November 10, 2008
Posted: 03:26 PM ET

From
President-elect Obama's transition team has begun pondering what to do with Guantanamo inmates.
President-elect Obama's transition team has begun pondering what to do with Guantanamo inmates.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — President-elect Obama's transition team has begun examining what to do with suspected terrorists at the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which Obama has pledged to close, an aide said Monday.

Denis McDonough, a senior adviser to the incoming Democrat, told CNN no decisions have been made about what to do with the roughly 250 inmates there, "and there is no process in place to make that decision until his national security and legal teams are assembled."

But officials close to the Obama team said Monday that the incoming administration is pondering whether to try some of the Guantanamo Bay inmates in existing federal courts; set up a special national security court to deal with cases involving the most sensitive intelligence information; or release others.

The scenario would eliminate the military commissions set up by the Bush administration to prosecute some of the top al Qaeda figures now held at the facility, such as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed — the lead plotter of the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington.

The commissions have been delayed for years by legal challenges, and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled an earlier version of them unconstitutional in 2006.

In a full-page ad in The New York Times on Monday, the American Civil Liberties Union urged Obama to close the prison camp on his first day in office, "with the stroke of a pen."

But in an October 31 interview with CNN, Obama said only that he would close the facility "as quickly as we can do prudently."

"I am not going to give a time certain because I think what we have to do is evaluate all those who are still being held in Gitmo," he said. "We have to put in place appropriate plans to make sure they are tried, convicted and punished to the full extent of the law, and that's going to require, I think, a
review of the existing cases, which I have not had the opportunity to do."

Filed under: Barack Obama • Transition 2008


I LOVE OBAMA   November 10th, 2008 7:16 pm ET

@ Dan
Lmao love your comment, its funny, but you're still a moron ….

Dewey   November 10th, 2008 7:08 pm ET

Wonder Obama knows any of the Gitmo inmates. Or does he only know radicals internal to our country?

Catherine   November 10th, 2008 7:08 pm ET

I absolutely think that those being held should be tried, and a decision made thereafter. However, I think this is a much trickier situation than most people realize. The Bush administration has openly acknowledged that some people there are most likely not guilty of anything. If I were held for several years for something I didn't do, even if I were exonerated in a trial, I'd be pretty pissed off. So it's not as easy as one "stroke of the pen." If those being held had been tried in a timely fashion, this problem wouldn't exist – now it's just another mess President-elect Obama must clean up. I think those of us who want to see Guantanamo closed must be patient with Obama, because this is a delicate issue.

boered1   November 10th, 2008 7:05 pm ET

@from Texas actually the Constitution makes no distinction between American citizens and others when it talks about rights. It states "We hold these truths to be self evident that ALL men are created equal and are endowed by their creator with certain inalianable rights among these are life liberty and the pursuit of happiness>" Sorry the fiction that non Americans are not deserving of the rightspromised to all is simply another distortion of the Constittuion used by the bush administration to violate these same rights.

Druid Hippies Chose Wrong   November 10th, 2008 6:58 pm ET

Criminal trials for terrorists minimize the scale of their wrong doing. They should never have been brought to Gitmo to begin with (i.e., they should have been SHOT on the battlefield). One sure way to ensure the release of deadly terrorists is to try them in a court system designed for citizenry and which is designed to deal with its own sovereign laws and people who are supposed to be following those laws. Clearly Obama fails to understand a battlefield is NOT like a typical crime scene and does not involve domestic citizenry. What a tragic misstep this would be. Do any of you ever read the international headlines and see how terrorists get really light sentences when they're tried in European countries? Well, lib-tards, that's because they try and process them through criminal courts. How would you all like it if Obama tried Osama and he got 10 years on some technicality because of the nature of the court system? You'd all be hopping mad (well you all are anyway since you are liberals).

Archie H.   November 10th, 2008 6:55 pm ET

Heck just let them go! All they need is a group hug and a few nights stay in the homes of the bleeding heart lefties of this country!

Luigi ina California   November 10th, 2008 6:37 pm ET

Treat them like human beings with human rights.

From Texas   November 10th, 2008 6:29 pm ET

The people in Guantanamo are not American citizens and therefore do not have the same rights as citizens. That said I do believe they have human rights, but not a right to a slick American attorney.

Benson Martin   November 10th, 2008 6:03 pm ET

Put them in planes and release them…in mid air.

deb   November 10th, 2008 5:50 pm ET

Guantanamo will go down in history as one of our most shameful issues. Bush has just done so much damage to our credibility in the world, not to even mention everything else!!

Get with it!   November 10th, 2008 5:45 pm ET

Oh, great! Terrorists on the loose!! What an idiot!

