I wish the elected one in the whitehouse would read the blogs that his name is mentioned in. He would find out how much the american people don,t trust this guy something I,ve been saying since day one. He can not be trusted. he put forth some big plans which he will never be able to keep but he has got the American public so brain washed that they can not see through the smoke screen He is just hot air and no experence what so ever.

To "The Old Timer". The Lefties don't believe they are terrorists. They believe they are simply the oppressed poor trying to make a statement about their poor treatment by the evil, excessively wealthy, West. Therefore, there is nothing to fear from these poor, misunderstood citizens of the One World.

We should just open the gates and let Castro deal with them. After all, isn't he the hero of the Hollywood elite and the Libs? Surely he will give them all a fair trial. Go Fidel!

what will happen to the terrorists

Nobody wants them Mr. Obama, so what are you going to do with them? Put them in the Blue Room???

IT IS HARD TO COMPREHEND THAT ONE OF OUR OWN

PRESIDENTS HAS INVOLVED US IN TORTURE. IT IS SO

SHAMEFUL THAT THIS WHOLE NATION JUST SAT ON

THE SIDELINE & LET HIM DO WHAT WE AS A NATION

HAVE ALWAYS CONDEMNED OTHERS FOR DOING.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY DISTURBING & REVOLTING.

Yippee! Terrorists coming to a street near you!

This certainly is change, but I'd be hard pressed to say it's positive change.

@Matt

Matt, would you suggest that we have a "CSI" team with every Army or Marine ground unit? You know so they can collect this evidence you speak of? Then we can have the soldiers read each person they capture their "rights"? You have NO CONCEPT of what war is like do you? My friend, you need an education. Why don't you get off of cnn.com and go read up on the US Constitution and the Geneva Convention. Then you can come back here and know what you are talking about?

Stupid Pres Select. He is not my president. The media and acorn appointed him. Instead of a cat he should adopt all the Gitmo prisoners since he seems to care so more for them.

just like we need to get our service men out of that debacle in Iraq and home to a hero's welcome and their families

we need to close Gitmo

what was Bush thinking, what a turd

@MARK
Mark, I have seen several of your very negative comments here and concluded that you could be the poster child for abortions. Your mind is so warped it is shameful.

The elections are over and Obama is going to be OUR President. Get over it. Give it a rest. If you find that you cannot be an American willing to come together with other Americans to work out the problems we face as a nation then maybe you should move to Mexico or Iraq or some other country.

Darth Vadik, CA January 12th, 2009 6:06 pm ET

Hey Mike Mundy, Houston, TX

How about a proper trial. Heck McVeigh got one, didn't he?

Yes he did you GENIUS. HOWEVER, he was an American, as such he was afforded a trial in a civilian court. This isn't rocket science people. To be honest the prisoners at Gitmo, a.) DO NOT fall under the US Constitution, and b.)They DO NOT fall under the Geneva Convention. They are NOT Americans, and they DO NOT belong to ANY countries military. You folks should really read up on both the Constitution and the Geneva Convention. There are NO international laws that cover these people. They were captured on the battlefield, while they were in battle. Honestly they COULD and SHOULD be treated as spies, they should get NO trial, they should simply be put in front of a firing squad.

To those who say "they aren't Americans, they don't deserve rights" let me simply say we either believe in the rights of man, liberty, the rule of law or we do not. Long ago a man far more capable than I put it more succinctly than I ever could:

"Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be pretty rapid. As a nation, we began by declaring that "all men are created equal." We now practically read it "all men are created equal, except Negroes." When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read "all men are created equal, except Negroes and foreigners and Catholics." When it comes to this, I shall prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure and without the base alloy of hypocrisy."

-Abraham Lincoln

relese them all in downtown D.C., they would blend in perfectly

@ Mark

The Bill of Rights never uses the phrase American Citizens. The Fifth Amendment states that NO PERSON shall be held to answer for a crime ….. or deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. The sixth amendment says that in ALL CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial. The constitution applies to the federal government telling them how they should act in all criminal cases, not just those of American citizens. That's why we're the good guys.

WAY TO GO OBAMA ,WE ARE DOOMED WITH THIS GUY, JIMMY CARTER NUMBER 2. 4 YEARS OF DISASTER IS COMING!!!!!!!!!!

He's going to leave it open for all Idiot republicans.

Some of these comments are so stupid they make me want to laugh.

Where oh where will they go? Maybe we can spend millions more dollars to protect the ones that want us destroyed…

To Mark and the rest of the idiots making stupid comments,
You all are idiots. Your comments are proof of that. Only idiots would make such racist comment when talking about something that did so much damage to our image around the world. As for the comments by Proud American that only racist use the term racist, only a racist would try to justify the rhetoric of the aforementioned idiots.

These people are not American's so show me where in the Constitution that they are afforded the rights of U.S. citizens. You can't.

Can someone explain how a fair trial for these people will be held…first find the soldiers and Marines that caught them and get them all in the courtroom for a trial. How is that gonna work?

This will be a very big mistake on Obama's part, none of these people are Americans and they no rights to our way of life. I guess you want our tax dollars to pay for their trials too. This shows a very soft stance on Terrrorism one which we will pay dearly. I guess you like bombing and attacks, they most certainly will happen now. thank you mindless minions

Gitmo = Gulag. Are we better than the Russians ?

I love how all my posts sit in MODERATION for hours and hours and usually end up never getting posted because you close comments. Yet, other posters continue to post non-stop. It's been nearly 3 hours, what is going on CNN?

So he won't close Guantanamo in 100 days, nor will he pull the troops out of Iraq in 16 months like he promised in his campaign. Hmmmm, it's a good thing he has the economic crisis to take the heat of all the campaign promises he's adjusting to reality now that he will have to live with them.

This is one of the many reasons why I voted and campaigned for him. To regain our country's respect and pride.

Amazing, a President who doesn't want to keep building a gulag! It is a new day.

It's nice to see America returning to American values. Maybe all you pro-torture folks could go start your own country somewhere else, and let those of us who believe in democracy and the rule of law stay here with our new president and get to work.

What's he doing? Letting his relatives go?

Obama will close GITMO and relocate the prisoners to a facility in a country where they still have no due process rights.

The move is a not much more than a PR political stunt.

I'll bet you the dollar bill in my wallet ('cause the government took the rest) that Obama won't let the prisoners go…chicken.

And why aren't all the liberals on this site raising a ruckus that Obama has flip-flopped numerous times since you elected him? Looks like 4 more years of the same. With that said, thanks for the pending tax cut Obama…I should have voted for you!! You're a better conservative than Bush and McCain combined.

@Matt
If Proud American can stop calling everyone idiot, you should be able to stop calling people racist.

@Mark

The Constitution DOES require us to follow signed, properly approved treaties, the one in this instant iscalled the Geneva Convention: there is your answer.

