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Judi Lynn

(160,630 posts) Fri Jan 4, 2013, 04:59 PM Jan 2013

Obama: Guantánamo camps a waste of resources

Source: Miami Herald

Obama: Guantánamo camps a waste of resources
Published: January 4, 2013
By CAROL ROSENBERG — The Miami Herald

President Barack Obama late Tuesday signed a $633 billion defense bill that continues to block his ability to close the prison camps at Guantanamo, Cuba, then in a separate signing statement issued Wednesday called the prison camps a waste of national security resources.

"I continue to believe that operating the facility weakens our national security by wasting resources, damaging our relationships with key allies and strengthening our enemies," Obama said in a statement released by the White House Wednesday morning.

While the president has bristled at the restrictions in past signing statements, this time he highlighted the expense, and it comes immediately after the hot debate over the fiscal cliff.

The White House had threatened to veto the Pentagon's spending bill because of a number of concerns, including limits on his authority to transfer terror suspects from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. As of Wednesday, the Pentagon held 166 detainees at Guantanamo -- at least 55 of whom are cleared for release -- but just nine of them on trial or convicted of crimes.

Read more: http://www.bradenton.com/2013/01/04/4338189/obama-guantanamo-camps-a-waste.html#storylink=cpy

8 replies

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Highlight:

Obama: Guantánamo camps a waste of resources (Original Post) Judi Lynn Jan 2013 OP

I don't think Congress can Constitutionally block his transferring the Gitmo prisoners. The Stranger Jan 2013 #1

As Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, you'd think he could do something to shut Guantanamo RC Jan 2013 #2

Congress must fund the shutdown BumRushDaShow Jan 2013 #6

Constitution Article I Section 8 Paragraph 11: struggle4progress Jan 2013 #7

Post removed Post removed Jan 2013 #3

Barry? CreekDog Jan 2013 #5

Obama is so right. Guantanamo is a waste of taxpayers' money. A waste. JDPriestly Jan 2013 #4

If the prisoners weren't radicalized libodem Jan 2013 #8

The Stranger

(11,297 posts)

1. I don't think Congress can Constitutionally block his transferring the Gitmo prisoners.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Fri Jan 4, 2013, 05:05 PM

Jan 2013

They can try to remove appropriations, but he can act as the executive with regard to Gitmo.

RC

(25,592 posts)

2. As Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, you'd think he could do something to shut Guantanamo

Reply to The Stranger (Reply #1)

Fri Jan 4, 2013, 05:16 PM

Jan 2013

down.

Aren't there international treaties we are violating by even having that place open?

BumRushDaShow

(129,526 posts)

6. Congress must fund the shutdown

Reply to RC (Reply #2)

Fri Jan 4, 2013, 07:15 PM

Jan 2013

(i.e., dismantling the facility, hiring movers, transport of equipment, prisoners, and personnel), and they (including Democrats) have refused to fund this claiming "no one" wants the prisoners in their backyards and they want a "plan" for where the prisoners will go.

struggle4progress

(118,354 posts)

7. Constitution Article I Section 8 Paragraph 11:

Reply to The Stranger (Reply #1)

Sat Jan 5, 2013, 11:27 AM

Jan 2013

... Congress shall have power ... To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water ...

http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/articlei#section8

Guantanamo is a disgrace, and holding people indefinitely without due process is a traverty, but IMO the courts are very likely to hold that Congress does have the ability to influence how the Guantanamo prisoners are held, either as in consequence of the war powers clause cited above or in consequence of Congressional control of the purse

Response to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Post removed

CreekDog

(46,192 posts)

5. Barry?

Reply to Post removed (Reply #3)

Fri Jan 4, 2013, 06:49 PM

Jan 2013

JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)

4. Obama is so right. Guantanamo is a waste of taxpayers' money. A waste.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Fri Jan 4, 2013, 06:42 PM

Jan 2013

libodem

(19,288 posts)

8. If the prisoners weren't radicalized

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sat Jan 5, 2013, 04:07 PM

Jan 2013

When they were turned in, they will be by now. They really have a reason to hate us. They might even be killed or re imprisoned in their home countries.

I have a dark suspicion, we interrogated some of them right out of their minds. We now owe them a lifetime of care, feeding, and protection.

I remember a story of one inmate forced to stand in a barrel of ice water to soften him up. His lower legs froze and had to have them amputated. Where do we dump a leggless Afghan farmer in a wheel chair? Out in front of an opium den with $20.00? I suppose.

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