Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
by Christi Parsons and Julian E. Barnes
President Barack Obama this morning pledged to forge ahead with plans to close the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, dealing with detainees through a range of options including release, imprisonment at high-security American prisons, trials in federal courts and military commissions -- and, for some, prolonged and even indefinite detention.
Obama said his administration is in the process of devising "clear, defensible and lawful standards" for inmates who cannot be prosecuted for past crimes but who still pose a security threat to the country.
"We are going to exhaust every avenue that we have to prosecute those at Guantanamo who pose a danger to our country," Obama said. "But even when this process is complete, there may be a number of people who cannot be prosecuted for past crimes but who nonetheless pose a threat to the security of the United States . . . I am not going to release individuals who endanger the American people."
Speaking at the National Archives - which houses the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence - Obama argued that the nation should "enlist the power of our most fundamental values" in the effort keep itself safe.
The president's address comes amid signs of growing resistance to his Guantanamo closure plan, highlighted Wednesday when the Senate voted to block funding for the shutdown.
The rule of law demands the release of 21 of the people currently held at the prison, Obama said, citing detainees whom "the courts have found that there is no legitimate reason" to hold. He said his administration has found that 50 others can be safely moved to other countries, and that the White House is talking with a number of other nations about other potential transfers.
Some detainees can go to high-security facilities on American soil, he said. Trials will take place in federal court for those charged with breaking criminal laws and in military commissions for those accused of violating the "laws of war," he said.
But the president also opened the door to the possibility that some cases may call for indefinite detention.
The U.S. is at war with al Qaeda, he said, comparing captured detainees to prisoners of war who "must be prevented from attacking us again."
"We must recognize that these detention policies cannot be unbounded," Obama said, referring to administration efforts to "reshape these standards" to ensure they are in line with the rule of law.
"We must have clear, defensible and lawful standards for those who fall into this category," he said. "We must have fair procedures so that we don't make mistakes. We must have a thorough process of periodic review, so that any prolonged detention is carefully evaluated and justified."
The decision to impose "prolonged detention" shouldn't fall to any one person, he said.
"If and when we determine that the United States must hold individuals to keep them from carrying out an act of war," he said, "we will do so within a system that involves judicial and congressional oversight." He pledged to work with Congress to come up with an 'appropriate legal regime" that is "consistent with our values and our Constitution."
Conservatives have complained that the president's plans to close Guantanamo compromise American security and make terrorist attacks more likely. Former Vice President Dick Cheney is speaking on the same subject in a speech today to the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington think tank.
But Democrats are getting nervous about the proposals, too. Few nations are clamoring to accept transferees from Guantanamo, and the Obama administration has to consider whether those that will take prisoners might either abuse them or release them to join the cause against the U.S.
The president's morning address spoke directly to those concerns, offering reassurance that national security is his chief concern.
"Now, this generation faces a great test in the specter of terrorism," Obama said. "Right now, in distant training camps and in crowded cities, there are people plotting to take American lives . . .
"Neither I nor anyone else can standing here today can say that there will not be another terrorist attack that takes American lives. But I can say with certainty that my administration, along with our extraordinary troops and the patriotic men and women who defend our national security, will do everything in our power to keep the American people safe."
Comments
In his speech the president (or was it his teleprompter?) called his Secretary of Defense "William Gates".
Secretary Robert Gates (who was there) must be overjoyed that President O'Bumble confuses him with the software billionaire.
Not knowing his own defense secretary--a perfect metaphor for how seriously Obama takes national security.
Posted by: Bruce | May 21, 2009 11:38 AM
Well it seems to me that there is no way we can defeat the terrorists. They obviously have superhuman capabilities. They can fly, become invisible, and can walk through walls. We can not ask other countries to accept them as we ourselves are to scared to have them in a prison in our states, again because they are super human. Never mind that we hold people who have committed much worse.