@ Mike in NC
No I do not expect them to read them their rights on the battle field. I DO EXPECT, as a signer of the Geneva Conventions, the US to follow the rules for Prisoners of War 9after all if they are captured on a "battlefield" are they not Prisoners of War?) The objection is with bush redefining these POWS as "enemy combatants" not deserving of the rights established under the Geneva Conventions. There is also the fact that many of these were NOT captured on the battlefield but were turned over to US forces as terrorist. No background work was done on them they were considered terrorist, tortured and held without even verifying they were guilty of anything but being in the wrong place at the wrong time or having enemies who were, at the time of their being turned over, supporting the US. Those are the facts, so do I expect them to get a US court hearing? NO do I expect their treatment to be in compliance with treaties we have signed? YES Has this mimium been done? NO I do agree with you on one point and that is "I love the internet, this is the place where people who know nothing about a subject can "spout off" and tell the rest of us how things should be done based solely on "how they feel"."

I am greatly intrigued by the prospect of President Bush justifying the wrongs of his administration for the rest of his life. It is indisputable that is administration has done more to damage the United States' standing in the world than any of its predecessors. Will he write a book? Most probably. But I ask, how long can a book remain credible when its author defends himself by calling others elitist. It is a stretch for the son of a president, a former owner of a major league baseball team and a Yale graduate to call others elite is it not? When did elite become such a bad word? There are those, President Bush among them, who never had to work to be called that, but what about the others who are truly elite? Those who worked from the bottom to the top, those who truly deserve to be named elite. I wish for a day when candidates and presidents need not lower themselves to the lowest common denominator to boost their ratings. I want the smartest, most cultured, most successful people running my country. I want the true elite of this nation to be its leaders, and I want them to not have to hide themselves.

Hope,

A Student Abroad

January 12th, 2009 5:34 pm ET

Good, the sooner it's closed the better. People deserve due process no matter how despicable they are as a human being and torture is not an acceptable practice for a civilized society – trickery and deception have a better chance of success.

REALLY? Where is THAT written? Where was the "due process" for the people in the World Trade Center? Where was the "due process" for those in the Pentagon? How about the "due process" for those on flight 93? These people at Gitmo are not entitled to "due process" unless "due process" is defined as a bullet between the eyes!

Mike in NC, I agree with both you and Mark. You summed it up perfectly. Never underestimate the stupidity . . . or the unbridled emotions . . . of the general public. Obama want's to free bad men after all the hard work that went into locking them up.

The fifth amendment of the Constitution is utterly clear that it does not depict the rights of Americans, but of all people:

"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime . . . without due process of law. . ."

Not no citizen. No person. It's in the Constitution. Obama is doing the right thing here.

USA, one of the few countries left in the world that still pursues the practice of torture. And some people here are actually proud of it!

I for one have always felt america would fight for immoral and unjust treatment of people world wide, not be the perpetrators of the crimes!

Sincerely,
An Ashamed Veteran

Mike and Mark, while there maybe no express and written system to deal with these people, it shouldn't go beyond ordinary judgment that in order to convict a person of a crime they should be tried first. The way we are treating detainees does not represent the views of justice and freedom that the USA stands for. It only further serves as a rallying cry for the actual terrorists and their supporters that we're willing to abuse and detain potentially innocent civilians. Many of those locked up at Gitmo are people that were turned over to US forces via local authorities acting on tips. This means that a man who doesn't like his neighbor could call his local police and have the man arrest under phony charges of terrorism and immediately that man is arrested and held for an indeterminate amount of time. I in no way have sympathy for terrorists and personally believe they should have no rights, but unless a person is convicted of terrorism they should have the same access to our legal system if they are going to be held by our country. Call me a nut if you will, but the thought of being imprisoned for years on end with no possibility of trial or appeal is a scary thought.

All the Republicans on this post are FUNNY! Your party will never recover with people like you vocalizing for the GOP……

To the so-called Proud American you have no business calling Matt a racist…..he is just calling it like most people see the Republican Party and BUSH……Show me how your party wants to Unite this country and then I will consider listening. By the way PALIN ain't it ….2012 will be the same way as 2008….a landslide for the Democrats.

**Stop listening to Rush & Hannity for your talking points.

I agree with you MIke in NC, not only do they NOT belong in civilan court , they are not soldiers either and that's why IMO there is a problem with treating them under the Geneva Convention rules. With either of these you give them a legitimacy that they are not due.

This is likely another promise Obama Hussein can't keep…at least not any time soon.

YES WE KAN! I am sooo happy that Gitmo is closing! I would love to host one of these extremist boogers in my very own home! I have an idea…. maybe I can can convert to Islam so I can be more sensitive to their needs…. that is if it is alright with beloved leader. No more of that foolish bush-man that kept these possibly innocent, possible homicidal jihadists locked up all this time. Solidarity!

Mike in NC

THAT WAS SAID PERFECT!!!!!!!!
Thank you…so yo uliberals, please show me the "constitution" ya'll are talking about that gives non-americans all of these rights

Hey all those so bitter that Obama is President, its okay i offer a group hug to you all!! and some local counseling, …….but if its that bad i hear there is plenty of land in Europe, ta ta

Could these be considered pardons since obama is most likely good friends with most of these guys…lol

Darth Vadik, CA January 12th, 2009 6:06 pm ET

Hey Mike Mundy, Houston, TX

How about a proper trial. Heck McVeigh got one, didn't he?

Yes he did. BUT HE WAS AN AMERICAN AND HE WASN'T CAPTURED ON A BATTLEFIELD. When will you people figure out the difference?

Geez, the ignorance on this blog is appalling! GITMO is ILLEGAL. This is a GOOD move on Obama's part.

Darth Vadik, CA

Idiot…he was an American citizen….know what you're talking about before you pull a Biden and say something realy realy stupid

I love all the nit-wits on here that want to bash Bush and Gitmo. You don't take people that were captured in battle into a civilian court. Civilian courts are NOT set up to handle that. Are we going to have our soldiers reading people their rights on a battle field? I think not. You people have NO CONCEPT of what you're talking about. These people are NOT Americans, they DO NOT have a RIGHT to a trial in our civilian court system. I love the internet, this is the place where people who know nothing about a subject can "spout off" and tell the rest of us how things should be done based solely on "how they feel". I am constantly amazed by the number of people I see on here talking about the "rights" of non-americans based on the laws of America.

Obama loves those terrorist…and you're right, that was something that was made known during his campaign

@Matt

Only racists bring up the race issue. Grow up and move on and stop calling everone racist who doesn't agree with your viewpoint. It gets old really fast and you lose all validity.

He can always put them in Illinois with all the other criminals that Hussein Obama knows.

@Matt

Only racists bring up the race issue. Grow up and move on and stop calling everone racist who doesn't agree with your viewpoint. It gets old really fast and loses all validity.

Hey Mike Mundy, Houston, TX

How about a proper trial. Heck McVeigh got one, didn't he?

Good, erase everyting the evil Republicans have done.
Everything.

To those of you criticizing the closing of this travesty in foreign "policy," I suggest you know little, if anything, about the law!

Where are they going to detain the prisoners?Or are Obama just going to let the terrorist go,or is he going to invite them to live here.Obama is SPOOKY

I have a great idea. Why doesn't the country donate this to the Bush Administration as a retirement community for them, so they can experience the style of hospitality they espouse?!

Good…

What are you talking about Gitmo Terrorists in your neighborhood?

