Huckabee: Let’s Close Gitmo Because the World Doesn’t Like It

American Pundit ^ | 12/4/07 | Staff

[pissant]

Pretty much. Here’s what he said:

MIKE HUCKABEE: I’ve been to Guantanamo, I was there, I guess it’s been about a year and a half ago. I think the problem with Guantanamo is not in that its facilities are inadequate. It’s the symbol that it represents. It’s clearly become a symbol to the rest of the world as a place that has become problematic for us as a nation. I was quite frankly impressed with the quality of the facilities and even the attention to care that was given to the detainees, but that aside, it doesn’t alter that Guantanamo to the rest of the world is a symbol that is not in our best interests to continue pursuing.

Never mind the fact it’s been a valuable source of information. No, he thinks it’s a bad symbol, so it should now be closed.

After the Iowa poll showed that Republican voters like him but found him much less “presidential” and “electable” than Romney, Huckabee sought to build his foreign policy credentials, meeting with a group of retired generals who are in Des Moines to urge the 2008 candidates to commit to opposing torture. After the meeting, Huckabee joined Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in declaring his opposition to the interrogation procedure known as “waterboarding,” and said he would support closing the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a contrast with the other leading Republicans.

Bryan:

That paragraph suggests that you’re easily swayed by a single meeting on important issues that have been before the American people for years…

My take: He’s putting symbolism over substance and putting worldwide condemnation ahead of the security realities. Those are not good qualities in a commander in chief who’ll lead a country that was globally envied and reviled long before the war even started.

Paul Mirengoff:

I suspect that Huckabee required little lobbying. Waterboarding and long-term detention aren’t very “Christian”; they merely keep terrorists out of action and, in special circumstances enable us to find out where we’re going to be attacked next and/or where we can find those who are planning the next attacks. But if Huckabee actually did reach his position based on the views of a handful of generals, and without consulting the people actually charged with protecting this country from terrorists, then he’s even less qualified to be president than I suspect.

With any luck, this will be the end of Huck’s presidential chances.

[I_like_good_things_too]

I know, I was just being hyperbolic. However, I think a comparison can be made in that Huckabee is yet another social conservative, easy on illegals, expansive government type of southern republican. Not a good choice, IMO.

And I do appreciate all that Bush has done for us in the WOT.

[RockinRight]

He’s actually Bush’s negatives with few to none of his positives.