CNN

wow. a President who is keeping his campaign promises? imagine that?

i would be willing to give the poor tortured souls at gitmo the key to our town so we can show them the hope and change that we americans have against the stupid neocons and thus make friends with the victims of bush and so thus create the peace our beloved President Obama has brought to us!
Gobama!
We love you Obama!

I was at GITMO in 1995, camp X-Ray was there then, holding Cuban criminals who were trying to get to the states, I don't remember any public outcry then and they weren't even terrorists. I guess because a Dem was our president it was okay.

I say bring them here, put them in prison and let the inmates take care of them, they'll be praying to go back to GITMO, if they survive.

YES WE CAN!!!!!

Weak minded fools is how we appeared to the world.

How quickly we abandoned bedrock principles and precepts of freedom and due process once confronted with a threat.

Many of us have family members that sacrificed much to preserve American ideals of justice and civil liberty. Such a precipitous turn away from these valuse was an audacious maneuver for Bush Jr., a man never tested in the crucible of battle.

How blessed we are to finally have a leader who honors the sacrifices made by our forebearers.

Peace.

Thank God we have a President who understands the law very and who is startign to return hope to the American people. Please withold my info.

They are not going to let these prisoners go. They will be transported here where we will house them within our system. So the issue of having to pay for their incarceration is stupid. Either way we are paying for them. Who is going to take them? I can't think of any state that wants them in their prisons. These are dangerous men. They would blow thousands of our citizens up including themselves and not blink an eye.

LET IT BE SAID BY OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN,THAT WHEN WE WERE TESTED, WE REFUSED TO LET THIS JOURNEY END, WE DID NOT TURN BACK, NOR DID WE FAULTOR, BUT WITH EYES FIXED ON THE HORIZON, AND GOD'S GRACE UPON US, WE CARRIED FORTH THAT GREAT GIFT OF FREEDOM, AND DILIVERED IT, SAFELY, TO FUTURE GENERATIONS...

THANK YOU PRESIDENT OBAMA...for words of wisdom...

let me see here.............did not "some" people say......he was just talking?

ups............................well, as I expected he is walking the talk,like he said he would do.

keep those questions coming. he will answer you.

THE GENEVA CONVENTION APPLIES TO UNIFORMED SOLDIERS ONLY** IN WW2 WE SHOT THE ENEMY IF OUT OF UNIFORM THESE THUGS ARE NOT SOLDIERS THEY KILL ANYONE AND EVERYONE THEY HAVE NO RULES THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DECISION AND NAIVE WE ARE DEFINETLY MORE AT RISK TODAY THAN WE WERE JUST A MERE 2 DAYS AGO
************************************************************

Close that torture house – Dont Torture anymore – BUT DONT LET THE TERRORISTS FREE!!!

President Barack Obama knew the oath like the back of his hands. He was a law professor and a lawyer.He didnt want to correct Chief justice Roberts and make him look like a fool

StormerF et al .. How would YOU like to be locked up for years without being charged with a crime? Give it up people, the election is over and with your attitude, the Repubs will be out of power for a VERY LONG time.

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION-CLEARLY SHOWING THEY ARE SOFT ON TERRORISM ALREADY.

Innocent until proven guilty or WE are the terrorists.

for those who keeps saying that obama is saving his brothers. i can tell you are not americans. torture is not american values. if we want to change the world, we have change ourselves

Awesome news

having a brother in the service; I am totally glad that GITMO is going to close.

maybe OUR soldiers can feel a little safer now knowing that torture, and being locked up for years with out charges or trials will become a thing of america's dark past under the Bush regime,

Where are these detainees going to go? If they truly are the most dangerous dregs of society, they don't belong back in the general population. If they are housed in another country, there is no guarantee that they will be treated as good as we did, maybe they would wind up worse. Alcatraz is not a bad idea, but how about Siberia without a coat!! They are not U.S. citizens so Our Constitutional rights are not afforded to them. They are not military POW's so the Geneva Convention does not apply to them. I think it's a dilemma that really is not going to have a "good" turnout no matter what we do with them.

I'm seriously concerned we will have another WTC type bombing here in the U.S. We have went back to the "Hug them and maybe they'll like us" approach on terrorism.

