President Obama
- Thread starter Robert
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2005
- Messages
- 4,767
- Reaction score
- 697
I think a lot of people are placing a lot of hope on his shoulders, that's a lot of pressure. I don't expect miracles, I just hope they don't crucify him when he turns out to be human and incapable of performing the impossible.
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2005
- Messages
- 7,710
- Reaction score
- 2,587
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2005
- Messages
- 578
- Reaction score
- 42
Glaucus said:
Thanks Mike for posting that. While I personally did not find anything especially remarkable about his speech, I also am concerned about how long the Obama "love fest" will last.
While I don't agree with his politics he is, as you say, human. To watch and hear some of the comments / expectations being offerred by the public and the network "talking heads" one could think that everything will be magically healed.
I do wish him well however. Now he will be in the political line of fire on the receiving side and he will either stand or fall on what he does in office. Popularity only goes so far.
Regards,
Ltstanfo
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2005
- Messages
- 7,710
- Reaction score
- 2,587
faethor said:
yeah, bush could have been on vacation or not - the additional problem was the creepy people around him like cheney and rummy and others
as to "gitmo", Obama's 1st action as pres was to stop the trials and start a review process:
"In view of the significant concerns raised by these detentions, both within the United States and internationally, prompt and appropriate disposition of the individuals currently detained at Guantanamo and closure of the facility would further the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States and the interests of justice," said the draft executive order that would close Guantanamo.
This made me laugh:
He also opened the doors to the White House to visitors on Wednesday, meeting with guests in the White House's Blue Room.
"Enjoy yourself, roam around," a smiling Obama told one guest as he shuffled through the room. "Don't break anything."
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2005
- Messages
- 7,710
- Reaction score
- 2,587
Obama signs order to close Guantanamo in a year
_Created a task force to recommend policies on handling terror suspects who are detained in the future. Specifically, the group would look at where those detainees should be housed since Guantanamo is closing.
_Required all U.S. personnel to follow the U.S. Army Field Manual while interrogating detainees. The manual explicitly prohibits threats, coercion, physical abuse and waterboarding, a technique that creates the sensation of drowning and has been termed a form of torture by critics. However, a Capitol Hill aide says that the administration also is planning a study of more aggressive interrogation methods that could be added to the Army manual — which would create a significant loophole to Obama's action Thursday.
"We believe that the Army Field Manual reflects the best judgment of our military, that we can abide by a rule that says we don't torture, but that we can still effectively obtain the intelligence that we need," Obama said. He said his action reflects an understanding that "we are willing to observe core standards of conduct, not just when it's easy, but also when it's hard."
A task force will study whether other interrogation guidelines — beyond what's spelled out in the Army manual — are necessary for intelligence professionals in dealing with terror suspects.
But an Obama administration official said that provision should not be considered a loophole that will allow controversial "enhanced interrogation techniques" to be re-introduced. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to speak candidly about the administration's thinking.
The order also orders the CIA to close all its existing detention facilities abroad for terror suspects — and prohibits those prisons from being used in the future. The agency has used those secret "black site" prisons around the world to question terror suspects.
_Directed the Justice Department to review the case of Qatar native Ali al-Marri, who is the only enemy combatant currently being held on U.S. soil. The directive will ask the high court for a stay in al-Marri's appeals case while the review is ongoing. The government says al-Marri is an al-Qaida sleeper agent.
An estimated 245 men are being held at the U.S. naval base in Cuba, most of whom have been detained for years without being charged with a crime. Among the sticky issues the Obama administration has to resolve are where to put those detainees — whether back in their home countries or at other federal detention centers — and how to prosecute some of them for war crimes.
"We intend to win this fight. We're going to win it on our terms," Obama said as he signed three executive orders and a presidential directive.
_Created a task force to recommend policies on handling terror suspects who are detained in the future. Specifically, the group would look at where those detainees should be housed since Guantanamo is closing.
_Required all U.S. personnel to follow the U.S. Army Field Manual while interrogating detainees. The manual explicitly prohibits threats, coercion, physical abuse and waterboarding, a technique that creates the sensation of drowning and has been termed a form of torture by critics. However, a Capitol Hill aide says that the administration also is planning a study of more aggressive interrogation methods that could be added to the Army manual — which would create a significant loophole to Obama's action Thursday.
"We believe that the Army Field Manual reflects the best judgment of our military, that we can abide by a rule that says we don't torture, but that we can still effectively obtain the intelligence that we need," Obama said. He said his action reflects an understanding that "we are willing to observe core standards of conduct, not just when it's easy, but also when it's hard."
A task force will study whether other interrogation guidelines — beyond what's spelled out in the Army manual — are necessary for intelligence professionals in dealing with terror suspects.
But an Obama administration official said that provision should not be considered a loophole that will allow controversial "enhanced interrogation techniques" to be re-introduced. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to speak candidly about the administration's thinking.
The order also orders the CIA to close all its existing detention facilities abroad for terror suspects — and prohibits those prisons from being used in the future. The agency has used those secret "black site" prisons around the world to question terror suspects.
_Directed the Justice Department to review the case of Qatar native Ali al-Marri, who is the only enemy combatant currently being held on U.S. soil. The directive will ask the high court for a stay in al-Marri's appeals case while the review is ongoing. The government says al-Marri is an al-Qaida sleeper agent.
An estimated 245 men are being held at the U.S. naval base in Cuba, most of whom have been detained for years without being charged with a crime. Among the sticky issues the Obama administration has to resolve are where to put those detainees — whether back in their home countries or at other federal detention centers — and how to prosecute some of them for war crimes.
"We intend to win this fight. We're going to win it on our terms," Obama said as he signed three executive orders and a presidential directive.
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2005
- Messages
- 10,802
- Reaction score
- 6,528
I agree but at least it's symbolism that says the opposite of locking many innocent people up without trial and torturing them for several years.
I know you preferred that but I like the new (old?) symbolism better.
- Joined
- May 17, 2005
- Messages
- 12,256
- Reaction score
- 2,693
Glaucus said:
They are there to frighten Americans. If you get a big holding pen, cram it full of people and tell the US population that they are all bad guys that want to kill them, folks are gonna assume that it's true - coz why else would you do it? Scared people are easier to control and easier to abuse. All you gotta do is tell them that you will protect them. It's a con.
It's similar to the con of police arrests - the assumption is they must be doing it because the guy is guilty - so if the case is high profile enough and there is a demand for "justice" the police know they can usually pick up the first black guy they see and just the fact that he was arrested will turn the guy into the perp in the public mind.
People generally will accept appearances and presume honest motives in those that have power over them. People would rather avoid the cognitive dissonance of knowing that the state which they depend on for their survival does have their best interest in mind when it acts.
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2005
- Messages
- 10,232
- Reaction score
- 3,006
cecilia said:
Symbolism that works!
Today, unmanned Predators struck in two locations in North and South Waziristan, killing at least 20 people according to the initial reports. The attacks took place just four days after President Obama took office, and one day after he appointed a special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Can we still bomb Pakistan? YES WE CAN!
No prisoners, no Guantanamo problem!
A nuanced "Smarter Diplomacy" approach to restoring our place in the world community of nations, one Hellfire missile at a time.
- Joined
- May 17, 2005
- Messages
- 12,256
- Reaction score
- 2,693
Let's hope the new Pres puts an end to the over zealous NSA wiretapping although ... hmmmm .. how tempting those powers must be to watch over "enemies".