Comments on: Obama’s “Humane” Guantánamo Is A Bitter Joke http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/02/23/obamas-humane-guantanamo-is-a-bitter-joke/ Investigative journalist, author, filmmaker and Guantanamo expert Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:54:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Uighur Protest In Guantánamo: Photos by Andy Worthington + Bob Dylan: Subterranean Homesick Blues « Dandelion Salad http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/02/23/obamas-humane-guantanamo-is-a-bitter-joke/comment-page-1/#comment-39258 Uighur Protest In Guantánamo: Photos by Andy Worthington + Bob Dylan: Subterranean Homesick Blues « Dandelion Salad Sat, 06 Jun 2009 11:59:52 +0000 http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/?p=1455#comment-39258 [...] that the Geneva Conventions did not apply to prisoners seized in the “War on Terror,” and that serious doubts about the prisoners’ treatment remain to this day, despite a review conducted in Obama’s first month in office, which found that [...] [...] that the Geneva Conventions did not apply to prisoners seized in the “War on Terror,” and that serious doubts about the prisoners’ treatment remain to this day, despite a review conducted in Obama’s first month in office, which found that [...]

]]> By: Obama’s First 100 Days: A Start On Guantánamo, But Not Enough by Andy Worthington « Dandelion Salad http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/02/23/obamas-humane-guantanamo-is-a-bitter-joke/comment-page-1/#comment-37445 Obama’s First 100 Days: A Start On Guantánamo, But Not Enough by Andy Worthington « Dandelion Salad Mon, 04 May 2009 23:57:45 +0000 http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/?p=1455#comment-37445 [...] there have been other disappointments. In February, the Pentagon’s review of conditions at Guantánamo concluded that they met the standards required by the Geneva Conventions, even though, at the time, [...] [...] there have been other disappointments. In February, the Pentagon’s review of conditions at Guantánamo concluded that they met the standards required by the Geneva Conventions, even though, at the time, [...]

]]> By: Notorious Kelly http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/02/23/obamas-humane-guantanamo-is-a-bitter-joke/comment-page-1/#comment-32708 Notorious Kelly Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:38:43 +0000 http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/?p=1455#comment-32708 Gitmo, the American Gulag, could be shuttered as quickly as it was opened. It is an abomination to the Constitution, which has been used as toilet paper for quite some time now. The rich, old white men who've delighted in the misery of others shall get their comeuppance. Gitmo, the American Gulag, could be shuttered as quickly as it was opened.

It is an abomination to the Constitution, which has been used as toilet paper for quite some time now.

The rich, old white men who’ve delighted in the misery of others shall get their comeuppance.

]]> By: Nell http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/02/23/obamas-humane-guantanamo-is-a-bitter-joke/comment-page-1/#comment-32703 Nell Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:15:02 +0000 http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/?p=1455#comment-32703 Frances, there is no evidence whatsoever that Pres. Obama plans to go any further without substantial outside pressure in improving the conditions of Guantanamo prisoners. Given that there are currently about 250 prisoners now, consider the implications of his saying on a national television interview February 1: "we’ve got a couple of hundred of hardcore militants that, unfortunately, because of some problems that we had previously in gathering evidence, we may not be able to try in ordinary courts –- but we don’t want to release.” "A couple of hundred" "Hardcore militants"! "Because of some problems that we had"! This isn't an off-the-cuff remark. This is a carefully considered <b>contribution</b> to the right-wing propaganda that all the prisoners are dangerous and any release risky. He's met with the rightist operatives of Military Families United, who spent this week screeching in protest at Binyam Mohamed's release because "he's a universally recognized terrorist", but he's never met with the Guantanamo defense lawyers, even in private. Frances, there is no evidence whatsoever that Pres. Obama plans to go any further without substantial outside pressure in improving the conditions of Guantanamo prisoners.

Given that there are currently about 250 prisoners now, consider the implications of his saying on a national television interview February 1:
“we’ve got a couple of hundred of hardcore militants that, unfortunately, because of some problems that we had previously in gathering evidence, we may not be able to try in ordinary courts –- but we don’t want to release.”

“A couple of hundred” “Hardcore militants”! “Because of some problems that we had”!

This isn’t an off-the-cuff remark. This is a carefully considered contribution to the right-wing propaganda that all the prisoners are dangerous and any release risky.