These officials should brief their new boss, as Obama didn't present a timeline in his interview on "This Week…" on Sunday and would not commit to a swift closure of Gitmo.

Please send all the occupents of Gitmo to Blue states. Thank you.

What happens after we let some of them go and they commit terror acts against US interests overseas like has happened in the past? Yes We Can!!!

Thank you Mr. Obama!

And if we are attacked after Obama takes office, I'll make sure I question his judgement about undoing all the things Bush has done to make it easier for us to squish the cockroaches.

Great plan…release the dangerous prisoners…why not keep them in prison BUT don't torture them….why not give that a shot…

G,

Prisoners of war are not innocent until proven guilty. They are prisoners until hostilities cease.

You liberal loons are a laugh a minute.

CNN reports that the military prison has become a symbol of mismanagement

By whose account and standard? I haven't heard anything about mismanagement. As a matter of fact, I heard this is run like a model prison.

MIRABILEDICTU:
"G" YOU ARE A FRIGGING IDIOT. A BLIGHT ON THE COUNTRY.

And for all you crying GOP whiners who can't stand the thought that we will stop abusing brown peoples' rights, think of it this way: At least if they're running around Iraq, Afghanistan or other parts of the middle east, you can send your sons over there to shoot them. Lord knows how much you love your guns for solving everything.

Though, I don't agree with President Bush on most of what has done, I cannot see good in shutting down GITMO, I mean you people really think that these people should be tried in our court system. People that are willingly trying kill our soldiers…so what are going to have to get every soldier, CIA agent, and Marine and have them testify and if we can't do that they get a mistrial. Brilliant. I truly support PE Obama and want nothing the best for him and this country, but most of what he wants just doesn't see realistic, but I will wait and see.

I think it is sad how so many people come on these blogs and comment as if they have any idea what they are talking about. We civilians have no idea what goes on fully, I am sure history will paint the truth. Be is a positive or negative one, however making such hateful comments while having little information just goes to show how ignorant people are. You believe 1 person made everything bad happen? Really? Talk about a scape goat.

I am very concerned for PE Obama. He is human, he is just a man and he has to work within the same system. He can not possibly change as much as people are thinking he will, it is not possible. I pray that the warm fuzzy feelings do continue so he can get things done, I just see that people in that system are already turning on him and he has not even moved in yet.

@ tired of corporate politics

To answer your questions:

We don't know where the dangerous ones are going because we don't know which ones are dangerous because we DON'T HAVE ANY EVIDENCE, which is why Bush played games and wouldn't try them in a real court of law and just wanted to set up military tribunals (i.e., kangaroo courts) he could manipulate. As for those who divulged their criminal behavior under the duress of torture…well, add that one up yourself…try starting with asking yourself if you only believe in human rights for people who are white like you. If the answer is "I don't care, they wanted to attack Amurika!!!" then please get in the line for racists on the right.

At least as important as this:

Normalize relations with Cuba NOW!!

Forget the right wing nuts living in the Cuban quarter in Miami.

The US has a long and storied history of dealing with international thugs, Communist and otherwise.

Forget Castro. The Cuban people are suffering. They need help NOW.

America is better than the Gitmo. fiasco. Gitmo. should have never happened and its about time somebody has decided that enough is enough. Think about it, our nations legal system is based on innocent until proven quilty. So, we disregard all of our values, because we don't want to give prisoners a trial? Yah, Yah, I know, there are bad people at gitmo. and they should be given a trial and hung, when they are found quilty. But, they should be given a trial.
Also, I know what some of you are going to say "maybe some of them should come to your house and stay with you". Thats not the point. The point is America is better than holding prisoners without a trial. If we do not give these people a trial, we are no better than some of the nations that we critique for similiar offenses.

WE SHOULD CLOSE IT & ON THE SAME SITE,

WE SHOULD ERECT A MONUMENT OF SHAME TO BUSH,

CHANEY & THE OTHER PERPETRATORS OF TORTURE.

Shut up, TCM.

Good, the sooner it's closed the better. People deserve due process no matter how despicable they are as a human being and torture is not an acceptable practice for a civilized society – trickery and deception have a better chance of success.

Bring these terrorists to Chicago once Gitmo is closed – I am sure they'll find them useful in that city. After all Chicago already has a terrorist working in its University.

WE SHOULD KEEP IT OPEN AND

PUT RUMSFELD, BUSH & CHANEY IN IT.

Hey Grog in Ohio,

Do you want them? NO you don't!!! Huh? Where should they go? Moron!

Dear President Elect Obama,

Why not send these detainees to Berkley? There, code pink and other anti-war student groups can welcome them with open arms. Please, "do the right thing" and keep them the hell away from schools and neighborhoods!

Thank you!

As usual – big splash and cheering and honor to The Obama.
He will look good then walk away leaving such little questions as:
- where are the dangerous ones going?
- where are we sending the rest?
- what if no country wants them?
- are they enemy combatants, spies, US criminals now?
- who in the US will be punished for this mess (he refused to consider Bush impeachment)
- in his stated escalation in Afghanistan, what is the plan for new prisoners?

Haven't you people been listening to Bush speak lately? Why, without torture, wiretapping, and holding people indefinitely with no chance to defend themselves in a court of law, we would all be dead now. Yessiree……we had to destroy America in order to save her. Great job Mr. Bush……..nobody could have done a more effective job of destroying America. Your work is done……go on home now.

Yeah, Obama…send them back,; they want a "Do-over."

So where will he put all of the Democratic elected officials convicted of corruption?

What are you talking about Gitmo Terrorists in your neighborhood? I think you been watching to much Fox news. There are procedures to be follow first. These accuse terrorists will be brought to other countries such as, Germany before they go to a U.S prison because of the lack of security and resources available at U.S prisons. Also, they have to give them a trial remember innocent until proven guilty? I believe the U.S use to believe in this before the Bush adm came in. When did the things the U.S valued and believed in change? I can't believe one man could come in and ignore the U.S consitution and people just let it happen. Sure there was some protest but if this were any other third world country then the U.S would already have been label a corrupt government. I am glad Obama is taking steps to close Gitmo this will restore the U.S image around the world and you will be much safer because of it as I remember 9/11 happen 9 months after Bush took office therefore it happen on his watch not to him. You were safer because of the smart diplomatic steps taken by both democrats and republican presidents before 9/11 you are less safer today because of the Bush tatics such as, the Bush doctrine.

Let's hope the closing of Gitmo is just the first step toward bringing the government back under the rule of law. It's been an odd 8 years, where two C-students (Cheney and Bush) have been able to make things up as they go along, whether the activities are legal or not. I hope the next steps will be to appoint a special prosecutor to look into these activities, and then prosecute anyone who has broken federal and international law.

I guess he plans on creating jobs for people to rebuild the buildings and repair the destruction from the terrorists he unleases on the US.

we caint possibaly get anyone worse than bush.THIS PITTIFUL EXCUSE FOR HUMAN SHOULD BE WITH CHANEY.AT THE HAUGE.FOR WAR CRIMES.THANK GOD ITS OVER .DID WE SURVIVE THE WORST CRIMINALS IN HISTORY. GOD HELP US ALL.

wow, fear monger much? "Gitmo Terrorists in your neighborhood" Please people, let's use our brains.

