Freed Gitmo terrorist now network leader
posted at 9:05 am on January 23, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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Yesterday, Barack Obama signed an order pledging to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay within in a year, but without offering a solution for the current detainees. That little detail takes on a little more significance after today’s report in the New York Times about the career of a released Gitmo inmate. After getting sprung from Gitmo, Said al-Shihri became a leader of the al-Qaeda network in Yemen:
The emergence of a former Guantánamo Bay detainee as the deputy leader of Al Qaeda’s Yemeni branch has underscored the potential complications in carrying out the executive order President Obama signed Thursday that the detention center be shut down within a year.
The militant, Said Ali al-Shihri, is suspected of involvement in a deadly bombing of the United States Embassy in Yemen’s capital, Sana, in September. He was released to Saudi Arabia in 2007 and passed through a Saudi rehabilitation program for former jihadists before resurfacing with Al Qaeda in Yemen.
His status was announced in an Internet statement by the militant group and was confirmed by an American counterterrorism official.
“They’re one and the same guy,” said the official, who insisted on anonymity because he was discussing an intelligence analysis. “He returned to Saudi Arabia in 2007, but his movements to Yemen remain unclear.”
The war on terror is no game. These people intend to kill us in large numbers, and unless we take that seriously, they will succeed. It’s not the same as using the exclusionary rule to return a burglar to the streets rather than offend tender sensibilities because someone filled out a warrant incorrectly. Al-Qaeda is not the Gambino crime family, and a law-enforcement approach will not defeat them — as the entire decade of the 1990s proved.
How did Shirhi get released? He told the Gitmo tribunals that he only traveled to Iran and Afghanistan to get carpets for his family’s store. The Pentagon’s dossier on Abu Sayyaf showed that he trained at a terrorist camp outside of Kabul, went to Iran to bring extremists into Afghanistan, and wanted to assassinate a writer on which a mullah had placed a fatwa for his writings. Shihri was fortunate that his review came at a time when the Bush administration was getting enormous pressure to reduce the number of inmates at Gitmo, and Shihri went into the Saudi rehab program. A year later, Shihri disappeared — and now he’s running the AQ network in Yemen.
Half of the remaining detainees come from Yemen, and would have to be returned to Yemen. The Yemenis have allowed terrorist suspects to break out of prison or have set them free on their own recognizance repeatedly. The Yemen branch of AQ has grown, and the addition of more than a hundred Gitmo detainees will only assist in that process.
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Oh, I’m sure he pinky-swore before he left that he wouldn’t become a terrorist/kill any Jews or Christians.
Imagine this 200 times over…. Which let’s face facts, is what’s going to happen.
mjk on January 23, 2009 at 9:10 AM
That story was in the New York Times?! I’m in shock!
We all know closing Gitmo is a huge risk. Even Obama has to realize this. He’s pretty much gambling his Presidency and American lives on the hopes that either al Queda is bored or too weakened by the Bush Administration’s aggressive policies to be a threat.
Doughboy on January 23, 2009 at 9:10 AM
Pesky details. Don’t you know he is the first black President? That’s all that matters you racist.
angryed on January 23, 2009 at 9:10 AM
“I escaped American prison!”
“Wow! You be our leader!”
jgapinoy on January 23, 2009 at 9:13 AM
That’s the same program that the seventeen 9/11 Saudis went through.
jgapinoy on January 23, 2009 at 9:14 AM
Its possible that AQ was waiting for this, Gitmo to close and for us to get soft on terrorism for them to strike again. Even if they are down to two, three guys they will still continue to wage war against us infidels.
We can thank George Soros and his MoveOn.org scumbags for planting this little seed that Gitmo needed to be closed and we needed to treat terrorists like US citizens. Is it too late to deport that sack of crap? He can go back to funding dissent in Eastern Europe.
Lay-Z on January 23, 2009 at 9:15 AM
“That’s the same program that the seventeen 9/11 Saudis went through.”
ruh…roh
artist on January 23, 2009 at 9:15 AM
Shihri wouldn’t have gone back to terrorism had he not been forced to wear panties on his head.
Better bump up that closing timetable, Ogabe, we need these people on the streets of America asap.
Bishop on January 23, 2009 at 9:15 AM
How many media types will question Obama about this?
darwin on January 23, 2009 at 9:16 AM
But being at Gitmo is what made him the terrorist. He was pure and innocent before that.
CookeyD on January 23, 2009 at 9:16 AM
Quote from the Wash Post:
Unbelievable.
keebs on January 23, 2009 at 9:16 AM
Wow. Didn’t see that happening.
