Thanks for the comments, everyone.
Anne, I particularly appreciate the supportive words.
Fogbelter, you are undoubtedly onto something there — sadly, I concede, as chronic embarrassment (let alone evidence of colossal human rights violations) is indeed a spur to put off for as long as possible what should be done today.
Lisa, I love the riff about xenophobic farmers and their Marquis de Sade kicks!
And Darold, that’s terrible news from inside Guantanamo, but not surprising. I don’t know what we can do to give these men hope.

I just got back from visiting my clients at Guantanamo. The sense of despair among the detainees, especially those from Yemen, is profound. Blind loyalty to President Obama on this issue is unwarranted.

Andy, I agree. I never wanted xenophobic farmers getting marquis de sade prison gigs down the road from me.

Well Andy, 181 men in Guantanamo will not be forgotten while you are around, and we are listening to you.
I can’t help but think that President Obama will keep on fighting to do as much of what he promised as he can. But he is only human.

FogBelter Sfo wrote:

They simply can never allow these detainees to freely speak. They can’t afford to allow them their day in court. The Bush Administration obviously captured a number of Afghans that were innocent so he could have a prop to support his Administration’s War on Terror Narrative. The Worst of the Worst. What happens to what’s left of the United States reputation if that comes out? I think that is the Catch 22 President Obama finds himself in. I think that is also the reason we see this fight over public trials for KSM. I believe the government is terrified that it will come out he was once an intelligence asset.

Simply put, all of this, from my perspective, is about covering up the actions of the Bush Administration that, if brought to light, would have terrible ramifications.

As always, an excellent and informative article, Andy. It’s a shame what Congress and the Administration are doing in Guantanamo, and elsewhere (like Bagram, for example). I still find it hard to believe that Americans have turned so far away from our founding values of freedom and the rule of law.

let’s follow the money….who is making a buck from guantanamo being kept open? why does halliburton come to mind?