror.
And the Geneva Convention was for enemies in STATE designated UNIFORMS, not gangs of thug terrorists who 1) you cannot negotiate ANY TERMS of warfare (they could care less) 2) belong to no one designated state/country.
COMMON SENSE dictates the policies that George W. Bush used. And here is a fact:
There were FOUR TERRORIST ATTACKS AFTER the First WTC attack during the clinton years. Z.E.R.O. during the Bush years after 9/11. Whatever was being done to protect us during the 90’s DID.NOT.WORK. FACT. And that goes for all presidents before him as well.
George is the first president to take it to the terrorists…and if some in the world don’t like that, then it’s an indictment on them. They must have financial/personal relations or financial/personal gain from keeping the terrorists thriving. Con jobs like the French/Germans and the Oil for Food program.
Guy?
And this, of course, ignores the fact that, when waterboarding was done to our troops by the Japanese in WW II, we convicted them of war crimes
Of course there is no evidence that any American was ever waterboarded by the Japanese in WWII.
Why do you libs have to make things up to try to prove a point?
All claims relating to ‘water’ and ‘torture’ were related to water torture, not waterboarding which are two entirely unrelated techniques.
Maybe you ought to check some of your facts before spouting such drivel.
Guy,
Three actual terrorists waterboarded in seven years has you more exercised than the thousands of deaths and maimings by the terrorists.
The man you elected is now responsible for keeping us safe. That’s a tall order. And those who voted for him must carry the same burden in their conscience.
Redteam,
Isn’t sadly funny how liberals believe the dumbest lies fed to them but deny reality staring them in the face?
Remember what the Dean told Flounder in Animal House?
“Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son”
Guy has the last one pretty well nailed.
First off, let me get this straight: somebody up thread trots out the “9/11 was Clinton’s fault” line, and it’s liberals who will “believe the dumbest lies fed to them but deny reality staring them in the face”? Okay – sure. So, let’s all agree that if we’re attacked between 1/20/2009 and 9/11/2009, then it’s Bush’s fault.
Red Team:
“Of course there is no evidence that any American was ever waterboarded by the Japanese in WWII.”
Except for this.
Or here, where John McCain, a man who I hear knows something about torture, completely contradicts you. (Unless, of course, McCain is now one of these “liberals” too.)
Or heck, any of the 45,000+ links you can find here
Tell me – does anyone here ever get tired of being wrong?
Guy,
Re Clinton culpability: look up the “Gorelick Wall.”
Guy:
That is such a load of crap. In WW2, the US fire bombed Tokyo and nuked Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We locked up the Japanese Americans in camps just for being Japanese and it was not unheard of on the battle field for soldiers to shoot unarmed enemy soldiers. It was not a regular practice, but it happened. If the folks responsible for running the military in WW2, like say Patton were around today I can assure you that waterboarding would not be the worse thing these guys would be facing.
And then of course we get all this self righteous posturing over the US waterboarding 3 terrorists {five years ago} responsible for murdering God only knows how many people. And for what silly reason did the horrid Americans do this? Why to save lives, those bad bad people. We should have just let those folks die. Or promise the terrorists virgins, maybe then they would have cooperated.
Get over yourself.
So back the subject that Guy so deftly ignores…we have Obama promising to close Gitmo. Eventually. He is going to try these people {good luck with that} if the Supreme Court says he can. If he can’t, I guess it is anybody’s guess what he will do. Australia has already said they will not take their people back, along with a lot of other countries. So, if Obama finds out he can not move them anywhere, can not easily try them, can not just turn them loose and can not send them home. I guess that just leaves sending them to the fairy land so many of his cult followers inhabit. It is after all, an entirely different realm.
And Guy, I don’t think 9/11 was the fault of anyone but the terrorists, but the Clinton administration had more than a dozen opportunities to kill Osama before AlQaida launched that attack, and he did not do it. Imagine how different things would be today if Clinton had killed Osama and Zawhiri a decade ago.