Obama admits Guantanamo won't close by Jan. deadline

[mcablue]

Source: Washington Post

BEIJING -- President Obama directly acknowledged for the first time Wednesday that the prison facility at Guantanamo Bay will not close by the January deadline he set, but he said he hoped to still achieve that goal sometime next year.

Obama refused, however, to set a new deadline.

In an interview in the Chinese capital with Major Garrett of Fox News , Obama claimed he was "not disappointed" that the Guantanamo deadline had slipped, saying he "knew this was going to be hard."

"People, I think understandably, are fearful after a lot of years where they were told that Guantanamo was critical to keep terrorists out," Obama said. Closing the facility, he added, is "also just technically hard."

Obama came to office pledging to shut a detainee facility that had become a symbol for prisoner abuse at the hands of American officials. He signed orders to shut the military prison by January 2010, but White House officials quickly encountered resistance from members of Congress opposed to moving prisoners to U.S. soil and from other countries they had hoped would accept detainees. There were also a tangle of legal issues involving what to do with suspected terrorists who had been tortured in prison in a way that jeopardized the integrity of the evidence against them, or who for other reasons could not stand trial.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/18/AR2009111800571.html?hpid=topnews

[ixion]

1. well, I'm certainly glad he's not disappointed...

He treats closing GITMO the same way he treats his base: with disdain and disregard.

His excuse is crap, IMO.

[EnlightenedOne]

12. He is at least trying

perhaps you'd be happier with a McCain/Palin administration.

The man has a huge mountain of shit to clean up after the last 8 years of total mayhem - one big long orgy frat party and I'm sure the place still reeks and is steeped sky high in corruption. buth, but, but he hasn't got everything accomplished within a year. 2 wars, economic meltdown, torture, etc., etc., etc.

What a frigging whiner you are.

[ixion]

16. and what an apologist you are, sir

for an "enlightened" person, you're very quick to condone fascism, and equally as quick to whip out the snark.

And this "we suck less than the GOP" argument is beyond lame.

[EnlightenedOne]

17. Are you serious?

Fascism:

1. (sometimes initial capital letter) a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.

You believe President Obama to be a dictator? You seem to be OD-ing on the Faux Noise and Glenn Back rhetoric. If not, perhaps you could cite some examples of Obama proposing a dictatorship - you know like Lil King George saying "it would be a heck of a lot easier if it were a dictatorship", or establishing Homeland Security or passing through the Patriot Act or starting an illegal war of choice, or "Watch What You Say" Cheney. We've already survived the dictatorship wannabes the past 8 years. Now, its Obama's mess to clean up.

Its not "lame" if its true - we do suck less than the GOP - bunch of phony hypocritical Xtians acting like the Taliban.

You would do well to watch the Rachel Maddow clip of Franklin Graham - WE MUST STAND WITH THE PRESIDENT - we can disagree but this type of name calling of him and an unintellectual comment of "fascism" in uncalled for and beyond ridiculous.

[ixion]

18. no sir... I stand with the Rule of Law and the Constitution

I don't do 'party' politics.

Obama is continuing Bush-era policies, which were distinctly fascist. Therefore, he becomes a fascist by default. If he doesn't want that moniker, he should dismantle the programs. It's just that simple.

[EnlightenedOne]

19. And "dismantling" can be done

within the year - or just with a snap of his fingers.... yea, right.

We now have a military industrial complex and a "Shadow Government" (per Cheney) (sthill in place no doubt), the Homeland Security appartus, the destruction of our Constition and Bill of Rights where were being systematically destroyed over the past 8 years and you think Obama can just wave a wand or use his pen to undo all the shit it took 8 years to put in place? He cannot walk on water and he is not a miracle worker, but he is the right man for the job. A little support would be nice from his own party. Like I said - you are welcome to disagree (As Obama has stated) - but you would do better to be the change you want to see by going about it in a more intelligent, productive way.

As Obama stated in one of his speeches - WE (the people) allowed these 8 years to happen. And we are to blame to some degree - we allowed this to happen to our country - the Dems were weak under Bush/Cheney (althought I'm sure it was due to threats). Many of us were loud and spoke out - but it wasn't enough - except that we did get Barack Obama elected - and for that, I am eternally grateful.