1. Where are we going to put those freed from Gitmo?

2. Just because we no longer torture, does anyone really think that our captured troops won't be? I haven't seen us chop anyone's head off with a sword...but yet it has unfortunately happened to our captured.

One day in and one horrible decision.

cardman @ 11:42 seems to be living in a very small, very sheltered, very scary world. I thank God every day I'm not burdened with hate and fear like he is.

Soft on terrorism he will be and attack on us there will be.

yeah About time. Instead of inventing terms to skirt the issue perhaps we will treat these enemies with the same dignity that we ourselves hold so dear. There is no room for torture,no room for "special status" invented to deny these people the rights of humanity. I am a 2 tour Vietnam vet and know war. this nation is quick to preach morals but not to follow them. I am not pandering to terrorists nor do i wish to set them free, but the must be given the same treatment as any other POW. The Abu Ghraib incident didnt do much for this nations reputation, neither did Gitmo or secret CIA prisons. If we want to win back world respect we have to walk the walk not just talk the talk.

Great job Mr. President...

The USA does no longer condones torture and will abide by the Geneva Convention.

Lesson:
This is how you combat terrorism...a spear in one hand and an olive branch in the other hand.

I say keep it open...

...and put Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice and the other Republican banditos in it!

Don't forget to bring your swim suits folks, we're going water boarding!

Bush tried to close gitmo too. It will be very difficult to actually do this well. You can hooray all you want, but lets see if it actually happens and what the repercussions of closing it turn out to be.

As a former solider and a solider who was at Guantanamo Bay at Camp X-Ray on January 11th 2001. I am glad to see Guantanamo being closed finally. We can all agree there are Guilty and Inncocent people who have and are at Guantanamo, but the way they have been treated is wrong and unfair. If a american solider was treated in this manner any where in the world we would not stand for this treatment.

Uh oh...diaper sales to neocons are going to go through the roof.

Just remember people these same people can capture our soldiers and proform the same treatment to them. Would you want any of our soldiers going this type of torture? I most certainly wouldn't want my husband or son to go thru something of this degree. We must set the standards.

I am not saying not to pressure them or impose some type of agitation in order to get some answers from them, but we don't have to result too degrading torture to get answers.

He is the President so he has the power to do that. I disagree, but , hey, who am I, right? I really thinks this sets a new direction for our troops fighting on the battlefield now though. The new rule is TAKE NO PRISONERS, leave none alive, just kill them all. That way, they don't go get an ACLU lawyer, go to trial, and get set free by a liberal judge to return to the task of killing Americans.

"stormerF", to abandon the principles of justice using the fear of terrrorism as an excuse is simply cowardice, nothing more.

Mr. President keep your eye on the terrorist, you can be sure they are wactching what you do.

Really not sure about this one. I can't say that it gives me a good feeling. I don't really think we need these terrorists on our soil....that just gives the extremists another reason to attack us. Praying for the best.

GOOD! I hope the UN starts proceeding against Bush and the rest of them. This way, its will not be perceived as a witch hunt by dems( although, it would be, just honoring the conventions as we should)
Ho on this earth has bush gotten away with all he has done. And why do people think he did well? It blows my mind.

Clinton fallowed the same path. He let bin laden go saying that he had nothing to charge him with after the first attack on the towers. Bin laden was being offered to us by Syria When he was being held there. The result of Clintons actions was 9/11.

The funniest part is that it's the same religious GOP neo-conservatives who will quote scripture when it's convenient who are arguing this issue without any care whatsoever for the tenet of treating others as you would be treated. They're innocent until proven guilty just like you are or you're the one who is a terrorist.

Yes this is the right thing to do, there is no reason for America to have a concentration camp.

for all those panicky repub bushies like stormerF, cardman and richard, the army has one year to close down Guantonamo and decide the fate of the detainees. I ask you three stooges, why couldn't the trials have been held under the bush Administration?

With so many problems confronting the President, this is the easiest one to start the wheels in motion since it requires no congressional action, like the economy, budgets, spending bills etc. Did you expect things to turnaround in two days? if so, you are still delusional.