Parker R.   November 10th, 2008 5:40 pm ET

Perhaps they should get rid of certain interrogation methods, like waterboarding, but definetley NOT release and bring them to America. There will be no safe place in America for these men. Find some remote island for them, I don't care. I do NOT want these terrorists in my country.

Dan   November 10th, 2008 5:37 pm ET

Let them go, and send them off to the blue states. Maybe they can thin out the herd a bit.

Randy - Denver   November 10th, 2008 5:34 pm ET

Secret Prisons are unconstitutional, and the same goes from prisons conveniently built outside "acknowledged" US soil so the US laws don't apply there.

An intersting point since Gitmo is a US Military base it is, by definition, US soil.. after all I was born on a military base in Germany, McCain was born on one in Panama and we are both natural born US citizens… Just a thought

Glenn in California   November 10th, 2008 5:34 pm ET

Gitmo was a disaster from day one, just like Bush. It's just one more mess that President-elect Obama is going to need to clean up.

Paul in FL   November 10th, 2008 5:34 pm ET

The best approach is to take them to Iran and turn them loose.
The expense and effort to prosecute them is a tremendous waste for little gain.

Angry MARINE VETERN   November 10th, 2008 5:29 pm ET

Once again the DUMBOCRATS are costing the taxpayers more money, just the way all of you with blinders on in that party, like it. Why don't you morons wise up for ONCE in your lives and stop blaming BUSH for everything. First of all the ECONOMY is like it is thanks to the DEMS. that took over congress in 2006, that is exactly when it started the dramatic decline..Second anyone on here that actually believes what ANY politician aka (LIAR) says, needs to wake up. They all tell you what you want to hear, then do whatever benefits them the most. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THAT..For all of you who want to sit back in your easy chair and constantly bash the war and those involved, get off your LIBERAL butts, go over there and see things for yourselves, and then MAYBE you might have a little change of heart. Here is a great quote 4 all of YOU….FOR THOSE WHO FIGHT FOR IT, FREEDOM HAS A SPECIAL FLAVOR, THE PROTECTED NEVER KNOW….I don't expect most of you who read it to understand or even care, but that is why AMERICA is like it is today, because most of you are all about yourselves…

former gop   November 10th, 2008 5:27 pm ET

I wish I could vote for Obama for 2012 right now.

Brendan H., San Antonio, TX   November 10th, 2008 5:27 pm ET

Review the files, make decisions on prosecuting or releasing and MOVE ON!!!

Oh No, It's Barry-O   November 10th, 2008 5:25 pm ET

I'm sorry "President-Elect Barry-O"

S, Miami, FL   November 10th, 2008 5:21 pm ET

Nyer November 10th, 2008 3:44 pm ET

Im sure BARRY will close Gitmo and use our tax dollars to try these criminals in civilian courts, where they will have all sorts of new rights, free-bees and giveaways too. In fact, i bet they appeal thier sentances and go free on our streets. BARRY is the sinlge most dangerous individual the modern world has seen.. bye bye USA…

And apparently you've already said bye bye to spellcheck!

John   November 10th, 2008 5:19 pm ET

Obama's show trials simply won't cut it.

Kim   November 10th, 2008 5:19 pm ET

Either charge them or release them. Gitmo has been shameful. Am I safer with these foreign "prisoners" warehoused there? Nope. Is my son's Purple Heart from Iraq worth keeping Gitmo open? Nope.

Oh No, It's Barry-O   November 10th, 2008 5:18 pm ET

I guess Barry-O is giving people a reason to cling to guns and religion … letting a few hundred terrorists loose would do the trick!

CanIcallyouJoe   November 10th, 2008 5:18 pm ET

Secret Prisons are unconstitutional, and the same goes from prisons conveniently built outside "acknowledged" US soil so the US laws don't apply there.

Stop torture. Reinstate Habeas Corpus.

Solitary confinement in federal prison on US soil or deportation back to their own countries to face charges.

John   November 10th, 2008 5:17 pm ET

If these prisoners were not terrorists before they arrived at Gitmo after years of abuse and torture they will be now and you yanks only have your selves to blame.

Quite frankly I would make a supreme effort to render the torturers to a secret location and give your marines soldiers the same treatment the so called illegal combatants received at gitmo bagram abugrabe and all the other secret centers of torture.

Bush and Cheney would be no one and two on the list..

Ryan   November 10th, 2008 5:15 pm ET

Nyer @ 3:44 pm ET,
Whose tax dollars do you think are being used to keep them imprisoned now? Whose tax dollars do you think have been used all this time to try all of the Supreme Court (and preceding cases) like Hamden?