GOOD! relocate them to a prison near me. put them in my backyard. i'm fine with that. as long as they have access to the judicial system and habeus corpus is restored.

Yeah Obama!!! Take all the terrorists and prisoners of war off Cuba and bring them home to the good ol' USA, Here comes AL QUEDA to the homefront!!

This will truly be a success when we relinquish "ownership" of that part of Cuba, and any other part of Cuba our country has "rented" from there. Cuba is for the Cubans, that is unless our administration will be open for foreign military bases here. Otherwise, we are tainted with hypocrisy.

Fear not, Mr. Gitmo Terrorists in your neighborhood. Your concerns are being taken into account, unless it is amusing for you to believe that the incoming admin plans to indiscriminately release detainees. Oh, what a tangled web…

This will be the biggest money drain and stain on Obama’s record. Nobody wants the terrorist back and Obama will bring them here and try them under US laws. BAD move democrats. 4 and he’s out the door.

We have no room in our prisons to move them to the US! Is he planning to just let them go? These are typically people that have been raised from birth to hate Americans and then brainwashed into believing that it's honorable to murder us. Why would we put these people back on the streets? So they can start planning the next 9/11? I thought Obama was doing a great job till I heard this!

No one wants a war but get your heads out of the sand! You don't open the gates on the prison and let everyone go free so they can murder again just so you can look different than Bush. That's as naive as giving a child molester a job in a daycare facility and believing he won't do it again…

We are the ones who imprisoned them, not other countries, so why should another country take them? When they have their day in court, if they are released, why do you think that they would be allowed to stay in America? They would only be here because we brought them here. They would be sent back to their country or if they were found guilty they would sentenced. What is so hard to understand about justice and our legal system? If things were done the right way from the beginning we would not even be having this discussion.

His mother in law is moving to the white house, so it seems more people will move……

Locking people in a prison without a fair trial is not the american way. If you think that keeping people locked in a prison kept this country safe then you probably think the tooth fairy is going to visit you soon.

any day we close a torture chamber is a good one.

The sooner the better. Our children will be asking us why we allowed the Guantanamo prison to exist. We'll have to shuffle our feet and look at the floor and mumble, "I had no idea what was going on in that place. I would have done something if I had known."

We can now add our torture of these prisoners to the incarceration of Japanese-Americans during WWII and the slaughter of Native Americans between 1600 and 1900 to the list of things Americans can be ashamed of. Of course, there are many things to be proud of, and every American patriot can be proud of our nation.

"My country right or wrong. When right, keep her right. When wrong, make her right."

I wonder how many liberals will be cheering after the accused have their trials and the guilty are executed under Obama's watch?

MY, My,…..Isn't it amazing…. that there is as much hate evident in the early posts here… let me try to change the tenor of these comments.
The previous posts are 50/50 good vs evil. Thank God the voters of
our country say the truth. It will feel so good when we stop beating our head agains the wall…. The number of people being held at this place in relation to the population of the world is infintesable but they by being held by us promote hundreds and possibly thousands of others to join the their mentality… we have been our own worst enemy for too long.

Lead–Follow– or get out of the way… A new President-one who thinks is coming on Jan.20th… he will lead this country back to its rightful place in the world.

Yup its that old(69yrs)-white-retired guy from Ma. a Former Republican

BRUCE

And just what does the great messaih plan on doing with those caged animals? Oh wait, he will probably have them over for milk and cookies and ask them not to do any more bad things. There, there nice little terrorists, now go home and behave. Big bad USA didn't really mean to hurt your little islamic fundamentalist feelings.

Grog in Ohio/CNN Junkie,

These terrorists have to go somewhere. How about near you!

Gitmo Terrorists in your neighborhood,

You are right on! Terrorists are NOT protected by the Geneva Convention! Some of you are too silly to realize that!

I did rather see him move this quick with the universal health care reform.

I keep wondering about those very young boys who have been in Gitmo all these years with no hope of ever getting out of prison. The cruelty of our own government has been shameful in the extreme.
Good riddance to George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, and company. Hopefully happy days will be ahead for everyone.

Personally, I don't think closing this should be #1, maybe a 3….
but overall it's best our country gets on tract and follow the Geneva Convention and all the other international agreements we hold for prisoner care. They'll love the US jail cells…earn a college degree…heck even some have 'cushion chairs' in their cell.

to gitmo terrorsits in your neighborhood:
do you honestly think these men will ever be let out of parole? if so, you are just plain stupid. they will either be found innocent and be released to their country of origin, or will be found guilty and will be imprisoned for the remainder of their natural born life.

to yes we can (ruin or country, that is):
how can obama-biden-clinton-pelosi-reid so any worse that bush-cheney-rice-rumsfeld-gonzalez? it seems silly you are so negative when we can sink no lower.

Grog in Ohio . . . exciting isn't it? Especially because it sounds like a bleedingheart's wet dream, I know. However, this WILL be Obama's first mistake as president. Be careful what you wish for . . . Not EVERYTHING Bush did was wrong so be careful about reacting in anger you may make a mistake . . . like freeing bad men who want nothing mroe than to plan, conspire and DO VERY BAD THINGS . . . AGAIN! Nothing wrong with suspending the writ of habeus corpus for the worst f terrorists . . . Abe Lincoln did it . . . Use your noggin not your . . . emotions.

Can't wait to see where those inmates are headed. How about Chicago? I'm sure the legal system there is well-equipped to handle them…

Here come the Republican talking points. Heads up, GOPers…the vast majority of the Gitmo prisoners have never even been formally charged with a crime, not even under that idiotic and extra-legal "enemy combatant" military tribunal system. Remember the tribunals? They were there to try and do an end around run around Geneva Convention Protocols about torture and prisoners of war. Problem is, the military tribunal system falls apart when you don't even bother to charge anyone with a crime. Additionally, thanks to our illegal torturing of the prisoners, any information gathered that way would be inadmissable under virtually every standard of American justice.

When the proto-AQ bombed the WTC in 1993…using the actual US legal system, the Clinton Justice Department arrested, put on trial, and CONVICTED the terrorists responsible for the attack in less than 5 years. After 7 years, the torture regime at Gitmo has only managed to convict an Afghani citizen of driving Bin Laden's car.

Relocate them all to Afghanistan, let Karzai deal with the lot.

now if only obama will follow thru and completely follow the constituition and scrap the patriot act folly and get rid of martial law execuitive orders and leave gun owners alone then we would have change the people could get behind for sure..

Where will the prisoners go? We don't want enemy combatants, (or terrorists) in our own country. That wouldn't be very bright.

I cannot wait until Obama becomes our official President.

Darn, and just when I thought we had THE place to send Cheney and Rumsfeld

Thank God. It was about time!

@ Yes We Can

You mean to tell us that Bush was the only incompetent nincompoop for the past 8 years? Interesting. So that means Cheney, Gonzalez, Rice, et al., all those people are competent in your mind? No wonder the GOP is going down the tubes.