Hopefully, we will never ever see another Republican in the White House again. They cannot govern, they could not and did not keep America safe - and they do not care about the people - their interest lies with the Corporations. Luckily for us - Bush destroyed his party along with the rest of America. We have a chance to make things right again - but we cannot expect Obama to do it single-handily.

[SpartanDem]

20. So it's his fault that Congress held up funding for the closure

for many months? But I guess taking that in to account wouldn't give you an excuse bash the guy.

[ixion]

23. hey, I voted for the guy

so you can save the 'bashing' thing.

[Demeter]

2. It's As Hard As You Want to Make It

If you aren't willing to offend some people, then you will never make any change. And there are some people who will be offended just by your existence, Mr. President.

Get a clue. Do the job you were elected to do. Don't faint at the first threat that comes along. These guys are shooting blanks, politically.

And if it's physical threats that inhibit you, make them public.

[ShortnFiery]

3. Then it's time for President Obama to FACE the TRUTH: One Term President.

No way in Hell I'm going to volunteer and canvass for his re-election come 2012.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[geek tragedy]

9. As if you did so in 2008. nt

[CatholicEdHead]

15. Even if the GOP would run Huckabee/Palin?

for example?

[placton]

4. if only the PRESIDENT

knew about this ... oh, he does?

[madrchsod]

6. he`s waiting till the the military can purchase part of the thompson illinois prison

the feds just finished touring the facility. if all goes well the bad guys will have a new home in northwestern illinois by this summer.


if the deal goes south---blame the republicans in this state not obama. everyone in the area is in favor of the feds buying all or part of the prison.

[mopinko]

25. bean is on the republican bus on this.

or so i read on a rw blog.

[madrchsod]

26. of course she would be..

the bad guys are going to crash a big airplane into the sears tower! manzullo thinks the trials will be held in rockford and he had top apologize for calling islam a religion of war or some stupid crap.


i hate rockford republicans!

[bluestateguy]

7. Blame the other politicians for obstructionism and trying to score cheap political points

That's where I direct the blame.

[geek tragedy]

10. It's amazing how many people forget that Congress has interfered

with the process.

But, always easier to scapegoat you-know-who.

[high density]

24. I certainly blame congress

I will also blame congress if health care reform ends up FUBAR.

[L0oniX]

8. Obama admits we won't be out of Iraq by June = next

Remember ...he said he would have us out of Iraq in 18 months. Are you holding your breath yet?

Kucinich 2012

[lib2DaBone]

11. Obama: Too much debt could fuel double-dip recession

Gee... ya think? How about we take 'lil Timmy Geithner and Goldman Sacs out of the drivers seat and work on making some JOBS.

Did I mention that we need JOBS? Sorry.. I forgot. BTW..we need some JOBS for America.


http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN188108620091118

[bdamomma]

13. crap, the Bush administration has left their reprehensible

mark on us and this country for years. One man isn't going to be able to clean up this mess.

[EnlightenedOne]

14. Word.

And he surely can't do it in one year's time.

[Echo In Light]

21. The overall system and structures in place DON'T WANT to "clean up," but send down the Memory Hole

[Freddie Stubbs]

22. Doing it RIGHT instead of doing it QUICKLY

[unkachuck]

27. "knew this was going to be hard."

....my mind thinks,"End the fascist crap, already."....my heart says,"Cut the Prez some slack, give it a little more time."....my queasy stomach churns,"Could someone be keeping their powder dry?"....

"also just technically hard."

....I need a Tums....

[Psephos]

28. He campaigned hard on this promise, and renewed it during his first week in office.

And now it's like, gee, sorry, but it's really hard.

He is not a man of his word, and that is a serious problem.

[Ter]

29. Obama was probably paid a visit by the CIA

He had no choice, sorry to say.

[fourteenplease]

30. Gitmo action video

Congressional Republicans and Cheney have held this up. We can pressure Congress to support Obama's original executive order to close Gitmo by adding our names to an open letter sent by New Security Action: http://www.viddler.com/explore/NSAction/videos/1/