They won't be getting any new rights, just the ones that they should have had in the first place if the current administration hadn't ignored our Constitution. They will be given the right to appeal, just like everyone else, and in the end, we'll probably execute quite a few of the ones currently there. We've already released quite a few that even the Bush administration realized were falsely imprisoned.

The main thing that closing Gitmo will enable is closure to this tragic era of our lives. The people found guilty will be executed or imprisoned for life and the families of the 9/11 vicitims will finally be able to see justice done, rather than the perpetrators left in legal limbo.

At least that's what someone who actually thinks and explores the issues, rather than shoot from the hip, would conclude.

JOSAN   November 10th, 2008 5:12 pm ET

Each prisoner, each military and civilian perpetrator responsible for the existence of and actions within Guantanamo should be brought before a civil court, whether under U.S. or United Nations jurisprudence. Reveal how much injustice has prevailed against many innocent people in this travesty of justice and bring to justice those who are guilty. Bring forth into the light of day those pernicious vermin who are responsible for this disreputable behavior. Give fair and just restitution to all prisoners that are judged innocent.

Jose L Sanchez

Pee Wee Herman   November 10th, 2008 5:10 pm ET

I SAY LET 'EM GO…..

Mark, B'ham., Al.   November 10th, 2008 5:09 pm ET

Per the Geneva Convention they are sabatuers since they were found not in uniform with weapons and just shoot them. None should be allowed to stay in the USA, even if they are afraid of going back to their home country and may even be tortured and killed. So What!

Hilary   November 10th, 2008 5:09 pm ET

Good idea, Obama. They should have been put on trial a long time ago.

Jaye   November 10th, 2008 5:08 pm ET

Give them their trial, then burn down that prison.

Red, Red WHINE!!   November 10th, 2008 4:59 pm ET

Lu November 10th, 2008 4:40 pm ET

To Catholic-mom-4-OBAMA, First of all anyone calling themselves Catholic and for Obama should be ex-communicated from the Catholic church for condoning abortion ()that's a real disaster) , second this goes to show you don't know what the word "DISASTER" means (let alone spell it )
———————————————–
And any one who supports McCain should be burned on a cross for condoning the murder of children over seas and abandoning your own wife and children.

It sucks to be a riligious fanatic, because there is always something in your books that back fire on you. GROW UP YOU MORON…God is going to save us…he expects us to be able to do it. So stop looking for our creator to solve your problems. He's laughing at you for being so incompetent and dependant on Him. He wants US to do RIGHT. Believe what you want about God, but seperation of church and state is a fact, not a debate. Either accept it, or move to another country!

Ken in NC   November 10th, 2008 4:57 pm ET

Sometimes I feel like the ACLU would open up and release all prisoners if given their way.

jm for sc   November 10th, 2008 4:54 pm ET

Walter, you and Sarah Palin must have graduated from the same school. Like it or not, Obama will be president of the U.S. A. I am sorry you were taught that the president will always look like you.

Lu   November 10th, 2008 4:54 pm ET

G.R.I.T. – You ought to know by now the person in office gets the blame AND credit. That's why Katrina hit, the towers went down, the collapse of the economy, global warming. Yeah sure it was all Bush's fault right? Now too bad the hypocrites won't admit he was largely responsible for our protection, henceforth, by his aggressive and swift action which the bogus U.N. just wouldn't do. Iraqi people are better off without Hussein, most of our troops have been happy to help bring that about but back here in the States we just whine and whine because we can't enjoy our greedy little selves more than we deserve. And the Democrats just won't admit it was worth it all. Yeah Obama, hurry up and bring the troops home so you can destabilize the country and lose the war after all; Murtha and his cronies will love you for it

Greed is not good   November 10th, 2008 4:51 pm ET

The Neo-Cons lost. Torture and being imprisoned without the right to trial are NOT American values.

The Right-Wing had 8 years to gloat and act with arrogance. The gig is up.

Robin in SC   November 10th, 2008 4:51 pm ET

I'm thankful to know that the President-elect is taking time to analyze the situation and process the potential fall-out of closing Gitmo, but I have no doubt that he will do so because its the right thing to do. As so many have said here, either there's proof that these prisoners are guilty and they need to be tried, or there's not enough proof of anything and they should be released. FINALLY…a President who understands the Constitution and Law of the Land and is willing to enforce it!

deb in Colo   November 10th, 2008 4:49 pm ET

To Steve –

Really? How are they different? Please enlighten me?

Lu   November 10th, 2008 4:40 pm ET

To Catholic-mom-4-OBAMA, First of all anyone calling themselves Catholic and for Obama should be ex-communicated from the Catholic church for condoning abortion ()that's a real disaster) , second this goes to show you don't know what the word "DISASTER" means (let alone spell it )

Texas Teacher   November 10th, 2008 4:40 pm ET

Whatshisname…. you seem to forget that your man, Bush, sat reading to children almost ten minutes AFTER he was alerted that we were under attack! Then when he decided to take action, his plane flew in the opposite direction! Once he got back to Washington, if not before, his first order of business was to gather up all of his Saudi buddies and fly them out of the country! Then instead of going after Osama bin Laden, Bush attacks Iraq and goes after Hussien!