Finally, an adult in charge! Little George doesn't understand what the problem was, but then again, he didn't understand much, did he? After 8 years of trying to show the world that conservatism works, all these guys have done is add to its long list of failures.

Well I guess he found a way to create new jobs right away…let's see how many people can I hire to move a prison from outside the US to the mainland…

Why? This is not a great start to his term. Where are the prisoners all going to go now? Here? We can't send them back…He better have a good plan on where they are all going to go. I don't want them in my backyard!

Keep part of it open for Cheney, Bush, Hadley, Gonzalez, Rove and their minions that promoted the idea that the prsident is "king" and can torture and act above the law. They can be housed in Guantanamo pending extradition to The Hague.

Then the land ought to be turned over to Cuba since we stole it from them long ago. It's not part of the United States.

Obama is not an idiot like Bush is. Gitmo will be closed, and they'll be taken somewhere secure, I 'm sure. And then tried, and if convicted, they'll probably spend the rest of their lives in the Supermax prison…at least until they get the needle.

So don't be stupid people….use some common sense if you have any. That's what Obama is doing, or don't you listen to what he says.

I think Obama gets it. Of all the damage that the Bush administration has done, the most hurtful is the abandonment of what I thought the USA always stood for: civil liberties. The support of torture and torturers, and the holding of prisoners without charges or trial at Gitmo, are two prominent ways that the USA is seen by others as having abandoned the moral high ground. There is no better signal that Obama could send than closing Guantanamo Bay if the USA is interested in repairing the damage done to its reputation.

Good, yesterday is to late already. Close it down!

Gitmo and Abu Graib have been a stain on America. It will be nice that Obama will raise the standards of this country to where they should be. Using a terrorist's method against them is like making a rabid dog afraid of you. It doesn't matter to the dog and you just sink to their level.
As for the fear mongers' comments, the prisoners would go to the country of their origin if they are released. Also, it is easy to call a person incompetent, a lot harder to run for office yourself and change the system.

And the prisoners go where? I'm sure if Obama had a plan, we'd have heard it by now.

Obama says, " It's more difficult than alot of people realize…" duh, why do you think President Bush kept them there? This is a situation that has no easy solution. Who wants these potentially disastrous detainees in their back yard? Maybe we should put them in tents on the White House lawn where Obama can keep an eye on them. Sorry, but I'm pretty disgusted with his naivety.

Gitmo terrorist. You can have the 12- 4am watch.

Hey, "Gitmo Terrorists in your neighborhood", wait! There's more! If the terrorists do find themselves in our neighborhoods, and if they do "pull some mischeif" . . . it going to be because we created them when we locked them up at GITMO,and not because they were locked up in the first place beacuse they are VERY, VERY BAD PEOPLE, who did VERY, VERY BAD THINGS. Now how ya gonna like that? Well shut up beacause nobody cares and liberalism is fashionable! What the people want is to overreact to BUSH and make a huge mistake because it sounds cool when Obama talks about it in his poliically elegant speaches. Besides, it's what the people want so I guess we'll all get what we wish for! It's going to be exciting! YES WE CAN free the terrorists so they can once again become actively involved in killing more people! Hooray! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN!

Yes this is important to close, but his first week, should he and his select democrats possibly consider getting our failing economy back from a recession, so as close the Cuban prison in week 2 or 3 or when he places a stimulas package into our economy…Just a thought from a voting american..

Gitmo is more than a prison camp; it's a symbol, and it represents the shame that has been brought to our country by the people who called the shots for the past eight years. It should be shut down. Once that is done, and as we figure out how to legally handle the people who are being held there, we should also figure out how to legally handle those who created the situation. Prisoners held indefinately without being charged, without having a trial, and in some cases tortured – how did the United States become a country that would permit such things to happen?

Yes we can……………………bring terrorists into our country who want to kill us………….

I think it is premature to announce the closing of Gitmo if you don't already have a plan in place on what to do with the remaining prisoners.

Lets face it, in addition to the legal and ethical nightmare, Guantanamo has accomplished little. It has hurt the US more than it has helped all in the name of "justice" and "war on terror". Obama is off to a great start and I applaud him for taking this stand. The world has great hopes for Obama, but it will take a very long time to mend the human, political, and economic damage wreaked by George Bush.

Close Gitmo and send them to live with GWB.

God bless you, President-elect Obama.

Relocate them back to Afghanistan, let Mr. Karzai deal with how to handle them.

The Gitmo pisoners are good folks, just misunderstood. I'm sure they will be good neighbors and thankful to be in th USA. Maybe they can become teachers.

Wow the right wingers are foaming something fierce today, aren't they?

If the prisoners are to be released, they will return to their own country.
Apparently, you guys no longer understand what it takes to actually run a country like competent adults and not like drunken frat boys with daddy's credit card.

We don't have many options with this group — but no matter what your primary motivation — fear, need for global respect, or respect for US law — it's hard to make an argument for keeping them at gitmo for any longer. As dad used to say (less dimplomatically): "Do your business or get off the pot!"

This will help clean up our reputation with other "civilized," Nations. We will not tolerate torture. When will Bush and Cheney be tried for War Crimes

THANK GOD.

I really hope BO understands the danger that is out there! I don't think he does YET!

Torture is never acceptable. Your courts just sentenced Taylor to 97 years in jail for participating in acts of torture. Rightly so because torture is the most abhorrent act of man. What is wrong with you people that think its okay to detain people for years without charges or access to legal advice? You would not tolerate it in the US – wait, you have been and its a disgrace.

To Grog in Ohio: Yes it is only 8 days. Then you will regret it from now on.

I know why doesn't Obamam just invite all of these terrorists over to the White House for cocktails and a nice tour. Maybe they can make a day of it and tour the Pentagon and CIA headquarters too.

The whole World has been begging for an end to this evil behavior by America. How anyone can rationalize such wretched behavior is beyond belief. Intelligence is moving into the White House. America will once again be revered and respected.

It's refreshing to see real change come to Washington. Yes, there will be some bumps on the road, but just like we dealt with bad decisions like the invasion and occupation of Iraq.. we can deal with the closing of Guantanamo. I'm sure the world reaction will be different.

"so we will have these terrorists in the neighborhoods out on parole"

Right? Are you really that dense? Did you even read Obama's comments? Apparently not, since he clearly stated that he wants to do this in a manner that is both consistent with our Constitution AND keeps us from releasing those who want to do us harm.

The individuals at Gitmo have been denied due process, primarily as a result of a lack of evidence backing up the charge of terrorism.

So, how many of you bleeding heart liberals are willing to allow one of the Gitmo terrorists to live in your neighborhood? This is the types of decisions that Obama will make that will show him to be a weak leader who will allow the world to dictate our actions to us. Does anyone care about or even remember 9/11?

Where are you going to put them. Are you going to just let them go and give them their freedom like most left wing wackos would do?
I don't agree with keeping the prison open, but either send them to the grand jury or send them back to their country of Origin, even if their country's government may prosecute them as well or kill them. Who care, but don't allow them to come to the U.S. Just asking for trouble.

