Obama Orders Halt to Prosecutions at Gitmo
source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/washington/22gitmo.html?_r=1&hp
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- quixotic12
- added this
In the first hours of his presidency, President Obama directed an immediate halt to the Bush administration’s military commissions system for prosecuting detainees at the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Notice of the decision came in a legal filing in Guantanamo by military prosecutors just before midnight Tuesday. The decision, which had been expected as part of Mr. Obama’s pledge to close the detention camp, was described as a pause in all war-crimes proceedings there so that the new administration can evaluate how to proceed with prosecutions.
Among other cases, the decision will temporarily stop the prosecution of five detainees charged as the coordinators of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, including the case against the self described mastermind, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed.
Later this week, the new administration is expected to issue an executive order that is to start what could be a long process of closing the detention camp, where about 245 detainees remain.
More at link.
Notice of the decision came in a legal filing in Guantanamo by military prosecutors just before midnight Tuesday. The decision, which had been expected as part of Mr. Obama’s pledge to close the detention camp, was described as a pause in all war-crimes proceedings there so that the new administration can evaluate how to proceed with prosecutions.
Among other cases, the decision will temporarily stop the prosecution of five detainees charged as the coordinators of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, including the case against the self described mastermind, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed.
Later this week, the new administration is expected to issue an executive order that is to start what could be a long process of closing the detention camp, where about 245 detainees remain.
More at link.
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cabinettags
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I agree with this.
Closing Gitmo is a positive thing not only for the prisioners; but it will remove the international black eye we gave ourselves by running it. That's not who we are.
Taking prosecutions out of the hands of a tribunal is also a great move; from a humanitarian standpoint if nothing else. It sends the right signal to Islamic Jihad.
The kid that was 15 when he was captured should be released. He's old enough to pull a trigger, but he's not old enough to resist doing it, if it's advocated by people he respects. He's already done enough time for that. The world will nod.
I like it. It's positive.
- 3 years ago
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cabinettags