He’s met with the rightist operatives of Military Families United, who spent this week screeching in protest at Binyam Mohamed’s release because “he’s a universally recognized terrorist”, but he’s never met with the Guantanamo defense lawyers, even in private.

]]> By: Andy Worthington http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/02/23/obamas-humane-guantanamo-is-a-bitter-joke/comment-page-1/#comment-32701 Andy Worthington Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:12:14 +0000 http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/?p=1455#comment-32701 I laughed. I must admit it was a deep, dark laugh, which shows what kind of sense of humour the "War on Terror" has driven me to. I laughed.
I must admit it was a deep, dark laugh, which shows what kind of sense of humour the “War on Terror” has driven me to.

]]> By: Andy Worthington http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/02/23/obamas-humane-guantanamo-is-a-bitter-joke/comment-page-1/#comment-32700 Andy Worthington Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:11:06 +0000 http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/?p=1455#comment-32700 This from the Talking Dog: Excellent take; the whole bloody thing is just a Potemkin Village for the rubes at home... it's just that one of the rubes happens to be the Rube in Chief. Will this satisfy the President that his orders are being complied with? I believe the answer is "yes". If you ask the Secretary of Defense who you have retained to tell you if the prison under his authority is Geneva compliant, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that the answer he's going to give you is "Yes, Sir! Geneva compliant! I am NOT a war criminal, Sir!" http://www.thetalkingdog.com/ This from the Talking Dog:

Excellent take; the whole bloody thing is just a Potemkin Village for the rubes at home… it’s just that one of the rubes happens to be the Rube in Chief. Will this satisfy the President that his orders are being complied with? I believe the answer is “yes”. If you ask the Secretary of Defense who you have retained to tell you if the prison under his authority is Geneva compliant, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the answer he’s going to give you is “Yes, Sir! Geneva compliant! I am NOT a war criminal, Sir!”

http://www.thetalkingdog.com/

]]> By: Liberata http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/02/23/obamas-humane-guantanamo-is-a-bitter-joke/comment-page-1/#comment-32695 Liberata Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:18:48 +0000 http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/?p=1455#comment-32695 sorry! You had that info already! (should have known you were on top of things!) sorry! You had that info already! (should have known you were on top of things!)

]]> By: Liberata http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/02/23/obamas-humane-guantanamo-is-a-bitter-joke/comment-page-1/#comment-32694 Liberata Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:12:00 +0000 http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/?p=1455#comment-32694 According to H. Candace Gordon's blog, her client Mr. Al-Ghizzawi, told her that they have movie night now! http://gtmoblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/window-dressing.html I wonder if the hunger strikers get to watch the movie while they're being force-fed... Candace is right: this is just window-dressing. According to H. Candace Gordon’s blog, her client Mr. Al-Ghizzawi, told her that they have movie night now!

http://gtmoblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/window-dressing.html

I wonder if the hunger strikers get to watch the movie while they’re being force-fed…

Candace is right: this is just window-dressing.

]]> By: Is Guantanamo in conformity with the Geneva Conventions now? « The Lift - Legal Issues in the Fight against Terrorism http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/02/23/obamas-humane-guantanamo-is-a-bitter-joke/comment-page-1/#comment-32693 Is Guantanamo in conformity with the Geneva Conventions now? « The Lift - Legal Issues in the Fight against Terrorism Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:48:23 +0000 http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/?p=1455#comment-32693 [...] Check the “review Of Department Compliance With President’s Executive Order On Detainee Conditions Of Confinement (02/23/2009)” here. DoD News Briefing With Adm. Walsh From The Pentagon here. Commentary of Andy Worthington here. [...] [...] Check the “review Of Department Compliance With President’s Executive Order On Detainee Conditions Of Confinement (02/23/2009)” here. DoD News Briefing With Adm. Walsh From The Pentagon here. Commentary of Andy Worthington here. [...]

]]> By: Frances Madeson http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/02/23/obamas-humane-guantanamo-is-a-bitter-joke/comment-page-1/#comment-32672 Frances Madeson Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:16:53 +0000 http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/?p=1455#comment-32672 Our new President knows very well how to read between the lines of "official reports." Let's hope this was simply his opening gambit in allowing those in place to take the first steps so that others can now "follow their lead" and make the real and necessary improvements. Our new President knows very well how to read between the lines of “official reports.” Let’s hope this was simply his opening gambit in allowing those in place to take the first steps so that others can now “follow their lead” and make the real and necessary improvements.

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