9/11 families applaud Obama at meeting on Guantanamo

McClatchy Newspapers ^ | Friday, February 6, 2009 | Margaret Talev and Carol Rosenberg

[NoPrisoners]

WASHINGTON — After an emotional, private meeting at the White House with President Barack Obama, survivors and victims' relatives of two al Qaida attacks said Friday that the president quelled some of their fears about closing the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba detention center, promised them an "open-door" policy and a hand in shaping anti-terror policies, and said he is considering a modified military commission system to try detainees.

In a question-and-answer period with Obama that lasted about 35 minutes, some of the roughly 40 attendees affected by the USS Cole and Sept. 11, 2001, attacks emphasized concerns that a year might not be long enough to safely empty the Guantanamo prison as planned, said participant Kirk Lippold, a retired Navy commander in charge of the USS Cole when it was attacked on Oct. 12, 2000.

[Iron Munro]

The blacks’ answer to Elmer Gantry sells another wagon load of "O’s Magic Elixir" to the rubes.

[monday]

“To release these prisoners is criminal and sinful!”

They should release them from an airplane over the Atlantic from about 10,000 feet.

[mrs tiggywinkle]

see post 20

[jacob allen]

Did they have to leave their shoes outside the meeting???

[tessalu]

Obama listens to the pleadings of terrorists and not to the people of the USA, who want justice for their dead. Obama, (Barry Soetoro) offers no justice for our dead. He does not even care. What a mistake we made, putting this Bozo in office.

[cubreporter]

or made to jump out of buildings like those at the WTC who did that to get out of the building. The horror of that day should be with everyone forever. To relese them is simply wrong. Shame on the President and those that support this irresponsible idea.