NOW …. you tell me who has terrorist buddies!

Hopeful for Tomorrow   November 10th, 2008 4:40 pm ET

@Walter — Y'know I still can't get one person who mentions that "civil defense force" to actually provide a link to a reputable news organization that has any reliable information on it.

Steve   November 10th, 2008 4:38 pm ET

Deb in Colorado

The two military engagements are not even remotely similar.

You are an idiot.

no fear   November 10th, 2008 4:37 pm ET

yes, walter from Nazareth, I can see why Obama would not be your president, as you say. you exaggerate to make your points, seem highly emotional and illogical–by comparison to Obama.

you'll get through your issues in your own time and we'll be wishing you well on that journey.
peace

Texas Teacher   November 10th, 2008 4:37 pm ET

Thank you…. prosecute those who should be….release those who serve no danger to this country…. if that is possible after being in that …. best I can do is say… place! If they were not enemies of the U.S. before they went in, I doubt there is little chance they are not now!

Conservative James, Phoenix, AZ   November 10th, 2008 4:36 pm ET

Again, I am sick of hearing "we haven't been attacked since 9/11, Bush has done a great job, etc."

Again, I say, look up how many years went by between the two World Trade Center attacks.

Bin Laden said it himself in a taped message: We have time on our side.

They could have been plotting for the past 8 years to unleash something tomorrow or next year from now.

So PLEASE stop pointing to that fact as the yardstick for measuring how "safe" we are.

Maggie from Virginia   November 10th, 2008 4:36 pm ET

JJ, I was hoping to get a bit. If you are making reference to his "present" votes; voting "present" in illinois means yes, but with concerns that needs to be worked out prior to a final concurrence. Next?

ran   November 10th, 2008 4:36 pm ET

A simple solution to this one: Close it. Now on to the next Bush screw up.

Jack   November 10th, 2008 4:31 pm ET

Pack them up and send them to Crawford, Texas.

Tim   November 10th, 2008 4:31 pm ET

All you fools, don't worry. For He has the answer to everything.

jr california   November 10th, 2008 4:28 pm ET

i can't figure out if the people posting here are stupid, racist, or both.

Hang them!!   November 10th, 2008 4:28 pm ET

Bush and Cheney should be tried on crimes against humanity…. I know if it would have been any other country this country would be screaming, just that

Tim   November 10th, 2008 4:28 pm ET

By the way, as a proud American, I want to proudly announce that none of my personal freedoms were trampled on during the past 8 years, with the exception of my freedom to have a press that is an advocate of the truth. That is now gone. We now need freedom from the press.

Tim   November 10th, 2008 4:26 pm ET

Dave, maybe I missed it but I don't recall Obama being so reflective. As in when he said of course he would meet with dictators without preconditions. You are silly.

Tim   November 10th, 2008 4:24 pm ET

It's funny now that it is the dem's problem. I'm sure they will invite to live in the US, and pay the reparations for all the damage we have done.

Dawn, MI   November 10th, 2008 4:24 pm ET

Dear Whatshiname:

Stop being a sore loser and get over yourself. It's not about you, but the majority of Americans.

Dan   November 10th, 2008 4:21 pm ET

In between turning water into wine, healing the sick, and giving the poor free money from the earnings of others, he'll probably decide to let all the Git-mo residents free to live in the US.

Dave   November 10th, 2008 4:21 pm ET

God some of you people are stupid. Of course he's going to spend time processing. It's what intelligent people do in order to make an informed decision. I can see why some would be used to the knee jerk, from the gut decision making over the past 8 years, but look and listen. This is how decisions should be made.

Walter - Nazareth, PA   November 10th, 2008 4:21 pm ET

BO's objectives
-steal from the rich (mostly hardworking Americans with ambition)
-give to the poor (mostly lazy jobless Americans looking for a handout)
-establish a "civil defense force" to police his new Socilaist country
-try all those whose openly oppose him in his new "national security court"
-lastly, proclaim himself as the fouder of the "New America"…after all, he is the chosen one

He is not my President

God Bless and Help America

Observer   November 10th, 2008 4:20 pm ET

Another mess the Bush White House is leaving for Obama to figure out a solution for. Bush promised to close Guantanamo, but when he realized that he may have to free some of the inmates he's been holding without charges, he decided to leave the mess to someone else. There are plenty of other messes that Obama will have to clean up as well….