This is his first mistake. Where's he gonna' put them; in the Hilton. They're his friends, no wonder he doesn't want them there.

Many of the people in this camp have never been formally charged with any crimes; almost none have had any legal representation; and few have had their cases reviewed by ANYONE. Closing GITMO is the only moral and ethical choice that the new administration has, as it will force the government to actually deal with all of the cases; free the ones who should never have been arrested, deport those who should be deported, and try the ones who should be tried. That's what our Constitution guarantees, and what our signing the Geneva Conventions guarantees. That's called DUE PROCESS, people, which as Americans we should support.

I couldn't be more pleased to see Obama is sticking close to his Civil Rights background. It is high time that we begin to practice what we preach again.

with all the waterboarding and torture we still don't know where Osama bin Laden is do we? It really worked marvelous didn't it.

Good move on his part. We are a nation of laws and if we can't lead by example, then we are doomed. Woe to those angry white southern males who post here who don't see this.

As for a secure place to put those who are deserving of such accomodations, that bunker prison in Colorado might be a good place.

It does not matter what King Obama does!! The media (who actually runs this country) will make him out the hero!
It will never be HIS fault….ever!
Where will we go for bailout money, when the american government goes bankrupt??
We do not have bottomless pockets and neither do the chinese that are giving us the money for all this bailout????

Closing Gitmo, is great news!

Good. It's the right thing to do.

A huge mistake Obama!

Hooray!

To quote Spaceballs, "When will then be now?"

"Soon."

Eight more days! Eight more days! I can't wait!

All you critics of Obama should read the article; McCain was for closing Gitmo too. They both knew it wasn't slowing terrorism down at all (only making it worse) AND it was spreading worldwide the idea that the U.S. was a bunch of unprincipled thugs. America can do better than Guantanamo Bay.

WEll ok ,Obama will close the cuban prison and i believe this is a great start for Obama to do in the oval office!! I totally agree with him.

So the US will change course and move back to the rule of law that the founding fathers envisioned? We'll actually take the moral high ground and maybe, just maybe, not be cursed at when we encourage other countries what to do? You mean it's actually possible to reverse the course of terrorism without adapting their own tactics? I say it's about time!!! But then again, I'm just a naive liberal that doesn't understand the nature of the terrorist threat. And we may be a country founded on "Christian values" but JC didn't actually expect us to practice what he preached, did he?

Bush and Cheney's torture chamber.

Great. Im sure that getting 3 squares a day, cable TV, and medical care in a US prison while awaiting trial where their taxpayer funded lawyer will argue that they are actually good people at heart will make the terrorists think twice before trying something. Hmmm, cave in the middle East or basketball at Parchman? Tough choice. I guess our only hope is some good, old fashioned, prison justice. Even murderers dont like people messing with their homes.

Doesn't anyone think this is a little rash?

These are potentially dangerous people – and to just shut it down on day one shows more lack of leadership.

"Yes we can!!!" – you forgot the rest…"Ruin the country in a 10th of the time that W did!!!"

GTIYN – You know….they can deport them back to their country of origin. Odds are they won't want to live in your neighborhood anyway.

Great ! Close the prison Pay their way into the State and city of their choice, set them up with $100,000.00 from the bailout fund and give them 24/7 security to set up their madrasas and terrorists camps. That is the change we need to institute "the great ones"(obama) plan. Boy, is he going to teach us a thing or two.
But that's what you all wanted, CHANGE, I listened to it for two long years.When your cities start exploding, enjoy your CHANGE.
LAMO

didn't reagan close down the mental hospitals and vet hospitals housing vet mental patients, which resulted in all the crazy homeless…

so, would this mean that all the accused in the cuban prison will be walking the streets if they can get bail?

Giving up Gitmo isn't about political prisoners who just happen to be the scum of the earth. It is about undoing everything that is right about American one block at the time. Out intelligence gathering efforts in the Carribean will suffer immensely as a result of abandonment of this facility. First the Panama Canal, now Gitmo. Is Ellis island next?

Obama should keep it open….and lock Bush and Cheney in there…..speaking of terrorists.

"Every action"…….can have adverse "reactions" and "consequences"! Remember that! Be careful!

…………..and do what with these guys??????

Great idea Obama!! Close the prison and bring them to American soil so they can hopefully get a mistrial and set them free in our country to go and do what ever they please. I can see where this administration is going. Don't forget there is a reason these poeple are in the prison in the first place. But I guess that doesn't matter anymore right?

8 days and the Democrats won't have no one to blame but themself. We can all watch our country crash and burn.

I just wonder what he will say to the mother of an American soldier killed by someone released from Guantanamo Bay. This is not a hypothetical. There have already been people released who have returned to the battlefield. Most of these people cannot be prosecuted because the evidence against them isn't admissible in court. That of course, does not mean they are not a threat to this country. To then say "well we have to release them, then" is a non-sequitur. Soldiers, (and that's what these losers are), have been captured and held without trial since the beginning of time. Trying to treat a terrorist captured by the military like a criminal defendant is a recipe for disaster. I guess as long as it's not your loved one in harm's way makes it ok.

one week one day. can't wait.

What is he going to do with everyone there today? For all those that are pleased with the fact that TERRORISTS are being freed, why don't you volunteer to have them live in your neighborhood? Because I don't want them in mine.

Yep, ruination is coming. We have enough terroriest already here because of our loose borders, especially with Mexico because the bleeding heart liberals won't shove the illegals back across. Now he's going to close Gitmo and bring all the terrorists jailed there to the US. The, they will be released here with a huge mad-on and guess what they're gonna do! You guessed it! Look out!

Yep, Grog, keep counting the days until queen Pelosi, Prince Harry, Chris Dodd, Barney Frank and, last but least, NOBAMA himself, messiah! If you thought one man was bad (Bush), keep your eyes wide open – there's more idiocy to come. The Dems are already pouting because Nobama's stiumlus package of over $300 billing isn't enough money for them to spend!

Only 8 more days until the economy gets even worse, our taxes go sky high and our national security is put at even greater risk. This is not going to be good, folks. We barely survived 8 years of Clinton…another Democrat will be horrible.

There was a story on NPR this morning that stated the exact opposite of this article.

Gitmo Terrorists in your neighborhood January 12th, 2009 4:21 pm ET Great Obama will close the Cuban prison; and in the next year or so we will have these terrorists in the neighborhoods out on parole …. great plan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Think.

We all know what happens as soon as they step foot on American soil…. not good…

OH PLEASE!
The Obama Administration has not taken over this country yet! You can't blame a person for wrong-doing when he hasnt started anything yet.

Go and rub Ben-gay on yourselves, nay sayers!

Thank god! This stain on the character of our Nation's values and all that we represent will hopefully end this era.

Obama is a lunatic, Hurry up 2012 we need palin!

What! Just let them go so they can bomb us. Good plan Obama. Invite them to stay in the WHite House While they plan there next attack.

Thank you Barack Obama for ending this national disgrace. Generations of future americans will look upon this episode with shame, similar to our detention of Japanese Americans in WW2

At the rate things are going, the rhetoric and anger between the left and thr right may soon start to resemble the level of animosity between Israel and the Palestinians.