/sarc
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on January 23, 2009 at 9:17 AM
But the most pressing issue is whether he was treated well while at Gitmo. Perhaps we should issue him an apology just to make sure there’s no hard feelings…you know if we hadn’t locked him up and violated his rights in the first place he wouldn’t want to kill us. Also, now that he knows that we have a black president I’m sure he’ll calm down.
gwelf on January 23, 2009 at 9:17 AM
Are you kidding? The idiots are out there dancing in the streets that the war is “over”… next month it’ll just be an all made up story by the Rethuglicans to subvert the populace and mind control you. Now get rid of your Plasma TVs because of global warming you cretin.
Bush’s ‘war on terror’ comes to a sudden end
Obama signals that America’s reach in battling enemies will not be limitless
Skywise on January 23, 2009 at 9:18 AM
Is that the Aladdin defense?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on January 23, 2009 at 9:18 AM
But, Bush drove him to join these groups.
faraway on January 23, 2009 at 9:18 AM
this is all a simple misunderstanding. now that obama is the president, we will shortly come to an understanding with these supposed terrorists. once we know their grievances and have empathy for their viewpoint, we’ll be more prepared to submit to thier demands so that we won’t be a nusance to their way of life any longer
gatorboy on January 23, 2009 at 9:18 AM
the problem is that to the Far Left(Dems, hollywood, MSM), the War on Terror is a domestic Political Football to be politicized.
It gives them a way to claim they are morally superior to Republicans(i.e. Social Conservatives), morality being their weak spot, which they understand on some level
jp on January 23, 2009 at 9:19 AM
He’ll simply scold them and the child like, gutless bastards won’t say a word.
rplat on January 23, 2009 at 9:19 AM
The war is over. Al-queda will now become a social organization like the VFW or American Legion. Get togethers to talk about how they used to Jihad and wish for their harem of virgins in heaven, now they only want a clean environment and better schools for their (male) kids.
Neo on January 23, 2009 at 9:20 AM
So, should we start a pool as to when the next attack will occur? ‘Cause you know it’s comming.
Gird your loins, people.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on January 23, 2009 at 9:20 AM
Isn’t that Murtha’s district?
Mr Purple on January 23, 2009 at 9:21 AM
this is all a message of weakness, a re-inforcement really, to our enemies abroad and naturally a bone to the far-left loons.
What will Obama do, to blunt this and show strength(which biden warned of).
jp on January 23, 2009 at 9:22 AM
“How many media types will question Obama about this?”
I’m thinking of a number that is less than one.
artist on January 23, 2009 at 9:22 AM
Thanks to President Bush, I didn’t have too many recurring nightmares about a Beslan happening here. I’m sure most of the HA readers are aware of that atrocity and how the Jihadis bayonetted a 9yo simply because he asked for a glass of water…. how they raped the young schoolgirls… and how they outright murdered faculty members.
I wasn’t happy about having to discuss escape and evasion with a 7th grader… Now we are exponentially weakening our defensed with every minute that the jug eared community organizer is in power.
A couple of Months ago I was at an event where former SecNav Lehman gave a speech (open- not classified). I didn’t sleep right for a week after that.
I’m going against my Christian values here … but I just hope that when the terrorist attacks happen, the majority of those killed and wounded are die-hard obama supporters. When I finally die, I am sure God will punish me for those thoughts.. My kid and wife helped work for McCain/Palin. I want them to survive and the birkenstock wearing, latte swilling, kumbaya singing idiots that voted for this menangere bear the burden (I suppose Dakine will call me unhinged again.. No Dakine.. I spent about 20 years in the martial arts. I’ve learned to control my temper. What you are seeing is focused, deliberate rage… there is a difference).
The only other hope is that Mr. Hopey-Changey will see the light, get a revelation, have God’s wisdom shine on him.. The odds there are about the same as my neighbor’s dog inventing a cure for cancer.
Stay safe everyone.. It’s time to read up on water purification and the benefits of Potassium Iodate or Iodide.. I think you all should stock up on antibiotics for your fish.. It’s not IF, it’s just a matter of WHEN.
bullseye on January 23, 2009 at 9:22 AM
Ever hear of the Ohio Penitentiary Fire? That may solve the problem.
Blake on January 23, 2009 at 9:23 AM
How many media types will question Obama about this?
darwin on January 23, 2009 at 9:16 AM
Apparently none, according to recent history. And if anyone did ask Ogabe a question, he would tell them that it wasn’t the proper time.
Bishop on January 23, 2009 at 9:24 AM
FIFY, NY Times.