Hopeful for Tomorrow   November 10th, 2008 4:18 pm ET

@Nyer — Yeah, how DARE someone actually be tried for the crimes their accused of. You don't have any more information than anyone else regarding the inmates at Guantanemo, so don't preach as if you know beyond all doubt that they're guilty of what they're accused of.

@Dean P — Yeah, Bush kept us safe. Despite the fact that the 9/11 attack was extensively thought out, and we were not prepared for such a thing. Unfortunately, things like HSA and the Patriot Act went a bit too far and are now slowly infringing on our own civil liberties. Oh, but we got lots of "security theatre" out of it. Whoopty-doo!

@joe — Treason? How so? Or will the reply be "(noun) (verb) 9/11″?

@KJL — 100% correct.

whatshisname   November 10th, 2008 4:17 pm ET

We won't be attacked! The terrorists are all Obama's buddies!

JL   November 10th, 2008 4:17 pm ET

K, give the people a trial as soon as possible and get this CANCER over with. American's have suffered long-enouph. Bush/Cheney are such LOSERS!

Annie, Atlanta   November 10th, 2008 4:15 pm ET

This has to be a tough one. I'd like to see it closed, and each prisoner evaluated and handled based on the type of threat. Personally, how threatening can they be after spending years there. They're certainly out of the loop by now, for those that were actually ever in it.

No Hillary = No Obama   November 10th, 2008 4:14 pm ET

Who knows what Obama will do since he spends most of his time "processing" instead of doing.

J J   November 10th, 2008 4:11 pm ET

Maggie from Virginia November 10th, 2008 4:01 pm ET

"Obama is a centrist at heart. That's why he will have the opposition sitting at the debate table every time he makes a decision. The man is the essence of centrality."

Centrist HAHAHAHA, look at his limited voting record.

enough already   November 10th, 2008 4:11 pm ET

Clear 'em out. He's going to need the space for his free-think detainees.

David Newport, OR   November 10th, 2008 4:10 pm ET

If they were really guilty…they would have been tried by now. They should be freed. No one…I don't give a crap if it is Bin Laden himself, should ever be held indefinately without the right to defend yourself in a court of law. We want the World to respect us but yet we have broken all decent laws for which we claim to uphold. I am 100% confident some of these men are criminals. I am also 100% confident some are not. It is the price we must pay for allowing the Bush Administration be a bungling group of monkeys.

Helene   November 10th, 2008 4:10 pm ET

Nyer : Your President's name is Barack Obama. Get used to it ,moron.

GA Independent   November 10th, 2008 4:08 pm ET

What I don't understand is – if we have proof that they are truly terrorists, why don't we try them, sentence them and get on with things? If we don't know if they are terrorists, then why don't we try them, find them guilty or not guilty and get on with things?

It seems like it's really a no brainer… Bush is holding all the cards with these individuals – why haven't they been processed? Couldn't their guilt been trumpeted as a "Victory Against Terrorism"?

California Gold   November 10th, 2008 4:08 pm ET

Makes sense to me: evaluate who is being held, reviewing existing cases, try each, if convicted then punish. Who has a problem with that? One thing is certain: we can not hold these detainees in perpetuity. This has to be resolved. If you don't think abiding by law in these cases is appropriate, then explain why and what you would do to these detainees.

Helene   November 10th, 2008 4:07 pm ET

Close Guantanamo, this cancer stain on our country, And return the land to Cuba.

GA Independent   November 10th, 2008 4:07 pm ET

What I don't understand is – if we have proof that they are truly terrorists, why don't we try them, sentence them and get on with things? If we don't know if they are terrorists, then why don't we try them, find them guilty or not guilty and get on with things?

It seems like it's really a no brainer… Bush is holding all the cards with these individuals – why haven't they been processed? Couldn't their guilt been trumpeted as a "Victory Against Terrorism"?

Are some of them getting a presidential pardon?

My two cents   November 10th, 2008 4:06 pm ET

J.P.–
You don't know if they are terrorists or not until they stand trial. That's what President-elect Obama is talking about. They must be tried on the evidence. If it is strong enough to convict they will be punished 'to the full extent of the law.'

If it is not strong enough to convict, they should go free. Doing otherwise erodes the very foundation of our system of justice. People are not guilty just because we don't like them or their ideology.

Justice is not a concept for the simpleminded or the faint of heart. That is why we have a Supreme Court and a Constitution. If you don't like that structure, I fear it might be you who is un-American.

boered1   November 10th, 2008 4:06 pm ET

TO : paul (staunch Moderate) November 10th, 2008 3:59 pm ET
you said
I don't think terrorists should be handled with kid gloves.
I agree my [problem is this so far the people held in Gitmo HAVE NOT been tried and convicted as terrorist, they ahve simply been arrested and left to rot. How many are innocent? given up by people who collected the rewards without actually having been terrorist? We do not know that, what we do know is that they have all been held, in less than humane conditions, most have been tortured (either mentally or physically) and NONE have been convicted!