Posted by: bill r. | May 21, 2009 11:47 AM
Not only is President Obama following our laws, he is completing a promise he made, to all of America. He will attempt to close Guantanamo and find new institutions to hold those that are deemed national security risks !! He will not violate any of our laws, in doing so and an added bonus, no more torturing of prisoners !!
Now, you know the " Republicans " will try to scare you and tell you that they are going to place them in a house, right next to yours. They will terrorize your neighborhood, blow up your saloons and just cause general mayhem, where ever they go !! There they go again, those silly " Republicans " with their fear and smear machine, cranking it up again, to scare the daylights out of our nation. They sure are full of some great ideas, aren't they !!?
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, America | May 21, 2009 11:47 AM
Is Obammys brain even connceted? These are not peoplewith traffic violations - these are non citizens of the US - they are very bad men, who what to harm and kill us.
Obamma is in a pre- 911 mindset and we are not the safer for it.
Posted by: Doug | May 21, 2009 11:58 AM
Looks like these Jamat wannabes are gonna be joining their Haitian friends from Miama--the ones who were going to knock over the Sears Tower.
Dig deeper and you'll find a tremendous amount of FBI resources went into "catching" these mopes.
I.e., setting them up.
The ones who've been paraded for the cameras don't look Afgan, do they?
These "independent actors" aren't alleged to have any "ties" to Saddam , are they?
They are just "Tim McVeigh" types--grassroots movement folk?
They need to study the career of Tim McVeigh. Should have enlisted in the Army first, then at least they might know the difference between Sillyputty and C4.
Dopes should have known that every mosque in the US has plenty of informants on the FBI payroll.
However, it is true that bad guys in mosques are recruiting converts, US born converts.
How many mistrials before they are convicted?
Whew! I feel much safer now.
Let the trials begin!
Posted by: ornery | May 21, 2009 11:58 AM
He sounded very defensive today. Anybody else notice that?
Posted by: T.K. | May 21, 2009 12:17 PM
Dick Cheney has his own view of the Rule of Law. Cheney does not want his day in court - he is attempting to use politics to influence the Department of Justice. .......
http://thefiresidepost.com/2009/05/21/cheney-is-afraid-of-the-rule-of-law/
Posted by: Ohg Rea Tone | May 21, 2009 12:19 PM
"Lights, Cameras, Action." President Obama defends his plans to close Guantanamo in a speech at the National Archives this morning with the Constitution and the Founding Fathers as a backdrop. The only thing missing are the Obama Zombies that are always seated behind the President to show public support at most of his speeches. But it is very obvious by the overwhelming votes in the U.S. Senate and House that the American People do not want Terrorists from Guantanamo relocated to the United States. If President Obama, Senator Durbin and Speaker of the House Pelosi are so in favor of closing Guantanmo and relocating the Terrorists, they should consider putting them in Hyde Park area of Chicago (Obama), East St Louis, Illinois area (Durbin) and Nancy Pelosi's District in San Francisco. The vast majority of the American People do not want Terrorists relocated to their own backyards.
Posted by: Depot Jim | May 21, 2009 12:26 PM
funny, didn't jihadists find a reason to attack us prior to Gitmo opening and didn't their co-religionists dance in the streets in celebration prior to Gitmo. the weak horse is showing his colors.
Posted by: ejo | May 21, 2009 12:45 PM
Terrorists have no rights.
Why does Obama care more about terrorist rights than the safety and welfare of US citizens?
Posted by: B-rad | May 21, 2009 1:10 PM
I'm a little confused...are we still shaking in our boots over terrorists? I thought we were on swine flu now. Or wait, pirates? Will someone please inform me of what I'm supposed to be terrified of these days? I need to know what to base my passionate, irrational feelings on.