And as the media will get bailed out, they won’t report on this any more.
rbj on January 23, 2009 at 9:24 AM
There was an article in the Chicago Sun-Times recently about how the African American community is urging Obama to do something about the amount of black men in prison and to review the laws and penalties so those incarcarated for minor offenses (drug dealing, auto theft, robbery) can get reduced sentences so they can return to take care of their families and have an opportunity for a better life. I guess Gitmo is just a dry run for massive prisoner release.
sherry on January 23, 2009 at 9:24 AM
Easy problem to solve. The military just needs to take less prisoners.
Tommy_G on January 23, 2009 at 9:25 AM
Gang, you don’t understand. This guy’s just opening up the local branch of the YMMA (Young Men’s Muslim Association).
Don’t worry. I’m sure that our intellectually superior Trolls will be willing to open their homes to the misunderstood Gitmo detainees when Mr. President closes the facility.
kingsjester on January 23, 2009 at 9:25 AM
American libs got their new “Catch and Release” war on terror. I think they will come to regret that, given that their home turf–NYC, DC, LA–is far more likely to be hit by GITMO releasees than is my little home town, which voted against Catch and Release.
james23 on January 23, 2009 at 9:25 AM
“To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West – know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.” Barack Obama
P.S. “We’ll be releasing most of your “builders” by the end of the year. We trust you’ll use them wisely.”
Rovin on January 23, 2009 at 9:26 AM
See what Gitmo turned this poor carpet salesman into?
max1 on January 23, 2009 at 9:26 AM
Obambi” but mama I don’t see the danger.” BANG!
sheriff246 on January 23, 2009 at 9:26 AM
if they legalize pot, they’d have to pardon everyone in prison on related charges. Which would instantly empty alot of prisons and take a strain off taxpayers. Though other crimes might then increase
jp on January 23, 2009 at 9:26 AM
He was a used Magic Carpet salesman and family man who was driven to jihad by the Evil George Bush.
thomasaur on January 23, 2009 at 9:26 AM
Missing the point. The fact that this guy is a terrorist now proves the liberal point of view. We created this terrorist because of the way we treated him.
See? Bush created this terrorist! He was just an innocent carpet salesman in the desert…. but now, because of our illegal imprisonment of this poor boy – we deserve to be attacked.
Wait for it……….
JeffinOrlando on January 23, 2009 at 9:28 AM
“so those incarcarated for minor offenses (drug dealing, auto theft, robbery)”
Robbery and auto theft are minor offenses?
artist on January 23, 2009 at 9:32 AM
But, but, but….Dana Priest declares the War on Terror over in today’s Washington Post. Nothing to see here, move along………
rockmom on January 23, 2009 at 9:32 AM
“if they legalize pot, they’d have to pardon everyone in prison on related charges.”
Not necessarily.
artist on January 23, 2009 at 9:33 AM
Obama is a product of the ACLU Left, scary stuff potentially.
question is if he’s really just a useful idiot for them or a commie trying to destroy this country so Communism can surivive like the rest of the ACLU founders.
jp on January 23, 2009 at 9:33 AM
Obama on January 20th addressing global terrorism:
“you cannot outlast us…”
Obama on January 22nd: orders closing of Gitmo.
Terrorists on January 23rd: “YES WE CAN!”
sdd on January 23, 2009 at 9:34 AM
it would instantly become the talking point, this is what Ron Paul talked about doing in response to his racist newsletters to claim he wasn’t racist.
the truth of Marijuana laws is they are used on the local levels to easily bust street level thugs and get them convicted, when most of them are known for other crimes that are harder to prove and convict on.
jp on January 23, 2009 at 9:36 AM
And what about that press conference where the spokesman could not answer the question of what our government will do with all those Gitmo detainees once they are released? (I guess he didn’t accept Murtha’s offer.) Obama signed the Excecutive Order before having any such plan in place. It is simply unthinkable that any presidential advisors, regardless of party affiliation, would give their blessing to such a move. To me, this shows immediately that the man does not know what he is doing. It sends a dangerous signal to all our enemies and certainly jeopardizes our national security.
OneVision on January 23, 2009 at 9:36 AM
First of all, the guy was released under Bush’s watch. How that screwup could possibly be blamed on Obama or the liberals is, frankly, beyond me. I’m pretty sure, though, that you guys will show me how that blaming is done in no time.
To me, though, the story is pretty clear. The Bush Administration concentrated over 1,000 detainees in a prison camp in Guantanamo without any clear plan as to how to deal with them on the long run. For years the Bush Administration had unchecked power to get information out of these people by any means it deemed necessary, not excluding torture, and even when the Bush Administration finally relented and put some review process in place, that review process consisted of a kangaroo court, where judge, jury and defense all reported to the CINC.
But even with that extraordinary and unfettered power to extract the truth, they haven’t been able to tell the carpet salesmen from the mass murderers, and they have repeatedly released people who have eventually turned out to be terrorists.
