Bush dodges decision on Guantánamo

[Demeter]

Source: Financial Times


President George W. Bush will leave a decision to shut the Guantánamo Bay prison camp to his successor by not pressing Congress for legislation to help close it – even though the Pentagon drafted options to do so, according to former and current officials.

In 2006, Mr Bush said he wanted to close Guantánamo. But when Robert Gates, his defence secretary, this year produced options to close it, they were rejected by the White House. The decision to shut the controversial Cuba-based detention facility will now almost certainly fall to either Barack Obama or John McCain, the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates. While both men have pledged to close Guantánamo, neither one has provided a detailed plan for its closure.

Condoleezza Rice, secretary of state, and Mr Gates could not overcome opposition from the justice department, which baulked at the idea of moving prisoners from Guantánamo to a military facility in the US, which in the short-term was the only solution.

Mr Gates hinted at those divisions last year by telling Congress that he had “run into obstacles ” from administration lawyers on issues such as legislation needed to give detainees the correct level of rights in the US while ensuring the protection of the US population.











Read more: Read more: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4da733d0-9bc8-11dd-ae76-00007 ...

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AT LEAST THE COWARDICE IS CONSISTENT AND RELIABLE...

[Bicoastal]

1. There he goes again...

....doing the limbo under the low, LOW bar of our expectations.

[Demeter]

2. Truer Words Were Never Typed!

[gratuitous]

3. Hewing to his lifelong pattern of leaving messes for others to clean up

Dubya leaves the torture chambers of Guantanamo to his successor. I wonder if the judgment of Guantanamo will go to Little Boots or his successor? I'm guessing that the responsibility will be a-a-a-a-all his. I hope he stole enough to afford a good lawyer.

[Diclotican]

4. Demeter

Demeter

If I was the next president. One of my first decisions, as President would be the closing of Guantanamo Bay prison complex, and every single american prison system overseas.. Every single of the many "gulag-camps" who the US under George Walker Bush jr have been building should be shut down, and either the prisoner been send to american prisons, where they should be held under look and key, to the ordinary justice system, an civilian tribunal with all what came with it would be presented with every Prof of guilt, and off course everyone of the accused should have given a lawyer to represent them to the best of the lawyers abilitys..

Second, Everyone who have been hold in prison without Prof, and who's guilt are not clear should be leaving the prison system and send home to where their belong. With a hefty money to comfort them some. And if they had medical needs, fycial as mental the US should pay for every need them do have..

Third. When the time was coming I would inform every single state leader, friendly as less friendly the whole concept of mr Bush/Cheney policy, and why the US in more than 8 year got along with the show. They might not be given all the information, or that I as the president could inform them for every single information they needed. But I would do everything in my power, to restore some of the dignity, some of what USA was before mr Bush ruined it...

4 I would spend far less on weapons, a nightmare for every war manufactures I guess, but I would use the money saved by this, to rebuild the infrastructure, get the best advices to how in the future the transport network in the US could possible be used.. Train, other means of transportations.. New technology who in a decade of two would show the world that the United States still was an power to reckon with. A more peacefully, more fair, and far more rich than it was when the republican President George Walker Bush was in power

5 I would trying my best to work with the friends of the US. Specially every single Atlantic members of the NATO alliance to rebuild the rift who was definitely working its way up to daylight when mr Bush was pushing for his war in Iraq. I am not sure if you in the US know it, but in the pushing for the war, who most of the "old" NATO was dead against, the Atlantic Ocean was FAR deeper than it was before the Iraq war was an possibility.. It was far deeper, and far longer, the atlantic ocean then.. And US have to use a lot of resources to rebuilt that damage.. It would not just go a way even after mr Bush are out of office.. The EU are already talking loudly about an pan-european military power structure.. And the most willingly nations, is they who once was the founders of the NATO alliance in 1949..