So we need to firstly do what should have been done when they were first collected and give them a fair trial, release those who did nothing, possibly with some recompense for their internment, (and hope our treatment of them does not lead them into doing something) and punish those who are guilty. Then close the blot on our history.

Matt   November 10th, 2008 4:06 pm ET

Guantanamo should be closed. As should our secret prisons around the world. It's time to live up to the standards that we so forcibly impose on others.

Red, Red WHINE!!   November 10th, 2008 4:06 pm ET

Get a grip people.

To those who want to keep on spitting out the dillusional concept that Bush kept us safe, there's quite a few of us who watched two buildings go up in flames, people jumping out of them and much to YOUR surprise, Bush was the one in office, asleep at the watch and doing nothing to protect us.

If allowing us to be attacked on our own soil for the first time since Pearl Harbor is what you define as 'keeping us safe', then I pray to god I never find out what your concept of 'allowing us to be attacked on our soil' is.

MikeH   November 10th, 2008 4:05 pm ET

Why don't we send all our hard-core Republican Taliban down there, I'm sure we can make room at Gitmo for 'joe', 'jobs', 'jp', 'nyers', and 'truth hurts'. These guys obviously hate a free and democratic America as much as the current inmates.

Yeah, put our Taliban in with their Taliban and televise it as a new kind of Reality TV.

JAY N.H.   November 10th, 2008 4:05 pm ET

I don't think anyone could possibly have known how bad this would spiral out of control. We were so angry about being attacked that we forgot about our principles and what we stand for as americans. We have an obligation to give these people due process, however I would suggest harsher penalties for those found guilty. None of this prison for life junk. If found guilty the penalty should be death and carried out immediately, while I think we needed some facility to carry this justice out we clearly have made many mistakes.

My two cents   November 10th, 2008 4:04 pm ET

J.P.–
You don't know if they are terrorists or not until they stand trial. That's what President-elect Obama is talking about. They must be tried on the evidence. If it is strong enough to convict they will be punished 'to the full extent of the law.'

If it is not strong enough to convict, they should go free. Doing otherwise erodes the very foundation of our system of justice. People are not guilty just because we don't like them or their ideology.

Justice is not a concept for the simpleminded or the faint of heart. That is why we have a Supreme Court and a Constitution. If you don't like that structure, I fear it might be you who is un-American.

Al, NY NY   November 10th, 2008 4:04 pm ET

For all of you sitting there trying to be chicken hawks. Wouldn't the same status be applicable abroad if, say an agent of the US (not in uniform) is caught killing a politician, general, etc? Therefore they could be held indefinitely. Never be charged. Be possibly tortured. And what would all you blowhards say??? "Release him. Release him. He's a citizen of the US. We can do whatever we want abroad to anyone we want. We can also hold combatants of other countries for as long as we want and give them NOTHING." If we can do this to EC's here, it can be done to our people over there

J.P.   November 10th, 2008 4:03 pm ET

Obambi says, "We have to put in place appropriate plans to make sure they are tried, convicted and punished to the full extent of the law…"

Yes, because if there is one thing terrorists fear, its words and laws. I mean, when they were plotting to nail-bomb pizza parlors full of women and children, or saw the heads off American Servicemembers, or mutilate the genitals of in-country interpreters with pliers, drills, blowtorches and live jumper cables, I'm sure they all had this fear in the back of their minds: "Gosh golly-gee-willakers, I sure hope we don't have to face American laws. I'm just quakin' thinking about it."

J.P.   November 10th, 2008 4:02 pm ET

Obambi says, "We have to put in place appropriate plans to make sure they are tried, convicted and punished to the full extent of the law…"

Yes, because if there is one thing terrorists fear, its words and laws. I mean, when they were plotting to nail-bomb pizza parlors full of women and children, or saw the heads off American Servicemembers, or mutilate the genitals of in-country interpreters with pliers, drills, blowtorches and live jumper cables, I'm sure they all had this fear in the back of their minds: "Gosh golly-gee-willakers, I sure hope we don't have to face American laws. I'm just quakin' thinking about it."

S. Boatman   November 10th, 2008 4:00 pm ET

Obama Is Already Getting Things Done And He Is Not Even President Yet!