Posted by: John | May 21, 2009 1:11 PM
anyone see a connect between these interrogation memos and their connection with cheney and cheney's all of a sudden thirty public appearances? he goes through all 8 years of bush's presidency virtually hidden to the public and now all of a sudden he's all over the place? is it not obvious that he is trying to divert attention from himself and his wrongdoings by attacking obama. republicans shouldn't be so partisan to not see this blatant attempt to cover up what he did. But regardless it makes cheney look like the bitter old man that he is. or maybe he is just plain upset that him and bush look like the idiots they are after leading this country into an economic crisis, two unwinnable wars, and starting the decline of america as a great world power. great job cheney! 8 years well spent! osama bin laden couldn't have hoped for anything better.
Posted by: dan dwyer | May 21, 2009 1:18 PM
Dear Mr. President,
You have made yourself abundantly clear. We understand that all of America's problem are not your fault. We understand your ethical superiority. Now, may we have a modicum of leadership? it is after all why you were elected.
Posted by: Mark | May 21, 2009 1:49 PM
Mark,
It's interesting that you bring that up. Perhaps the President's demeanor has something to do with the Right constantly trying to saddle him with the problems caused by the last administration?
Posted by: Chaz | May 21, 2009 2:24 PM
I'm a little confused...are we still shaking in our boots over terrorists? I thought we were on swine flu now. Or wait, pirates? Will someone please inform me of what I'm supposed to be terrified of these days? I need to know what to base my passionate, irrational feelings on.
Posted by: John | May 21, 2009 1:11 PM
John
Between Memorial Day & Labor Day you should be terrified of:
- Shark Attacks (happens every summer). Even if you live in Vegas you should be frightened that a shark might sneak up on you in your back yard and bite off a limb.
- Fireworks Accidents: Never mind that the individuals involved in these accidents are usually drunk and so dumb that common dirt has a higher IQ. You should be terrified that this communist made product will cause you great harm.
- American car companies will be forced to produce cars that work as well as those produced by evil European socialists. Such as Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Aston Martin, etc. Oh the horror!
Most importantly be terrified that the brain eating American shown in this Daily Show clip may escape from prison.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=228017&title=Guantanamo-Baywatch---The-Final-Season
Honestly I find this guy a heck of a lot more frightening than some guy hiding in cave.
Hope this helps.
Posted by: Mags | May 21, 2009 2:24 PM
Perhaps you "tough" wingnut cowards can weigh in on a proposal Chris Matthews made last night:
Why don't we just execute everyone at Gitmo? It's not as if they have human rights, right? And it's only 240 "people," which is chump change in terms of "collateral damage."
What about it, tough guys? Why shouldn't we just do the deed?
Posted by: a blinkin | May 21, 2009 2:41 PM
Seems to me that what Obama will do is not all that much different than under Bush. Even in the Bush administration, some were released. Course, many were re-captured.
Gitmo is not an experiement gone wrong as Obama claims. Actually it was brilliant. You put bad, and very bad people, if that is what they are) in a prison they cannot get out of and no one can get to them. They have no rights, yet we provided them with food to fit their customs, gave them Korans, gave them prayer mats, allowed them to pray, gave them health care. And, yet, the Loons on the Left feel sorry for them. In fact, they are more interested in the happiness of these head-chopping terrorists than they are the lives of their fellow Americans.
Posted by: John D | May 21, 2009 2:51 PM
can someone please make cheney go away, personally he scares me more than any TERRORIST!!!!!
Posted by: ballrmom | May 21, 2009 3:01 PM
Chaz,
The President can't afford to get bogged down in minutia. Regardless of who may or may not be calling him names, he must lead and stop all of this self defense.
Posted by: Mark | May 21, 2009 4:17 PM
The one thing lacking from the war in Iraq was sacrifice. We were not asked to sacrifice anything other than the lives of our young men and women and their families. We were not asked because they were afraid that it would then lose the support which eventually it did anyway. But to right the wrongs by the last administration, it seems a small sacrifice to ask that detainees be kept in high security prisons. The high security prisons hold worse than these detainees. They hold mass murderers, rapists, pediphiles, goat rapers, and people who have eaten their victims for crying out loud. This whole thing smells of the right stirring the toilet once again with the fear tactics. What a nation of cowards we have become. To stay one step ahead of the fearful, yes...bring them to my state.