The easy or expeditious ways always need to be seriously evaluated as they can produce serious problems that a true conscience will find unacceptable. If only Bush-Cheney would have conducted themselves that way so much would be in much better shape today. To advocate an illegal and unconscionable policy as acceptable just because it serves an easy or expeditious purpose or because it serves a few peoples self-interests is intolerable by any conscience driven society. Those that don't understand that should never be in a decision making capacity – whenever in history it shows they were, the world has suffered, as we have recently experienced.

To simply issue an order to shut down without a follow up plan is a bad sign of the things to come!

BO is turning out to be a worse JOKE then Bush!

waterboading is NOT torture. It has no lasting effects or scars yet it yields plenty of results. So it scares the poor little bad guys.....who really cares? Just another example of how liberals care more about world and public opinion than really keeping the USA safe. Maybe we should just send all the bad guys to Berkley and let all the liberals hug them and ask them real nice for information.....I'm sure that will work.

Man! Terrorists have never had it so good before!!! You go Obama!!

Hey, those are all potential Obama voters for 2012. Of coruse he wants them out of Gitmo and moved into the states. Next he'll have them freed and made citizens so they can vote for him.

Wha this doesn't say is that the order allows for a new and separate set of rules to be developed for intelligence officials. Hmmm, wonder what that means. We need to use every tool to protect our country. We are not dealing with tea sippers, but murderers. Remeber these are NOT military personnel covered by the Genevay conv.

Cardman an Richard get a life. GITMO was a mistake from the beginning an nothing but a sham instigated by Bush/Cheyney to "show" us how they're making us safe...

To be held for years without charges in a Turkish Prison what a Nightmare! Oh, I forgot, this is Guantanamo Bay, an American military prison! How can we say we are concerned with human rights when people can be held indefinitely? Use common sense folks; the measurement of a great society is developed in that society’s treatment of the most undesirable. Grace and justice should be the operative words here. I am not siding with Obama, I am a republican, but we have to look at this beyond party lines. That which is right and wrong has no color, race, or political affiliation. Obama's actions are the human part of the word humanity. It's a non-partisan no brainer.

One term as president and he's done.

Big Mistake. Don't bring them to California.

Wow Barack is a nightmare.

Eat that, neocons. We're going to climb back up on the moral high-ground no matter how hard you try to scare us.

Geneva conventions and the constitution seperate US from the terrorists.

Otherwise, we are tortering innocent people, just like them!
Get real people!

Educate yourselves and take time to read the comments from "A soldier".

Also, closing down this facility will undoubtedly be a cost effective measure. There has to be a better way to deal with so-called terrrorists.

milk and cookies for all.........................and Pleeeeeze tell us where that bomb is Mohammed

Any word on what we are going to do for sure with these 245 prisoners? It would be nice to have a solution to the problem to go along with this deadline.

This prison gave terrorists more reason to attack us, not less. You can't fight fire with fire, wake up Republicans-your tactics didn't work...Thanks to you, our country is facing great hardship. Finally we have someone in the white house that represents peace and goodness, rather than greed and ignorance. I support you Mr. President, and am proud once again of my choice!

I thought alot about this last night as mine, and others, first reaction is "oh Goodness, what is going on here, WHAT is he doing"....but I realzied in the light of things that he is right to close this...we (US) have violated treaties, international agreements, and so forth in the manner in which things were conducted...and not only is that legally wrong, it's morally wrong. I am glad we are going back to the Geneva Convention....if we want to set a righteous example, we have to behave that way as well. So ...kudos to President Obama for seeing things clearly on this.

The idiots who don't know what was wrong with Guantanamo need to really think hard about what our country stands for (and read A solder's comment again).

Let's see – How about if someone decided to say YOU were a terrorist because of "circumstantial evidence" and you were sent off to Gitmo – then held for five or six years and tortured to try to get information out of you. Would you not demand legal representation, charges to be brought, and not only legal but humane treatment?

So I see that you think that's right for YOU but not anyone who you have decided to hate regardless of knowing nothing about them or the facts. It is people like you who are still holding America back from being the greatest power on Earth who doesn't have to stoop to the level of terrorists to defeat them. – To "A Soldier" – Thank you!

This is a great start for Obama. What he's doing, despite the inflammatory and xenophobic statements being made here, is rebuilding the world's trust and our international political capital by undoing what should have never been done in the first place, holding alleged terrorists in legal limbo, many without evidence and others without due process, acts that only weakenend our credibility abroad. This also points to the fact that we are not in a state of war, despite the desparate claims of the Bush administration, but rather, we are struggling with a spate of international terrorism that can best be addressed by building our standing with allies and foes, acting in a way that rises above the depraved actions of terrorists, and sets a high standard for the rule of law even for the most heinous of acts.

