I would like to know why citizen sugar always posts a ton of negative obama feed. I may be wrong, but apon searching for him on this site, i found it more difficult to find positive news on him, pre election, and now after.

I'm not saying that there isn't any positive stuff however.

but in regards to this topic. I think fair trials for all is exactly that, fair. I think the entire procedure is a positive step in the right direction. have faith in your system, they are not going to let killers run free. Im not saying it hasn't happened before, but they need to comb every aspect of the war, and the decisions that have been made these passing years.

The first thought that came to my mind is economy. I believe he is doing it to use soldiers elsewhere and rather than pay to house these criminals forever, he wants to get them either tried and executed (hopefully) or release them to their own countries. I think it is a positive.

Yay!!! It's about time...close that sucker down!

Gosh I hope this is true, just from a PR standpoint, Guantanamo has really been a horrible stain for the World View on the US. Not saying it wasn't serving as a way to garner intelligence, and hold possible criminals from the public. Just that I'm not sure its been worth it, in terms of the damage its done towards projecting our democratic image to the global community.

I think the trials sound like a good idea, though everything involved with closing Guantanamo down is likely to be a nightmare.

...also being that he is also very keen to absolving prejudice, I think it would be important to him make sure the innocent are set free rather than hold them for the rest of their lives.

Kuri what site are you reading?

i dont think this post is negative for Obama..i think it would be a VERY good thing!

I wondered the same thing, CG!

(And I feel that all of Obama's supporters, as well as some others, would consider this a very positive story.)

GB has done such horrid things for American reputation world wide. It is so hypocritical for the country who totes freedom, liberty and democracy as the foundation to their existance to detain people like that without trial, and using god knows what method to extract information. Glad Obama is getting rid of it. It will improve America's image a lot.

I don't see how this post is negative towards Obama. I also think it's about time we close this place down.

Obama wants to shut down the prison there, but maintain U.S. control and presence, using it as a Naval base, right?

this is awesome. FINALLY some reason coming out of washington.

It needs to be shut down, bring them to trial publicly and properly, and get any that are innocent out of there now.

While I am all for making sure criminals serve their time, this whole thing set a very dangerous precedent.

I think they are still working out how to try these people, since they aren't technically American citizens. Are they prisoner's of war? Are they just murderers?

I agree Shadowdamage with everything you said.

What bothers me about this is (as stated in the post), they will be bringing the terror suspects into the US borders now. And holding them here. I guess I'll risk sounding prejudiced or whatever, but I'm not sure I want them being held in the US while awaiting trial.

I agree Guantanamo is a sore spot for the US and people deserve fair trials, but I still like the terror suspects being held outside the US.

I don't think this is in any way negative to Obama

I think this was going to happen anyway...it's about time

let's just hope we can keep control over these detainees that are really dangerous

how is this a negative story?

Anyways its about time...

starangel, very true, this is concerning, especially considering all of the security threats that are looming...

Don't worry Star, Bush is holding terror suspects at secret prisons around the world.

Anyone who supported snatching people off the streets around the world should have understood that at some point, we'd either have them here in the U.S. for trial or that a trial anywhere would cause repercussions here.

They must be brought to trial and this abomination must be closed down. If any other nation had behaved like this the US would have condemned their actions.
Stephley, do you you think rendition will continue under Obama?
I hope they can stop all of the policies that have stripped US citizens of their rights over the past 8 years but something tells me it will be an uphill battle.

All the people in Europe are saying, "See, we knew the US would be rational now with Obama".

We'll see how rational Obama in beginning on Jan 20th.

I find it funny that people who aren't big Obama supporters are holding their breath for January 20th. The world's not going to explode. We're in the middle of an economic crisis. There are wars going on that seem, just, so endless right now (ask my friend on his third tour). In different parts of the country, crime and unemployment are up. I'm pretty pessimistic, but I don't think things can really get that much worse right now.

I HOPE rendition doesn't continue under Obama - I think we'll get a hint on that if he does issue Executive Orders reversing policies right away. But figuring out how to undo the damage it has caused is going to be hard. We know Obama's not going to be anything close to as the irrational we've seen the past 8 years - I don't think he's the kind of guy who thinks God's personally telling him what to do.

Shut down Gitmo !! What the US is doing here is wrong. Stop the torture, stop the lies !!

I have thought all through your election that Obama dumbed himself down to appeal to the masses so no, I don't see prayer to his personal god coming into play here.
I should hope he holds the return of civil liberties high on his agenda.