Good grief, people. Please stop this nonsense. We are ALL Americans. We ALL love our country. We ALL want peace and prosperity and opportunity.

Sheesh!

… putting us one step closer to regaining our standing in this world. obama would like us to lead by example. that's a far cry better than bush's "do as i say, not as i do" approach to world leadership. a welcome change!!!

Would closing Gitmo with a "cluster bomb" be sufficient?

He must act quickly. If not then he could be guilty of same war crimes as the outgoing President George W. Bush. Listen up America, Where is the outrage for the release of the prisoners being held in Iraq and Afghanistan that are set to be released? And Bush signed that document. Let's hope the US gets out of there quickly before they have time to think about being held against one's will and not being charged with anything.

The elite?

Our moral standing has been damaged by Guantanamo in the eyes of the people whose good will we most need. America's values and tradition of individual rights are what give hope to those downtrodden, hapless, helpless souls who suffer under the heels of tyrants around the world. The fact that the most powerful government in the world can be constrained from abusing the rights of the lowest, as well as the rights of the highest, is America's enduring testament that All Men are Created Equal, and that They are Endowed by the Creator with Inalienable Rights.

What the Bush administration has diminished is the deepest, most profound reason the United States of America were founded and joined into one nation. This is the final proof that Bush should never have been president: he misunderstands what is distinctive, what is definitive about America. To Bush freedom is only a word.

Rights are what America is all about. To misunderstand that is a great wrong.

"Great plan" – So we put these accused terrorists in our prison system and on our soil. How is that better? They have a trial and get off due to tainted evidence and move into your neighborhood one day. Then what?

For Comments 1 and 3
Just because he is going to close down GITMO, does not mean that he will just leave them. The prisoners will be relocated to HIMAX facilities. Also, some prisoners are actually not terrorists, just innocent civilians caught in bushes patriot act sweep. Also, Mccain wanted to do the EXACT SAME THING. And how is Obama more incompetent than a 74 year old with no real grip on our current issues?

NOT IN MY BACK YARD. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THEM? DON'T GIVE THEM CIVILAN COURTS. SEND THEM TO A CAMP IN SAUDI ARABIA. IF THEY GET FREEDOM DO WE ALOW THEM ON OUR STREETS? STUPID MOVE

It is way past time to remove this stain on america's character. The "detainees" should be moved to in custody in Afganistan, which where the majority are from any way.

How GWB could have even opened up such wound is a direct testimony as to how shorted sighted he was about the constituion and international perception.

Great job Mr Obama !!

"Gitmo Terrorists in your neighborhood"

i think your right. u should work in the administration. the world is black and white only.

we either lock them up unfairly, or recklessly release them into suburbs.

learn to see some gray and u might just understand how the world works

What right does the U.S. have to dump its prisoners in someone else's country. As for them being terrorists, where is the proof and the trial to convict them as such.

@Gitmo Terrorists in your neighborhood and .Yes we can (ruin the country, that is)…….please don't get off your meds.

Yes, Obama-Wan-Kenobi, you're our only hope.

I hope the prisoners don't thank him by blowing up some more US buildings.

It's about time. It should have been closed down years ago.

Hey " gitmo……….
Wake up! Be honest ! There is nothing this man will ever do that you will agree with. You are a real idiot !

This is how the way the most powerful country on earth should act. If they come to US Prisons then I'm sure they will not be "let out on parole" in the streets. LOL!!! Get real. I bet you still believe Elvis is alive too?

Obama promised his leftist faithful to close this down within 100 days of taking office. Now that he will have to deal with the reality of really dangerous people, we shall see how fast this happens if ever. I often wonder what countries in the world our standing has fallen with? The countries our fathers and grandfather liberated? The muslim countries that don't allow freedom of religion, press, etc. Former soviet countries? Germany? Africa where Bush has actually helped with health care? Who freaking cares?

President-elect Obama has the right idea. With the chaos going on in the Middle-East right now, closing down Gitmo will show the people in that region that we are serious about restoring America's image around the world and that we are a moral society. It's just one step to let the world know that CHANGE has come.

Nothing like acting without all of the facts. This will be the first of many stupid acts. Hey but he will win votes and will not have to stand up for what is right. He will just give in and let the problems happen.

There goes the sex lives of several prison guards…

"O"Bama-Git". Sounds better….

Yes we can (ruin the country, that is) January 12th, 2009 4:23 pm ET

Obama-Biden-Clinton-Pelosi-Reid: Wow this is a big change, We now have 5 incompetent people in charge of the count

——————————————————————————-
What rock have you been living under? The country has already been ruined. Anything is better than what we had for the eight last years.

So what's his plan for closing the prison? Send all these terrorists back to their home country to allow them to attack us again? Or maybe he can just throw them in our countrie's criminal system and they can be back out on the streets in a year or less. No country wants these people because of what they represent and no one is willing to take them in. The best course of action would be to build a new maximum security prison here in the States, try and convict each and every one of them. If they are guilty, execute them right away. Innocent, well, highly doubtful…but if they are send them home and pray they don't return to their terrorist ways.

As for the torture and what not. We did what we had to do to get the information we needed. So, it's ok for them to kidnap American's, video tape them, then cut off their heads. But it's not ok, if we use necessary means to obtain information to better protect our country?

didn't the NY Times just publish a story saying that Obama recently went back on his promise to close the prison because it would be too dangerous to close up so quickly? And now he is changing his mind AGAIN?

Obama just bought new shoes, and they sound like this..flip flop flip flop

Better yet, convert it to the "Madoff Hilton" – it has all the amenities one would expect at a "celebrity" prison – tropical climate, ocean views…..

This is a great move. The Constitution was at risk under the Bush Administration and much of that had to deal with Guatanomo Bay. The torture and lack of any rights of prisoners there was atrocious. It's not like Obama or anyone supports terrorists of course, but if we're gonna give the death penalty to some accused terrorists, we need to make sure they are given just basic freedoms to ensure that they really are responsible for what they are being charged with. Guatanomo Bay was an abuse of power and this will change the tone world wide and gain the US some needed respect!

let the attacks begin stupid people. don't cry either once they start

Yes we can (ruin the country, that is) January 12th, 2009 4:23 pm ET

Obama-Biden-Clinton-Pelosi-Reid: Wow this is a big change, We now have 5 incompetent people in charge of the country instead of just one.

NEWS ALERT

The country is ALREADY ruined, please get a CLUE

Why do people act like Obama is going to set terrorist free. If you have nothing on them then you have to let them go. Some Americans need to stop this constant questioning of the President-elect's committment to this nation. He may not look like you, but his faith in this nation is probaly runs deeper than yours. You try running for President!!!! Yall act like Bush didn't screw up the country. Obama is just trying to undo GW's mess and what a mess it is!

Decisive. Intelligent. A real leader at last…

What a great way to let the ists back to America. Well America, I hope you're happy.Closing Gitmo will be the start of the end.

I have a suggestion; Instead of Obama closing down Guantanamo Bay, why not keep it open and throw Bush and Cheyney in this prison and allow those who were tormented to give them the same treatment?

Appease, appease, appease.