Obama's brilliant and he's proving it already....this is a good day to be an American!

Thank you, Mr. President.

To StormerF, for Texas Republic,cardman & Richard.
Please be thankful you we live in a land where you are innocent till proven guilty.....morals are not in halves they must either be applied in their entirety on not all.
From "A man of all seasons"
When we cut down all the laws in the land in pursiut of the devil and we all know that George Bush has done just that. When the devil turns around and comes after you, where will you hide in the face of all the wind that will blow.
This land is founded on law and oreder, not just for you or me, but all mankind....We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equally....not just for Americans but all men or simply put for you all mankind.

Stormer f
Right on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time to re-open Alcatraz and let San Francisco deal with them...

How can Obama be making good decisions when he has only had access to key information less than 48 hours? He is acting without thinking and this is not a good sign for a leader. It is starting to explain the issue's his nominee's are having in the Senate. Obama does not get all of the details before making a decision. Already he is making choices worst than Bush.

To A soldier January 22nd, 2009 11:39 am ET – You obviously haven't read the posts on this site. Most of you libs have nothing but contempt and lies for the military.

And to Bill – yes, you can now hold your head high – as the know-nothing peacenik fool you really are.

Following international treaties that the US has signed like the Geneva convention is not siding with terrorism. Ending torture is not siding with terrorism. giving even those that want to kill us a fair trial is not siding with terrorism.

Returning us to the moral high groud is not siding with terrorism.

I applaud our new president in his initial efforts to restore the dignity of this country.

As He said, the economy will take time, and wont fix itself overnight. It will take many months if not years to fix the economy, but there are plenty of other pressing matters that the president must deal with, this was one of them.

I like how possitive comments outweigh the negative... take it from the soldier below. What they are doing in Guantanamo Bay is everything a U.S. Soldier would not want done to them. If this place never opened, U.S. Prisoners of war may have been held captive and treated with respect. Now that is less likely. Everyone knows that prison has many war crimes happening behind its walls and probably holds tons of innocent people that only tried to defend an invasion into there country.

The things that existed were in place for a reason, to keep the US safe . You can argue that they were wrong, but in order to do away with them, I think you should first have a plan in place that will give the same results as they were intended to give. Simply doing away with these 4 things, without a replacement plan or looking at the future repercussions is reckless. Questions to ask, what do we do with the detainees, what do we do with future ones, how do you get vital information out of them, why would anyone fear fighting against the US if you don't get punished in any way. While this may help in the world's view of the US, it will only aid our enemy in the desires of destroying this country. Hate Bush and these tactics if you will, but they have kept us safe since 2001. I fear that if we ratchet back our efforts in this way, Obama will not be able to say the same thing during his administration.

Yeah, Stromer, let's just get rid of habeas corpus–the basis of all law–entirely. Let God sort it out!

America is broke thanks in part to the war in Iraq.

Also a a career soldier I do not understand the rational behind closing GITMO and possibly letting these terroists out. I salute Bush for implementing many of his policies that kept America from being hit again after 9-11. As leaders we do unpopular things in order to best protect those under our charge. Bush did not falter in his beliefs I salute him. I am proud to have Obama as the President but I hold my adoration of his leadership until I actually see him produce. The last eight years were made harder by a war and no war has ever been popular even Viet Nam of which I served. I will pray for the success of Obama but I will not fall into false beliefs until he has served as an American President for all Americans.

Al Qaeda has nothing to fear now that Guantanamo will be closed and enhanced interrogation techniques will be dropped....

I expect we'll see them soon.

Storm F
Obviously you have never had anything to do with the US military in any way shape or form. The reason we will win is because of the morality of not acting like our enemies. That's what makes us different. Closing Gitmo takes far more courage than keeping it open. As for you, you whiny civilion, you wouldn't last two minutes in a military situation because you obviously have never been exposed to a fire-fight and your only experience with war is video games.

Good move Obama...Gitmo is just a center for "excusable" torture...at least now we can actually practice what we preach in terms of justice. No more torture.