6 I would use a lot more resources to build a better future, with the help that an far less spending on armory would give the possibility to do. Even if the US was to use 2/3 of what they are using on armory today. It would still have a standing army, an standing air force and an standing sea force far greater than the next 20-30 nations would have. The US would still be the biggest, and most mean gay on the block.. But they might have to spend "little" less on the newest gadgets for a while.. Or maybe scrap some of the oldest one, who could be used to have the newest gadgets in the end..
If the US was to use 1/3 of their military spending, on building friendship, and rebuild what is been destroyed in wars, it would get a more friendly face in the aye of the world. The Marshall plan who helped the Western Europe after the second world war, was given the american far better friendship, than everything the US have given the Western European in military need since the cold war started.. The fact is that even today you could find a lot of things from the Marshall Help plan in many family in many european nations.. From Vardø in the North of Norway. To the Gibraltar. You can still se the power of the peacefully Marshall Plan..

7 As the president of the United States of America. I would do anything in my power, to get every single criminal accused, from the former Bush jr administration into custody. If it means that pardons have to be reworded so be it. If it means that old men, who possible would have wished to have his last year not confined to a 2x3 meter Cell then so be it. If it means that the american public have to learn the hard way, the whole ugly truth about what have been happening in the US the last 8 year, under an President so evil that it never have been something like that before in the history of the US. So be it.. Yes it would bruce the old Ego. But far better than denie the fact, and sweep the fact under the rug. Sooner or later, the truth about the regime of mr Bush would came out, so better to came clean out now, when it is fresh, and the guilty one can be arrested, hold in custody, if founded guilty in the cort of law, convinced to a 2x3 meter cell for the rest of their life

And I would hunt down every single neo-conservative, and hold them responsible for what they have been part of.. Perl. Wolfowitz, whatever they trying to hide.. They would have no place to hinde inside the border of the United States of America. Or for that matter in places who are under the control of the US goverment..

8 I would do everything to build up an better, safe and good economy. From the bottom up if It might be.. And a whole new Tax system would be made.. Not just "fixing" some of the loopholes. But a grand, new, modern tax system where you are taxed according to how money you have.. If you have 10 billion dollar, You surly can pay more taxes than the grandmother of five, who have maybe 140.000 dollar in life savings after 40 year in the work force..
Maybe little radical for many americans... But a fair tax system where you in fact is been taxes according to what you earn, should be far better to the american public, than a tax system who are full of loopholes, and where the richest 10% don't pay taxes at all..

9 And I would getting the army who are in Iraq home in 18 mounts time after the first 100 days in office. Off course US interest in the region would be to have "some" forces both in Iraq and in the area around Iraq, but far, far less than today. And I would also give the Iraqi government far better Chance to work out their differences, by themselves.. An formal Peace treaty with the Iraq government, where the rest of the US army who are in Iraq would be there just under some circumstances. As teaching new methods to the new Iraqi army. And the protection of some areas who are volatility. When the time is coming, the rest of the soldiers stationed in Iraq would be send home.. Either by ship, or by air
I would also worked hard with the Iran problem, to solve the whole thing by peacefully means. It is clear that military the US have overstretch and to threaten Iran with war, would just give the extremist excuses to beat down the moderates in the country. More soft power, less hard power. And Iran have many times told that everything are on the table specially their nuclear ambitions. Then I would take them of their word, and they have to Prove to the international community they either hold their obligations, or that they was just cheating.. Either way the US could, and should be seen as the greater gay, who in the end would sit down with one of their greatest enemy to solve the problems.. Maybe in a decade of two US/Iran relations would not be that bad anymore.. And maybe in time friendship between Iran and US would be an fact.

If I was elected President I would also have been working hard to get on the right foot with Russia and China again. Two country who in the last 8 year definitely have been treated as second class country by the current administration. I would hold far better contact with both Russia and China. And worked something out, so they would rather be friends with US, than enemies.. Soft power, not hard power... Off course the Missile system who are been build in the Chech republic and in Poland have to be razed to the ground, and if Poland and the Check Republic was been pissed off, I guess some Abraham's and some other fancy stuff would please them enough so they do not be to afraid about the Siberian Bear or the Dragon..

10 I would give the world, as represented at the UN a formal apology for what US was under the Bush administration. And homefully manage to promise that the next 50 year or so, would be far better than the last 50 when it came to what the US would do..

