Obama revives terror tribunals, dismaying liberals

Obama revives terror tribunals, dismaying liberals
LARA JAKES, Associated Press Writer Lara Jakes, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama said Friday he would reform and restart the military tribunals he once reviled for Guantanamo Bay detainees, jeopardizing his timetable for closing the prison by January and dismaying many supporters who suggested he was going back on campaign promises.

Now, after the detainees are given stronger legal protections — a ban on evidence obtained under cruel duress, for example — the trials of 13 defendants in nine cases will be restarted no sooner than September. Five of the 13 are charged with helping orchestrate the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

The rest of the 241 Guantanamo detainees will either be released, transferred to other countries, tried in civilian U.S. federal courts or, potentially, held indefinitely as prisoners of war with full Geneva Conventions rights.

"This is the best way to protect our country, while upholding our deeply held values," Obama said, announcing his decision to renew the tribunals in a three-paragraph White House statement. The administration said he was not embracing the Bush-era system because it would be so significantly changed.



http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090516/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_guantanamo_trials

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what else can I say

Don't conservatives believe in the Constitution?

Are conservatives not Americans?

I agree, this news should dismay all Americans

Nothing else has changed, just good cop for bad cop.

Hey, maybe that's a good idea, and would be a good way to mollify liberal criticisms of the tribunals: throw an AIG executive in front of one of these commissions and see if any liberals raise a peep in protest.

on the other side.

We actually believe in the rule of law and in justice, no matter who is at the bar.

I want there to be trials for those that are suspected of doing wrong - I don't want people held indefinitely without trials.

I am totally missing something.

Example, hearsay is allowed.

so a more appropriate action would be to hold trials rather than tribunals?

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