KJL   November 10th, 2008 4:00 pm ET

Whatever he does, he will get a ton of criticism.

carol   November 10th, 2008 3:59 pm ET

President elect Obama has told us all that this won't be easy and by that I'm sure he meant everything that Bush has done in the past 8 years……he will do the right and just thing, we must remember that he is NOT President as yet though.
Nothing can be accompliced over night and nobody should expect that he can perform miracles the minute he becomes President….he has an awful lot on his plate to contend with.
Patience is a virtue and we must allow President elect Obama time to resolve all these problems we all face and he especially as President
to overcome.
So we should all stand behind him and know he will do what is morally correct and in the best interests of the American people, and we give him the respect he deserves.

paul (staunch Moderate)   November 10th, 2008 3:59 pm ET

I don't think terrorists should be handled with kid gloves. Yet all those folks sitting in Guantanamo are costing us millions of dollars a day. Find an appropriate avenue to deal with them and be done with it.

New Day   November 10th, 2008 3:57 pm ET

I say this is the perfect job for Palin!!!! She can sell the inmates on E-bay!!!! we could probably get enough to cover the GM bail out that way.

Ryan Stevens   November 10th, 2008 3:57 pm ET

Indefinite suspension of these alleged terrorists has ever been a black mark on our national record. We cannot claim to be the land of the free when we allow our government to indefinitely detain people without trial. As has been made evident by several news stories over the last four years, agents of our government erroneously detained many of our own citizens, who were later released without compensation. It is to our everlasting shame, and to the shame of King George, that our fear led us to such dangerous extremes.

I believe Obama will do the right thing, close Guantanamo, charge those for whom we have the evidence to convict, and negotiate the release of those for whom we do not.

deb in Colo   November 10th, 2008 3:57 pm ET

To Catholic-mom-4-OBAMA:

I'm with you! Bush, Chaney, and Rumsfled should be tried for war crimes!

In the 1980's a little country called Iraq invaded a smaller country, Kuwait. – for no good reason. We called FOUL!

In the 1990's a little country called the USA invaded a smaller country, Iraq – for no good reason. And we call it a WAR AGAINST TERROR.

PLEASE!

MsRotten   November 10th, 2008 3:56 pm ET

Stick Bush, Cheney and the rest of the "clan" in Gitmo. I hope at some point in the next 8 years, the Obama admin. moves towards filing criminal charges against these Terrorist ANTI-Americans.

Stacy from Loudoun County VA   November 10th, 2008 3:56 pm ET

1. Review the cases. 2. Release those you just don't have any evidence for holding any longer. 3. Charge those you have evidence for. 4. Try those you have evidence for in a military tribunal or other court. 5. If enough evidence exists, they will be guilty and punished.

I don't think Gitmo is the problem. It is the fact that people are being held without charges being filed, without legal representation, without due process etc. You can keep Gitmo open, just provide reasonable access to due process and comply with the law folks. It isn't hard!

Al, NY NY   November 10th, 2008 3:56 pm ET

Abby. He's the same guy that would have said the EXACT SAME THING when you were talking about Duh-bya, idiot-in-chief, simpering moron, etc. Now that one of his is not in power, watch the hypocritical stuff start flying. As for Gitmo, charge em or release em. GW's nebulous terminology and near criminal performance of process needs to be eradicated

independent now   November 10th, 2008 3:56 pm ET

I thought you were gonna end the war, etc etc. During campaign you all talked hype about closing it. Now that your president I suggest you follow through on all your campaign promises.That would be the politically correct thing to do. And the right thing to do.

G.R.I.T. - Girl Raised in the South   November 10th, 2008 3:55 pm ET

I'm a little concerned about everyone declaring that Pres. Bush has kept us safe since 9/11. What if there weren't additional plans made? It's not like we thwarted any big attacks. Of course, small attacks were stopped, but mostly because of perceptive flight crews, airport security officers, the British government, and local/federal law enforcement. I fail to see exactly what Pres. Bush had to do with any of those agencies/groups. I think maybe we were safe because some people did their jobs competently and, maybe, because those who mean us harm didn't come up with any new good ideas.

deepintheheart   November 10th, 2008 3:55 pm ET

The single biggest thing that Obama could do within his 1st hundred days to improve our standing in the world is close gitmo. Doing so would stop the American critics in their tracks and uphold the ideal that America stands for truth and justice. We would also create a huge cache of goodwill among our enemies…they would be more willing to offer concessions to us if they see we are trying to correct the errors of the Bush admin.

jobs   November 10th, 2008 3:53 pm ET

Let the prisoners attempt to make a plan to save our economy. When they realize it is impossible, it will end all terrorism. They will see that we are perfectly capable of destroying ourselves.

Then we can let them go home and never have to worry about terrorism again.

deb in Colo   November 10th, 2008 3:53 pm ET

After years in legal limbo its time to try these prisoners.

If the government has a case, they'll be convicted and sentenced.