Seems to me we could solve the economy overnight by just investing in diapers. Seems the crybaby conservatives are going to be going through tons of them a day, but the looks of it around here.

I am beginning to feel a greater connection to this country and its new ideals and principles. Rather a nice feeling.

Wow, a win for the terrorists, and a loss for the people who were victems of the criminals.

What a great way to start off the new administration!

I so wholeheartedly support the move to close Guantanamo Bay !!!
When it is finally closed we can lift our heads up high.

I am glad to see all of the world's terrorist's rights are being upheld. Thank you for your vision President Obama....protecting terrorist's rights should be your first priority.

FINALLY.... we are seeing the end of Bush's "secret government" that diminished us all as Americans!

I think it's poor judgement to announce a timetable for the closure without having a plan in place on what to do with the prisoners.

It's pretty evident as to which side of the fence everyone sits on... how about drawing your line as to right and wrong? Ask yourself this... do you think it's okay to torture other human beings? Isn't that why Hussein was convicted and executed?

Finally a ban on torture. Maybe America can get a little of its respect back now that we have adult leadership.

Closing Guantanamo was not the answer to the problem. The problem has been how to dispose of the cases of the individuals incarcerated there. This action is a political stunt and accomplishes NOTHING. It is now likely that some of these prisoners will be transferred to US prisons, however, under the Constitution, we are not allowed to hold people indefinitely in US prisons without putting them on trial. This is a mess for sure, but President Obama should have waited until he solved the underlying problem of detainee resolution before he announced the closing – which is just campaign showmanship, and which decision may have to be reversed. It shows a shallow and inexperience side to the President, and it is not becoming at all

America can start to raise it's head up high and be that Moral beacon for the rest of the world to follow once more.
The shame that was Gitmo will soon be gone.
For all those seeking to justify torture as a means to our collective security, we can be safe and morally just at the same time.
We all should know and realize that Justice without might is hapless but worse is when there is might without justice; it is tyrannical whcich is where we have been for the past few yaers.
We pray that Pres. Obama does not knock down the walls of security that have long secured us, but will strike a balance between our might and our sense of justice.

Of the 775 of prisoners there were only three convicted of crime.
Close it down
Good job President

Our economy is in tatters, but at least the rest of the world may stop hating us now.

I like him more and more. Keep it up Obama.

No matter how we feel about these people, they are people.

We need to follow our own rules that we made for every prisoner, regardless of what they have done. They deserve a fair trial and fair punishment.

If we resort to inhumane tactics and punishment, we are no better than they are.

2 Days and better than Bush's whole two terms.

@TESAP;SAVANNAH, GA
I Think you are misinformed about this prisons purpose, I am just saying your anger is misplaced, The common person really has no idea what goes on in that prison. That is just the plain truth. You and I are just as ignorant of the facts as Jackie or Bill This prison has (probably) gathered valubal info. It would defeat itself to have the information known.
I am not a Republican
I am not a Democrat
I am a Realist

Some posters here tell the GITMO prisoners are terrorists. In which American court found they are terrorists? Bush's cowboy attitude is not a civilized norm for any judiacial matters.

You can accuse anyone as terrorist or killer or muderer but what is the truth?

Saddam was accused of killing 139 people in Iraq. Then how about Bush who killed nearly half a million Iraqis?

We have to think in terms of GENEVA CONVENTIONS when we think about FOREIGN combatants against America! Invoking Geneva conventions by Americans will create a BEST image for America.

I don't question President Obama's decison; I'm sure it was made after consideration and according to his convictions. I support his decison.

But I do have a question. Where will the prisoners go? Will they all just be returned? Where are we going to put them?

About time too, there are laws that apply to all nations and we can't pick and choose which ones we want to obey!!!!

Stormer–nobody said it was going to be EASY, just that they were finally going to DO it. Another of those unpleasant decisions that Bush could not make, along with Social Security, Medicare, immigration reform, etc. He is doing what any good leader does: Provide his vision for an endstate and give the project to a talented individual to carry out under his ultimate supervision. I like him already.

What about the economy? Looks like first things first for President Obama....free the terrorists!

Well done Mr President.

poor republicans. they never got, or never read, the memo that torture doesn't produce real intelligence. it just creates more fear and hatred. but i suppose that is the whole republican platform....

