Comments for Andy Worthington

Comment on Obama on Guantánamo: Yemeni Ban Lifted, Prisoners to Be Released by Andy Worthington

Andy Worthington — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:55:33 +0000

The ban on releasing Yemenis is being dropped, Jay. Now we need to be demanding releases – of Yemenis and others. Forget the woolly hopeheads who are content with fine words and nothing else. The campaigners can lead on this. We need timetables. A Release-o-meter would be good, for example. The clock started today, May 23. How many days until the first of the 86 cleared prisoners gets released? Keep remaining people that he has no excuse for delay. As Ramzi Kassem said today, “”Obama already has the legal authority to release prisoners. He must now take action – speeches do not suffice.”

Comment on Obama on Guantánamo: Yemeni Ban Lifted, Prisoners to Be Released by Andy Worthington

Andy Worthington — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:53:37 +0000

Jay Becker wrote:

I agree that actually dropping the ban on resettling Yemenis would be huge but it hasn’t happened. I know you agree, but too many others are celebrating and that is so dangerous. Listening to “liberal” media, it is very disarming. One person on twitter commented that “it’s like 2008 again,” people wanting that old time religion of “hope and change” again. And then all that pressure you’re talking about disappears in the fog of hopium.

Comment on Obama on Guantánamo: Yemeni Ban Lifted, Prisoners to Be Released by Andy Worthington

Andy Worthington — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:52:46 +0000

Yes, but two months ago we had nothing, Jay. I don’t want to encourage false optimism, but I do want to push for what’s achievable. He’s said he’ll drop the Yemeni ban – that’s huge. He’s said he’ll appoint someone to deal with resettlement. He’s said that other prisoners will be released. We can push on these issues. Two months ago we couldn’t push on anything. No one cared, neither the politicians nor the public. Now we have leverage. Al of these concessions arose because of the prisoners, because of us, and because of influential individuals and organizations deciding that the time for sitting on one’s hands was over.

Comment on Obama on Guantánamo: Yemeni Ban Lifted, Prisoners to Be Released by Andy Worthington

Andy Worthington — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:43:55 +0000

Jay Becker wrote:

But can he throw enuf sand in enuf people’s eyes to get over? It can also be too late for hunger strikers before any steps are taken. We can’t let ourselves be quieted by a few releases. Carlos Warner pointed out that his adviser on releasing prisoners will be situated in State Dept, not in the White House. Not good.

Comment on Obama on Guantánamo: Yemeni Ban Lifted, Prisoners to Be Released by Andy Worthington

Andy Worthington — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:30:27 +0000

I agree about people’s ability to fog up their own minds, Monica, but a lot of people have woken up to what’s going on lately – and as Jay points out, and as I did, the men are still on hunger strike, and risking their lives. The speech provides no immediate solution to that, although I don’t believe it’s just words, Jay. I do believe that the time for action is here to stay, because of the what the prisoners started, because of the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of people, and because of all kinds of high-level criticism of Obama’s inertia, and I also believe that Obama and his advisers know that they can’t go back to burying their heads in the sand.

Comment on Obama on Guantánamo: Yemeni Ban Lifted, Prisoners to Be Released by Andy Worthington

Andy Worthington — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:30:12 +0000

Monica Leavitt wrote:

One would hope but people are really good at fogging up our own minds and wearing blinders. (To avoid getting involved)

Comment on Obama on Guantánamo: Yemeni Ban Lifted, Prisoners to Be Released by Andy Worthington

Andy Worthington — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:29:42 +0000

As for your second comment, Monica, I highlighted my unease, and my reasons for it, but I will be working to try and persuade the administration that it has far less to worry about than it fears. The thing is, there’s a whole review process that hasn’t even taken place yet. Obviously it’s worrying that Obama felt the need to use such loaded language about a group of men detained without charge or trial, but I and others are pushing for them to receive the periodic reviews they were promised, and for those reviews to be fair and objective.

Comment on Obama on Guantánamo: Yemeni Ban Lifted, Prisoners to Be Released by Andy Worthington

Andy Worthington — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:29:24 +0000

Jay Becker wrote:

NONE of this would have happened without the courage of desperate men on hunger strike at Guantanamo, not one word. And nothing has happened because of a speech, which we have heard before. Please sign and support this statement that appeared today in NY Times – it must spread, widely! http://bit.ly/NYTad

Comment on Obama on Guantánamo: Yemeni Ban Lifted, Prisoners to Be Released by Andy Worthington

Andy Worthington — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:29:07 +0000

Dejanka Bryant wrote:

Ah, great, I waited for your analysis. Going to read it now.

Comment on Obama on Guantánamo: Yemeni Ban Lifted, Prisoners to Be Released by Andy Worthington

Andy Worthington — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:28:41 +0000

Monica Leavitt wrote:

Then there’s this part:
““Even after we take these steps, one issue will remain: how to deal with those GTMO detainees who we know have participated in dangerous plots or attacks, but who cannot be prosecuted – for example because the evidence against them has been compromised or is inadmissible in a court of law.” He concluded that “once we commit to a process of closing GTMO, I am confident that this legacy problem can be resolved, consistent with our commitment to the rule of law,” but the vagueness of his words remains troubling, as does his claim that these are all men “who we know have participated in dangerous plots or attacks,” when that is simply not the case.”