Maybe I am naive, but I do believe it to be an posibility.... But on the other hand I can't be voted in as the President anyway, so it is easy for me, to just thinking about what I would do..

Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language

[Demeter]

6. You Aren't Alone in Thinking So

We shall have to see if Mr. Obama can rise to teh occasion!

[Diclotican]

8. Demeter

Demeter

If it is true that mr Obama are the new President, after the election then I do hope he work with some of the issues at least.. The closing of the "concentration camps" both at Cuba and at other more or less known places would help a lot in the eye in the world I guess.. And if US was to restore of the former glory they once had. They have to work hard, with some of the former "enemies". Specially in the Middle East..

I hope for the best, even that I fear thar mr MCcain somehow would steal the vote.. I would not be sure how the next president in the US was, before the officials have told their story.. In 2000 I was going to sleep, in belief that mr Bush was been beat by mr Gore. And wake up to the nightmare who have been following me the last 8 year... Hopefully the US would wake up, an be sane again, and vote in the "right man" seeing from my point of view..

I for one have sworn one thing. Never to set my foot in the US as long as the neo-cons are in power.. Never... But I would more than happily visit your country after the neo-cons are out of power.. And hopefully in the prison cell they so rightfully deserve

Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language

[Demeter]

10. May That Day Come Soon!

Otherwise, I may have to move to Norway.

[Diclotican]

12. Demeter

Demeter

I to hope that the day may come soon... And if the worst is to come, you are welcome to Norway .. I guess. Even that the emigration prosess is rather long..

Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language

[zelta gaisma]

9. when are YOU running?

So when you run for president you'll let us know right?

[Diclotican]

11. zelta gaisma

zelta gaisma

If I was to run for President in the US, the whole DU would be the first to know . But I am not born in the US, so I guess that is out of questning anyway.. But If the law was repealed... Then

Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language

[zelta gaisma]

13. damn

maybe your kid? It sounds like you have a good plan there. I KNOW! become a top adviser

[Diclotican]

14. zelta gaisma

zelta gaisma

Maybe, but first then I have to emigrate to the US. And for the moment I like me where I am. But if I ever was to emigrate, I would surly tell my kids that they can be the next president - even that the odds is little off the centerline so to speak .. What I have seen is that if you at least have a million dollar in the bank, you have no Chance in hell to be the next president.. Money and the possibility to be the next president seen to be the same case in the US.. It is a long way since Abraham Lincoln was president you know..

Well, when you try to follow as close as you can, on the other side of the atlantic you might pick ut some. Even that I know my knowledge of the american political system at best is bad.. But if you thing I have a good plan, nice Maybe someone can work it out in real time too?.. Some of it then. I am not sure that every one of the 10 points would be possible to work out in real life.. Not as long as the americans really believe them to be the "Lords chosen folk" as some believe.. I know it is something about it in the Bible, But that are not counting in the american people but rather the Jews..

Well, in many cases a advice to a king or a president have more power than the president or King... History is full of that stuff.. But a vice adviser to a powerfully royal or an president know his boundaries and would not try to rule himself.. It can be dangerous, but also be rewarding to be the second most powerfully man/woman in a country.. If you are doing your work right, and have the right information.. And more to the point, if the leader/president/ruler have the possibility to listen to his advisor's then.. That is the important thing. If the President/King/Ruler have no clue, or do not listen to the advice he is given... As in this case with your current president.. He just listen to the few he know are telling him what HE want to hear.. Not the opposite view.. And it is no way it is possible to be a good adviser if the opposite is an stupid little frog, who can't or are not willing to even try to get into the things..

Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language

[zelta gaisma]

15. no no no !!!

Stay where you are! At least till we get rid of bush and Obama is in office and it's safe over here

[JDPriestly]

5. This is going to be a huge problem. They should have been imprisoned in Afghanistan where

they were found. They should have been carefully screened there and, depending on the evidence, freed on the spot, repatriated to their countries of origin or sent to real prisons for rehabilitation.

[bemildred]

7. All those "detainees" are going to have access to the courts of law soon.

That is what Bush does not want to allow, open testimony about what has been done under his name - and ours.