Its funny how the people who are so afraid of the terrorists want us to be nasty to them, deprive them of the freedoms we're supposed to be championing. As if violence does anything but breed more violence. Read about American history in the middle east, Operation AJAX, and other black marks on America's history. Get a clue about why we're hated, and you'll realize that this gesture is quite possibly more powerful than every single bomb we've dropped in the name of the war on terror.

now we can finally believe.when obama says something .its going to get done.YES BY ALL MEAND CLOSE GITMO.this is just one of bushes desasters.by the way stormerF IF YOU DONT LIKE IT JUST LEAVE.WE ARE TAKING OUR COUNTRY PRIDE BACK.

It's about time that America starts living by the ideals for which our men and women are fighting so hard for. How can we expect other countries to abide by certain standards when we don't abide by them ourselves? There are many people who argue that we need torture and other extreme tactics to wage the best fight against terrorism. But if we lose what we stand for as a nation, what will we have left that's worth fighting for? I commend Obama for finally taking a stand, and beginning the process of restoring this country to it's ideals, and hopefully a nation that the rest of the world can respect and admire once again.

John McCain also promised to close Gitmo if elected... does that mean he was going to 'side with terrorists?'

I think that the American people spoke on Election Day for the change that we all wanted and needed and apparently we supported the closure as well. The “bed wetting cry baby” Democrats that you are speaking about are the ones that will fix the mess that the stubborn, hardheaded, defiant and power hungry Republicans created in the first place. If Bush and his so-called advisors and intelligence team did their job in the first place we honestly wouldn’t be in the situation that we are in now. If the previous administration had actually done their jobs correctly from day one maybe we wouldn’t even be having this discussion at all. I think if more people worried about what is going on in this nation like the new president, we can take care of home and secure our borders first. Closing Guantanamo Bay is the best thing for us right now. And who said that we can’t burden the buck for it if necessary to comply with the Geneva Convention? We as a nation as lost a lot of credibility within the world because of what has been done during the “Bush years”. We need to restore our country to its rightful place in the world at Number 1.

Right or wrong, the man has finally got the chance to DEAL WITH IT.
Seemingly something that the Bush Administration was not capable of. Like alot of things it seems, what in the world was going on in Washington for the last 8 years?

Bush had career military, intel. and justice dept. staff bailing out in droves, the best thing Obama can do is beg that talent to come back and tell him how to fix this mess. Numbnuts sitting in their singlewides barking about the "fake president conspiracy" sure don't know how to handle terrorists.

To all MORONs and brainless idiots who believe in eye for an eye, treat them less human torture them and put them in prison endlessly without trial. We have got news for you this is the new America...where the rule of law will not be ignored and human rights are respected without bandaries or crime committed. Let all the suspected criminals be braought to justice and dont deny them a fair trial. At least the confessed Bin Laden was allowed to go and stay free by you W Bush...we are not gonna let that happen this time. We will make him pay for 911. This is time to move to the right track. Believe it or not The President is on the right track.

I feel safer already...

Tell you what. Let's put the terrorists in federal prisons – in blue states only.

To all those armchair quarterbacks who quick to criticize how Obama and the Democrats is handling the Gitmo situation..... Here is the challenge I present to you.

What would you do differently? How about throwing some ideas out there. Otherwise, Shut-up and run for office yourselves.

No one is saying that we can't/shouldn't/won't deal with terrorists. All we're saying is that if we want to genuinely lead in this world, we can't pick and choose which of our laws we'll follow and blow the others off for temporary convenience. Mr. President, take the money we'll save with the closure and use it to fight the terrorists the right way – covertly!

@ A soldier,

As a life ling soldier you would know that the Geneva Convention does not apply to terrorist. The Law Of Armed Conflict (LOAC), I am sure you have heard of it speak of engaging in combat when wearing civilian clothing. Under LOAC that is illegal. These guys represented no nation state and fought in civilian clothing and as a result, they fought illegally and thus, not afforded GC protections. You should know this as a life long soldier! We can provide these protections to them based on our humanity but that is not required!

Nothing is changing but location. Even Democrats are saying that many of them are still going to be withheld indefinitely without trial.

This executive order is just a red herring thrown out to appease the public. The fundamental argument, that these men should not be held without trial is still being ignored.