Yes we can 4:23 – you must have been a Bush publicist – or haven't you noticed the country is already on the brink of disaster one step up from ruin where Bush has lead us.

To those worried about releasing "terrorists" into the US, let me remind you: innocent until proven guilty. These prisoners have been in jail without charge for nearly eight years. If there is evidence they are guilty, charge them and bring them to trial. Otherwise, yes–let them go.

yes we can! bring them mistreated boys here. he is moving everyone else into the white house, just open the right wing to house them poor mistreated boys.

I mean this is just playing with American lives………………you left wing nutjobs got what you wanted hopefully these terrorists no the difference between a real American and a left wing nutjob………..this is absurd………..

hmm isn't this one of those campaign promises everyone has been telling me he will not keep?

guess that is just more of the radical right and the looney left (yes I mean you supporters of the liar hillary!) lies in their attempt to keep this country divided and destroy America.

idiots

and umm Yes we can (ruin the country that is) you seem to forgget the entire rubber stamp congress for the first 6 years of the bush residency.. but than what else is to be expected of the radical right and looney left? And umm Gitmo terrorist.. MOST of the ones we tortured and held without trial ahve already been let free you see they were not terrorist until we turned them into terrorist at Gitmo.. maybe if you had protested wwhen they were imprisoned you would not now have to deal with them..

idiots

What Obama loser NEVER tells us is WHERE are the TERRORISTS GOING THEN????????

Good job Obama, now let us see you make a 'quick move' and put these war criminals on a rope, where they belong.

What Obama loser NEVER tells us is WHERE are the TERRORISTS THEN????????

Gitmo Terrorists in your neighborhood at 4:21 – great imagination, were you once a republican public relations specialist

Commorades, welcome to America. Please feel free to travel around the country and destroy it.

Did no one think to ask what he plans to do with these prisoners?

The prisoners will now become community ogranizers in Chicago.

Uh, where are the prisoners going? Or is that a minor technical issue? If they are transferred to US prisons, those prisons will become targets. Do any of you really want that?

What a bunch of morons Obama and his crew are. This is a bad move and for what? To score a few publicity points with the limp-wristed europeans?

My only complaint with Gitmo was that it was not harsh enough.

We will send a message to the world that we're not really serious about dealing with problems if others say that we're mean. We can't win the popularity contest that way. Maybe he could send them to Mexico?

To my PE, you go dude, I did not vote for you but this is the right thing to do, America should not have "Concentration camps"!

So where exactly does he plan on housing the terror suspects??? Maybe there's room on Bill Ayers' street now that the Obamas are leaving town!

¡Viva Obama! I hope that diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba will improve too.

I can understand Osama wanting to free his buddies…can't you guys??

AAAAMMMMEEEENNNNNN!!!!!!!!

There we go. Let 'em go free. Better yet, let's give them some money for all the pain and suffering that big ol' mean Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney did to them. Then, they can take that money, go over to Russia, buy a nuke (since they'll sell 'em to anybody), then come over and try to finish the job they started on 9/11.

Once again, too many people behavin' like it's September 10th. People want to accuse me of worrying too much? Hey, I'd rather be worrying and safe then feeling more at peace with the world community and glowing.

Ask yourself this – If you were in jail under the leadership of people like those being help at Gitmo, you think they'd just up and close the jail down, give you a fair trial? Nope, they only way you'd be leaving there is in pieces, after you were part of a nice propaganda video.

Thank God you freaks weren't around during WW2. We'd all be goose-stepping now…well, all of us except for basically everyone who wasn't blond haired and blue-eyed. Hmmm, anyone see any similarities between the Nazis and a group that wants to eliminate everyone who isn't a Muslim??? But instead of Churchill we've got Obama and Code Pink. Time for today's French lesson, repeat after me, "I surrender"

Sure close it and bring them all over here.. might as well have all the thugs living here in the US rather than some other country.

Close it ASAP. There are guys there that plan or planned to commit any kind of terrorist act againts the USA? Give them the USA's JUSTICE, not that stuff that GWB&Co. gave to us at the cost of the Constitution…

What is Obama's plan for those detainees? I don't have a problem with closing the prison, but if these people are released back to their communities, they will turn around and try and destroy us…again.

What is the administration prepared to do with them?

OK, you want to close Gitmo so we "look better to the Muslim world", but what happens to the war criminals? Where do they go? Does anyone care?

Obama supporters, get ready for reality. Once Bush is out, its all on Obama and our collective tax dollars.

"Yes we can!" – that's a slogan, not an workable solution.

Great way to start rebuilding our trust around the world again. People we really did pick the right person to lead us out of the last 8 yrs.

Phase I of – "Get them to like us" is now underway.

YES HE WILL!!!

8 DAYS UNTIL THE NIGHTMARE IS OVER!!!

Just where is the annointed one going to put the terrorists? I sure don't want them in MY backyard. Ship them home!!!

Please don't put them anywhere near my hometown. If there is any justice he will relocate them to Chicago, IL.

I say keep it open just for George Bush, Dickard Cheney, Condi Rice, and the rest of their ilk. Let's show them just how reliable information derived from waterboarding is…

Hopefully this is just the first of the secret prisons that get closed.

Secret prisons that operate outside of due process are very unamerican.

He is a man of his word.

THANK YOU GOD FOR OUR PE!!!!!!!!

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DO NOT WANT THESE PEOPLE PUT IN OUR PRISONS OR IN OUR COUNTRY FOR THAT MATTER. BIG MISTAKE TO CLOSE GITMO. AGAIN, PRESIDENT SELECT IS AN IDIOT, EMPTY SUIT, NO EXPERIENCE, NO BRAINS.

Just be sure the CIA spooks don't open up torture camps elsewhere.

it should be named after Bush and Cheney…. Gitmo is the hallmark of their rancid administration…..

CNN's Mister Snider??? Sounds a little Snidy to me….
You will never cover your past….. There is No Heaven….

Now that is change we can believe in!

Obama-Biden-Clinton-Pelosi-Reid: Wow this is a big change, We now have 5 incompetent people in charge of the country instead of just one.

halleluyah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Big message to the terrorist that we are open to attack again… Not a good idea.

Great Obama will close the Cuban prison; we will bring the prisoners to the US as no other country will take them; and in the next year or so we will have these terrorists in the neighborhoods out on parole …. great plan.

"'The President-elect has repeatedly said the legal framework at Gitmo has failed to successfully and swiftly prosecute terrorists,' said one of the officials close to the transition"

so why not try to fix it, before closing it down? If PE Obama plans on closing it down, I really hope he has somewhere in mind to send those who are being detained there, because bringing them onto American soil for prosecution could be bad news. My biggest fear though, is that he will close it down before being fully briefed on the inner workings of Guantanemo. None of us actually know exactly what goes on there…

Good for him. While I am not against jailing perceived war criminals I am against holding them without access to legal counsel and certainly not allowed to sit in a prison for 6 years and no, the fact that the prison is not on American soil does not make it better or right.

The shrub and crew has had 6 years to charge them or let them go, they chose to do nothing but hold them in prison.

YES we can!!!

8 days till the end of the Bush administration.