Posted on 05/03/2009 10:27:52 AM PDT by Schnucki
Barack Obama is considering retaining a modified version of the Bush-era military trials for al-Qaeda suspects held at Guantanamo Bay, in what would be the biggest about turn of his presidency so far.
The decision would effectively show his government has been unable to find another way of prosecuting detainees regarded as too dangerous to be freed, who include five men accused of plotting the 9/11 attacks.
It also raises the possibility that Mr Obama may also have to keep the controversial prison open in some guise for longer than planned as reforms would require new legislation and cause further delays.
A Pentagon official said that closing the military commissions looked easy on Jan 20, Mr Obama's inauguration day, "but having reviewed the files, it makes sense to keep some cases in the military commissions".
During his campaign, Mr Obama said the hearings at Guantanamo Bay had "been an enormous failure" and promised to "reject the Military Commissions Act".
On his third day in office he suspended the commissions for four months as he ordered the prison to be closed within 12 months. The commissions have led to just two convictions since the prison at the US naval base on Cuba opened in 2002 and have been widely criticised for relying on hearsay from intelligence agents and evidence gained under duress.
Senior Obama officials have been preparing the ground for an announcement, which could come as early as this week.
Asked at a recent Senate hearing last week if the administration would abandon the Guantanamo system, Robert Gates, the defence secretary, answered: "Not at all. The commissions are very much still on the table."
Eric Holder, the attorney general, went further at a recent House of Representatives hearing, saying the military commissions could still be used but "would be different
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Obama does not have a place to put these people, and Obama does not want to keep them locked up, without a trial, and Obama does not want to look like he is a rubber stamp of the VERY effective Bush policy.
So Obama will tweek it around the edges and say it is different!
Better for Obama to put up with the left wing loons, in his own Party, then for one of these terrorists to be released and kill more Americans.
Standard democrat procedure...fool the left enough to get elected then screw them and still come up short on doing the right things for the health of America.
Another disillusionment for the masses.
Can’t wait for the DU/Huf diss-cussions on this one.
Standard club make-over.
Hes going to close Gitmo.
And re-open it under the name “Gitless”.
You got it right, the Democratic Left are only listened enough to get a Democrat elected. Then they ignore them.
After all, it was only about power.
LOL
Time to visit the liberal post sites and start complaining about Obama “shredding the consitution”, say how disappointed you are with him. ACLU anyone?
Please, please send them to Alexandria VA.
obama considers u-turn. That’s not news... The guy doesn’t know what he’s doing, he is unqualified, naive, and in way over his head in a possibly illegal presidency. Of course he is always considering u-turns...
Mr. Obama is just keeping this because he sees a good way to quickly eliminate his apponents amoung the U.S. citizenry. In short, posters to FR.
How about taking that u-turn of yours to its logical conclusion and resign from office?
But no recognition of course that Bush was doing the best he could with a difficult situation.
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