Does it really matter if they're held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba or Leavenworth, Kansas if the result is the same?

As of yet, Obama hasn't done or announced any plans to do anything different than what Bush did. His economic response is a stimulus package and a $350 billion dollar bailout (the same thing Bush did), and he will continue to hold "dangerous" terrorist suspects indefinitely without trial (as did Bush).

stormerF: We need to deal with the terrorists without sinking to their level because if we sink to the level of the terrorists than we are no better than the terrorists we seek to stop. When we sink to this level we destory our credibilty and integrity as leaders in the free world; in the eyes of the world. We also destory the meaning and value of the high and mighty words we live by here in the United States, Liberty, Equality, Freedom, and Peace.

To all the idiots that can possibly complain about this... go and burn a copy of the constitution... that’s what Bush was doing and that was you guys seem to like... me, I live in the United States of America and that means respecting the constitution that has made us the shining beacon of hope for over two centuries.

President Obama's executive order to resolve this mess is a promise made during the campaign. Get the wheels turning. Resolution in accordance with law is also a much needed break from the prior administration. There are mechanisms for handling these matters. Trouble is the public was led to believe there wasn't. Does the public think we haven't been dealing with these problems before 9/11 and President Bush? If so you have been uninformed.

A Clear Sign to the rest of the world, that there is someone new at the helm. Well done.

I'm still relatively unsure how America gets to have a camp on Cuban soil. Oh well, guess I'll never figure it out now...

good.

Are you kidding? Putting these "people" in U.S. prisons will only allow them to infiltrate "our" country. We already have some of the most anti-goverment,(anti-social, anti-everything...) U.S. inmates. It would be like opening the door to the devil,putting "them" in a wonderfull position to "recrute" right here@ home. Prisoners arms do reach beyond their bars.... Huge mistake.

Don't you people know that people have been there for 7 years and not even charged with anything? It is illegal.

Thank you, Obama, for restoring the intergrity of this nation.

People, it's called the Geneva Conventions!

Swift and noble action, jus what I expect from our new President. =)

It's nice to see that we're playing by the Geneva Convention again. For those that complain, let me ask this: In regards to the "techniques" used for acquiring information, would you have wanted any of those methods used on our soldiers? If American soldiers were waterboarded overseas somewhere, our government would've been outraged. But for us to do it was ok? We're more honorable than that.

I'm glad to see Guantanamo closing too. All people, not just U.S. citizens, have the right to a speedy trial, access to legal aid, and to know what charges are against them.

Maybe I'll just go down the list.
for texas republic-
OMG run for the hills!!! Hide deep in your dark fear ridden hole. Them terrorist are moving right into the white house!! doesn't anybody else see what's going on?! lmao

cardman-
Fake? lol That's exactly the word I think of, when I think of a president that's transparent and handling ethics from the get go. Get a life.

Hooray for Obama! Lets bring justice back to the White House.

So Stormer what do you suggest. Watch 'Rendition' if you have not gotten information out of these guys in five years you won't! How do you propse we deal with them? Yes some of these guys are criminals, terrorists but what about the people who are not and can never return home. For every person we kill maim, torture or exploit in the name of preventing terrorism, there are a whole nest of their supporters waiting to strike. But as Americans if we continue to act with dignity and respect and repair our image to the world as FOLLOWING THE RULES WE ESTABLISHED, the rest will follow. Those that don't screw them. I rather die anyday as a proud American that be a sculking manipulating bully becuase the bully eventually gets his butt kicked by "David" ans we will never see it coming!

SEE, #2 event. This man, President Obama is truly a "man of his word". It's going to take American's about 3 years to grasp the meaning of HONESTY.

Thank you, Mr. President. You have ended the shame and disgrace caused by the former president's anti- and un-American practices and policies.

@ stormerf: if you treat a snake with respect and handle it PROPERLY, and not in a way that makes it feel threatened or aggitated, it wont bite. somehting the bushies couldnt grab a hold of in their closed little neanderthal mind traps.

I have heard that some other countries have offered to take some of these prisoners. This is Change!

Good Move!
Yes these guys are dangerous, but you don't give up our American values for ANYTHING! If you do, well.... then you aren't really a decent American anymore are you? And if they do come back, so be it. We are big enough to weather anything some bearded apes in sandals and dresses throw at us. Holding somebody without a trial or evidence is sooooooooooo 5 centuries ago.

