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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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 ANALYSIS 
3

Obama's Gitmo Order Isn't What It Seems

Experts see potential loopholes, gray areas in revised policies

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(Newser) – With a stroke of the pen, President Obama rewrote American detention and interrogation policy yesterday. Or not, writes Josh Gerstein for Politico. He offers reasons not to overstate Obama’s policy changes:

  • "Everyone has to follow the Army Field Manual—for now…": Obama is convening a group to study writing additional policies; a rights group calls this an “escape hatch” from his no-torture policy.

  • "Obama ordered a 30-day review of Guantanamo conditions—by the man currently responsible for Guantanamo": Defense Secretary Robert Gates is “not exactly impartial,” says a lawyer representing prisoners.
  • "The vast majority of detainees in American custody may see no benefit from Obama’s orders": Most prisoners are in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  • "The orders downplay the possibility that some prisoners might be set free in America": “I don’t expect this problem to go away,” says a law professor.
To read the full list, click the link below.

President Barack Obama, accompanied by Vice President Joe Biden and retired military members, signs a series of executive orders, Jan. 22, 2009, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington.
President Barack Obama, accompanied by Vice President Joe Biden and retired military members, signs a series of executive orders, Jan. 22, 2009, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
In this photo of a sketch by court artist Janet Hamlin, and reviewed by the U.S. Military, detainees atttend the U.S. Military Commissions court for war crimes in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Jan. 21, 2009.
In this photo of a sketch by court artist Janet Hamlin, and reviewed by the U.S. Military, detainees atttend the U.S. Military Commissions court for war crimes in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Jan. 21, 2009.   (AP Photo)
In this 2002 file photo, a suspected al-Qaeda or Taliban detainee from Afghanistan is carried on a stretcher before being interrogated by military officials at Guantanamo Bay.
In this 2002 file photo, a suspected al-Qaeda or Taliban detainee from Afghanistan is carried on a stretcher before being interrogated by military officials at Guantanamo Bay.   (AP Photo)
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President Obama explains the purpose behind each of the three executive orders he signed on his second day in office, Jan. 22, 2009.   (armyveteran101st)

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I think the administration’s commitment to close Guantanamo is heartening; the fact they want to give themselves a year to do it, not so much. - Ramzi Kassem, Yale Law lecturer and lawyer for detainees

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3 comments
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Forderon
Jan 23, 09 12:02 PM CST
Well no one ever said it would be quick or easy. But it's a good first step in restoring some dignity back into our justice system. They can take as long as they want to close it, as long as they close it eventually then I'm happy. Reply
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Mad
Jan 23, 09 9:20 PM CST
I'm not so stupid as to think America's have never tortured our enemies, but never in history has any president been so stupid as to breathe the word in the White House. Why did Bush ever bring his office into this debate? Yes, indeed, why DID Bush seemingly love to talk of torturing others ... Reply
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justme
Jan 24, 09 7:56 PM CST
Read your notes again MAD. Bush claimed to have NEVER tortured. Use of extraordinary interogation techniques was highly limited and controlled. It was the NY Times and friends that called everything torture. Reply
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