Posted by: bill r. | May 21, 2009 4:37 PM
Thank you for your statesman-like speech today, President Obama....BUT, one of the overlooked aspects of Dick Cheney’s speech today was his extensive linking of 9/11 to weapons of mass destruction (including nuclear weapons), Saddam Hussein, and Iraq.
In addition to his full-throated defense of torture, Cheney described the national security context as one in which they foremost fear was "a 9/11 with weapons of mass destruction."
Cheney said al Qaeda was seaking nuclear weapons and that because Iraq had "known ties" to terrorists, the Bush administration focused on Iraq because it was a regime that "might transfer such weapons to terrorists."
That Cheney would once again lie about Iraq is no big surprise, but the fact that he told those lies once again during today’s speech should raise even more questions about the veracity of his torture defense.
The man is a pathological liar, and there is no reason to believe a word he says.
Posted by: BigCheese | May 21, 2009 5:49 PM
Cheney has thumbed his nose at the Constitution his entire public career. Apparently the Corporate media does not see the value of the document either.
It is unprecedented in contemporary American politics for a former Vice President to critique the policies of a sitting President. Unprecedented. Vice President Gore waited a full two years before voicing his opposition to an Iraq War.
Aided and abetted by the media, Dick Cheney began voicing his opposition to the administration of President Obama within 14 days of his swearing in.
Anyone who uses a computer can document the lies in Cheney's public statements using Google. Apparently no one in the media knows how to use the Google. Put Cheney's butt under oath and then ship him off to the Hague to be tried as a war criminal.
Posted by: ComeAsYouAre | May 21, 2009 5:56 PM
I doubt greatly Obama ever believed he could just prance in on a white horse and close down Gitmo- He basically lied about it to get elected.
Running the country is not nearly as easy as the previous 43 presidents made it look, eh Barry?
And as was obvious to the less-smitten amongst us, the pollyana gobbledygook he laid on the left to get himself elected was never going to work in reality- a fact that the calculating opportunist Obama likely knew full-well back when he was promising them the moon and the stars.
He'll use you, if you let him... that's how narcissists are.
Sorry hippies, you lose-
http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com
Posted by: Reaganite Republican Resistance | May 21, 2009 6:02 PM
You're a disgrace, reaganite repuglican doofus.
"Ratification of the Convention against Torture by the United States," Reagan said, "will clearly express United States opposition to torture, an abhorrent practice unfortunately prevalent in the world today." Reagan cited the Convention's establishment of an agreement "for international cooperation in the criminal prosecution of tortures (by) relying on so-called 'universal jurisdiction,' " requiring each nation signing the Convention "to prosecute torturers who are found in its territory or to extradite them to other countries for prosecution." This includes officials who authorized torture.
Posted by: hippy | May 21, 2009 8:47 PM
biily r, I guess you feel its OK to let the terrorist preach to all our criminals behind bars and convert them to home- made jihadists. Do you keep them isolated? Isn't that cruel? You lefties want to deny them their special treatment they receive at Club Gitmo? You haven't a clue about these guys, who would behead you without blinking an eye. Maybe you should e-mail them an apology for America. Lets hear your solution instead of talking points and ridicule.
Posted by: bubba Porter | May 22, 2009 7:15 AM
What may be lost on those who don't want the Guantánamo Bay camp closed and the prisoners brought to the U.S. is that during World War II, some 360,000 German POW's were housed in about 500 camps located across the country. Among them were Wehrmacht, Afrika Korps, submariners, and the hardened Nazis of the SS. If we could handle 360,000 Germans then, can't we handle 240 Middle Easterners now?
Posted by: DaveB | May 22, 2009 8:59 AM