You're off to a great start already, President Obama.

I'm very proud that the United States once again stands for justice under the rule of law.

As a former soldier from an entirely military family who lost a brother in this war, I think it is incredibly irresponsible to close Gitmo. Really? Where are you going to put them? As far as torture is concerned, if torturing a prisoner saves one baby... if torturing 100 terrorists saves one baby, then I'm all for it.

Richard-
Why don't you move to a country ruled by a dictator that tortures people, then you will be right at home.

Lets take the terrorsists out for lunch, buy them a couple drinks and see if they will talk.

Now we can start rebuilding our country with dignity and honor.
I am ashamed of bush and his cohorts for their torture tactics – they make us look as bad as Saddam Hussein (remember him, the one with the torture chambers that bush just had to dismantle).
Bush kept talking ad nauseum about Saddams torture chambers – and bush ended up doing the same.
Bush is now gone – mission accomplished!!!!!

JACKIE & BILL,, PLEASE GIVE YOUR ADDRESSES SO WE CAN SEND THEM TO YOU. THANKS

StormerF-
Idiot comes to mind. You I mean.

stormerF, exactly how did this prison help fight the was on terror, was it responsible for preventing attacks???? or was it just an embarrasment when the world realized how idiotic we handle control and power... So how does the Republicans figure we ahouls handle this.. as for the price tag we have been footing it the entire time.... or did you not realize Our Prison, Our personnel means Our money????

Awesome! Maybe we can give these low lifes AC and cable TV! They can live better than homeless Americans! Super!!!

Thank You Obama.

Thank You for seeing that everyone deserves a fair trial and investigation before being declared guilty. Thank you for seeing the evil in useless torture.

I only hope that your next executive order ends Bush's war against women and their right to safe preventative contraception.

Yes we will----change the face of doing business.

Thank God! We can begin anew in the eyes of the world. Thank you Mr. President.

I see we're off to a great start Mr. President! Let's keep it going!

His first act of siding with the terrorist, did we expect anything different.

Now the truth comes out. Looks like the economy isn't his first priority after all. Saving his brothers in trouble is. Wake up america, this guy is a fake.

OBAMAS, MAKE ROOM FOR THE TERROISTS, THEY CAN MOVE IN THE WHITE HOUSE WITH YOUR FAMILY.........

HOORAY!!!!! GOBAMA!!!!

Bed wetting cry baby liberal Democrats,still have not figured out how to deal with Terrorists.If they bring them here?Who will have to pay for their representation in court? Some have already been Recaptured after being let go once,How in the F–k do the Democrats think they can play with a snake and not get bit?..Stupid comes to mind,along with denial of the truth.

About time!

As a life-long soldier, I believe it's about time the US started abiding by the Geneva Conventions again. Failure to do so puts our service men and women at risk of similar torture and mistreatment (not that our enemies won't do that, but it does reduce the risk). The U.S. Military is the best and most respected in the world because of our professionalism and our dedication to our democratic ideals. I salute our new Commander-in-Chief for taking this long-overdue action.

Please withhold my name and email address. Thanks.

Finally I can hold my head high as an American!

Good start. Now clean the house and senate of all the crooked ones. Start with that TX crook.

Is this democracy or Making history? what has the prison got to do with the economy? Mr President think very well before you waste your first 100 days in office for nothing.

Do we have to have breaking news on everything Obama is going to do.
I am surprised they haven't reported on his first Presidential crap. This is getting way out of hand.

Finally! it's official.

What a symbolic start. President Obama knows what he is doing.

Get 'er done!!!! Obama has done more in 2 days than Bush did in 8 years. Bush prob spent his first day in office figuring out the voice mail system on his office phone!

Mr President we love you!!!! Thank you sir!!!!

Where are the 5 men charged with 9/11 going? I don't want them here, that's for sure.

Doesnt' the Army Field Manual state that you can only ask for name, rank and serial number? If so, I feel safe already.

I hear that democrats are looking for people to adopt the Gitmo detainees. Don't all you democrats rush to sign up all at once, someone could get hurt.

That's right, Nobama–placate everyone, except the people who think you are wrong!