If not, we're illegally imprisoning individuals on what they 'might' do.

joe   November 10th, 2008 3:52 pm ET

all u dems should be tried for treason.

Greed is not good   November 10th, 2008 3:52 pm ET

Make them stand trial. Either convinct them or ship them back. Denounce ALL forms of torture and restore America's reputation.

Farrell, Houston, Tx   November 10th, 2008 3:52 pm ET

If these men part of Al Qaeda responsible for 9/11, why are we in Iraq. Either release, charge them or get out of Iraq. It doesn't make sense.

Dan   November 10th, 2008 3:51 pm ET

Love it. Either try these people or set them free. That is American way. Period.

Gitmo is nothing but a black eye and has done absolutely nothing to enhance our security.

S. Boatman   November 10th, 2008 3:51 pm ET

Obama Is Already Fixing What Bush Broke!

Abby   November 10th, 2008 3:51 pm ET

Nyer, his name is President-elect Barack Obama not berry. Have some respect for your new president!!! or continue to be an ungracious fool. Your choice.

May God bless the President-elect!

Dean P Valencia Ca   November 10th, 2008 3:50 pm ET

This is something I'm concerned about. We can't go soft on terror.

One thing I give Bush credit for is keeping us safe since 9/11. I hope Obama doesn't take his eye off the ball and let terrorists run loose.

Tom   November 10th, 2008 3:50 pm ET

He's a smart guy and could probably do a fine job as Governor. However, he must figure out a way to shed the aura of pomposity he projects. He has accomplished much for the good of the Party and thereby the Country. He just seems to darn arrogant.

J.P.   November 10th, 2008 3:49 pm ET

Put them on the Annenburg Foundation to run Obama's school program. That's what the other terrorists in Obama's life have been doing lately.

Are you clowns kidding me? You call them Gitmo "inmates!" Can't bring yourself to call them what they are, terrorists, can you?

Well, we who wear (or who wore) a uniform will remember that the next time the "inmates" are raining hijacked jumbo jets down on the Manhattan and DC coctail circuits. "Sorry Mr. Liberal Fancy-Pants, I'd like to help you, seeing how you're being attacked and all, but why all the fuss and urgency? I mean, they're only 'inmates,' right? Try calling the warden and see if he'll help."

Rob Johnson   November 10th, 2008 3:48 pm ET

I'm sure Obama will do the right thing–and close Guantanamo.

It may not be "immediately" enough for some people, but one thing the President-Elect understands is the law, and you cannot hold people indefinitely without trial and still consider this a country that lives by "the rule of law."

Abby   November 10th, 2008 3:47 pm ET

It’s the right thing to do.

Justin   November 10th, 2008 3:47 pm ET

Close it – charge them or release them. "Enemy combatant" is too slippery a term. Obama needs to roll back the abuses of power Bush ushered in.

Ecor   November 10th, 2008 3:45 pm ET

Let me just say that dealing with gitmo is, and will be, a "tiger by the tail' situation

Jim in Texas   November 10th, 2008 3:44 pm ET

I am sure they would be a great help on new Obama the White House Staff.

Nyer   November 10th, 2008 3:44 pm ET

Im sure BARRY will close Gitmo and use our tax dollars to try these criminals in civilian courts, where they will have all sorts of new rights, free-bees and giveaways too. In fact, i bet they appeal thier sentances and go free on our streets. BARRY is the sinlge most dangerous individual the modern world has seen.. bye bye USA…

Red, Red WHINE!!   November 10th, 2008 3:39 pm ET

The single most criminal act in all of american history, was committed by Bush. It is the complete and utter destruction of our Constitution, our Bill of rights and our Judicial system!

He belongs in Guantanamo himself at the very least!

Catholic-mom-4-OBAMA   November 10th, 2008 3:34 pm ET

I was just reading the article about Bush's LOW approval ratings. Guantanamo is ONE of MANY DISADTERS Bush & Co., is leaving behind. When the Obama administration comes in we are going to find out what truly took place there. I am sure the military down in Guantanamo is scared to have atrocities revealed!

BUSH & CHENEY SHOULD BE TRIED FOR WAR CRIMES! Perhaps they will be after all.

Speider   November 10th, 2008 3:31 pm ET

For someone the opposition accused of not being able to make decisions or any foreign policy experience, President-elect Obama sure has stepped in quickly and started to face some problems the "experienced" president Bush had been ignoring for many years.

TonyS   November 10th, 2008 3:30 pm ET

Now we will see how different the world looks to Obama when he sits in the Oval Office. What seems easy, like signing an order closing Guantanamo, may not be so easy when he has all of the facts and is responsible for the implications of his actions. Let's all hope Obama does the right thing.

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