I am curious to know how citizens have been stripped of their rights for the past 8 years because of all of Bush's policies...

No one said all of Bush's policies but I think the patriot act needs some close scrutiny.

It is definitely a creepy big brother kind of law...but, I just think it was necessary at the time...the unfortunate thing is that it sets a precedent...

What a positive step. Besides terrorists or not these people deserve some kind of trial.

The unfortunate thing is that type of policy is so hard to repeal, once your rights are gone they are gone forever.

Not necessarily. Actually, if the percentage of legislators who claim to be against the Patriot Act would actually be willing to vote against the Patriot Act, it would be pretty easy to repeal.

The Act might be easy to repeal Lil, but as Ceej says, it would be hard to search out and wipe out all the little policy permissions that it spawned. You know there would be court challenges and agencies sliding under the radar.

Yeah, I'm well aware of that stephley.

I wish people on here would stop treating others like they're complete morons.

"it would be pretty easy to repeal."
I do too.

That is wonderful news. The current state of Gitmo is certainly one of the most frightening things the current administration brought along. Only thinking about how these people (I'm not saying terrorists because many of them appear to have no affiliation with terrorist groups) have been treated, WITHOUT TRIALS!
Condemning one nation (ie China) for inhumane treatment of prisoners, etc. and having something as shameful as this going on...oh the hypocrisy

That comment was in direct response to someone saying it wouldn't be easy to repeal.

I didn't say that there wouldn't be court challenges or things slipping under the radar.

But, if viewing them as the same gives you some sort of satisfaction, go ahead and view them that way, even though the differences are obvious.

I am curious to see what will happen in this situation. Given the post and other articles I've read, the new courts are going to be something in between traditional US courts, and military courts. Seems like there are going to be a lot of decisions to make as the detainees are not US citizens. They can't really face their accusers... most of them CIA or high level operatives, and evidence was gotten under duress. Are they writing new laws for these people, or are these laws already around?

If any of you knew what was TRULY in the Patriot Act, you would be disgusted to no end! My husband, who has been here since he was 5, was detained at JFK and then Homeland Security attempted to deport him under the Patriot Act's Arrival Aliens clause that states if you voluntarily leave the country for any reason (inclduing a weekend trip to the Dominican Republic with his mother), the government has the right to detain and attempt to deport. THIS was passed under the guise "preventing terrorists from entering" yet our government is using this on non-citizens silently since it passed.
He was moved from NY to NJ and then Lousianna, where he wa held for 6 months during both Hurricans Katrina and Rita....30k later in lawyers fees he was release and then it took almsot a year to get new documentation, since Uncle Sam felt it was not necessary to give him back his passport, resident alien card, social security card, or license. Mind you, we had to pay over $300 just to replace the resident card and biometrics ALONE.
Watch the Terminal again...all that mess abouot a 212c waiver. Well we have one, which we have to carry anytime my husband and I go outside the country. He is flagged, so even went we came back from a family cruise, Homeland Security takes him and interviews him. NICE GOVERNMENT WE HAVE HERE!!!!!!

I think that story sums up why this needs to be acted on immediately.
I'm very sorry that you had to go through this and I'm sure it's just one of many tales of injustice.

God I hope Obama does turn things around quickly.

TY ceej. After going thru that, we've debated leaving the US because it is apparent the American public is never told the full story, just enough to make the "majority" feel comfortable, yet WE elect these people???? gtfo! Gitmo needs to be closed ASAP and I pray Obama is the man to do it!!!

I'll say it again, I blame Murdoch.
Our news is so filtered nowadays.
When you look into how little the Americans knew about their standing in the world prior to Sept 11 it's because you just weren't told.
I'm sorry if you think it means you have to leave the country but I can understand why.

Thank you SexyNeverLeft78 for sharing your story. I like that sometimes instead of us knowing the rules and understanding that we can put a face to the law and situation and see the outcomes. I am glad that your husband SNL was finally released, what a scary scenario.

I didn't know this specific story, but I know there's all kinds of insidious stuff that has been going on that doesn't get reported on the nightly news. Americans do have to look beyond the mainstream media for information - and certainly the internet makes that conveniebt. Its easy enough I think to find not-mainstream but still legitimate news outlets (NOT just weird blogs) that do write about this stuff.

I have to say that when you travel, and you arent a legal citizen, and this country has beefed up security you better have the right documents! I just googled travel info and what paperwork you need, and what will happen if you dont have it, and it was all at my fingertips in seconds.