So how about this: we take the management of this problem away from the people who have repeatedly proved their incompetence and apply a method that’s been the foundation of the rule of law for centuries: we take the detainees still in custody, try them in US courts for crimes committed in violation of US laws, execute or imprison the guilty and send the innocent back home.
factoid on January 23, 2009 at 9:37 AM
According to Mary Mitchell (columnist for Sun-Times and self-proclaimed voice of black america). The most ridiculous part of the article was her take on why so many blacks are in prison – because many white men are the majority of employees in prisons and they need to keep their jobs.
sherry on January 23, 2009 at 9:38 AM
passed through a Saudi rehabilitation program for former jihadists
Only humans can be rehabilitated.
Terrorists cannot be rehabilitated
If you are bitten by a pit bull dog, can the dog be rehabilitated ???
I don’t think so.
LODGE4 on January 23, 2009 at 9:38 AM
This is the epitome of liberal delusional pacification. Clean your weapons and double your ammo order.
Rovin on January 23, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Members of Al-Qaeda have to believe that our political leaders are the biggest fools alive.
And their right.
Why do we give two sh*ts about the “rights” of anyone even remotely related to 9/11 and any terrorist acts occurring before or after 9/11?
What should we expect from a guy who sees nothing wrong with the conduct of Wright and Ayers?
BuckeyeSam on January 23, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Here’s my take on how the the Saudi “rehab” went:
More here.
sswenviron on January 23, 2009 at 9:39 AM
“it would instantly become the talking point,”
Agreed.
artist on January 23, 2009 at 9:40 AM
Obama may speak for himself, but if anyone wants my respect they’ll have to damn well earn it!
OldEnglish on January 23, 2009 at 9:41 AM
not just AL-Qaeda, but these tin pot dictators aroudn the world who think America is a Paper Tiger and no real threat to them.
The safest we’ve been since 9/11 was the moment Saddam Fell so Easily. It made Lybia, a State Sponsor of Terror, whose leader remembers Reagan trying to kill him, to rush to us to give us his WMD’s thinking we were finally serious and settling scores.
That will not be happening again anytime soon. The world is in danger because of our weakness and suicidal delusions.
jp on January 23, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Yeah, because THAT worked so well with the Blind Sheik, right? You really think the Kumbaya Administration will execute any of these people? They’ll be hostage bait in U.S. prisons forever, and the new cause celebre for jihadists worldwide – that is, IF the U.S. can get them convicted. The ACLU and other liberal legal outfits will work overtime to acquit them.
rockmom on January 23, 2009 at 9:43 AM
and send the innocent back home.
factoid on January 23, 2009 at 9:37 AM
With Johnny Cochran’s help, O.J. Simpson was found innocent.
With a good lawyer, some of these terrorists will be freed to continue their war against us. You cannot fight a war applying American rule of law against Barbarians who use women and children as human shields. It is not going to work.
kingsjester on January 23, 2009 at 9:44 AM
Factoid, please show us where anyone has blamed this release on Dear Leader. Some (at least) of the many who’ve been released have gone back to being terrorists. It’s a poor policy under Bush. We are worried that The One will make it even worse. That is what we’re upset about.
And the fact that you want to treat this as a mere criminal matter shows that you do not understand that we are at war. In other wars we did not try enemy soldiers, and according to the Geneva Conventions, these folk are less than that.
rbj on January 23, 2009 at 9:45 AM
Isn’t this special?
nor on January 23, 2009 at 9:45 AM
Obama on January 20th addressing global terrorism:
“you cannot outlast us…”
Obama on January 22nd: orders closing of Gitmo.
Terrorists on January 23rd: “YES WE CAN!”
sdd on January 23, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Bravo! LOL!
max1 on January 23, 2009 at 9:45 AM
Oh, but Beth Dozoretz and Jodie Evans can go skiing in Gstaad now without getting dirty looks from the French and Italian socialites! John Kerry can go back to Davos now with a smile on his face! Isn’t that great???
rockmom on January 23, 2009 at 9:46 AM
Is Obama going to let them vote too?
Maxx on January 23, 2009 at 9:46 AM
First of all to suggest that the interrogations have not netted anything except incompetence, that flies in the face of several officials who have said the intelligence they gathered from KSM has been invaluable. Also, several terrorist plots have been stopped because of the intelligence gathered from gitmo. So your point there is wrong. And if you want to turn this into a circus where these guys get to spout their garbage in court for the media, and the government would then have to release classified evidence, which would then be splashed on the front page of the NYTimes, well i guess that’s your choice.
MDWNJ on January 23, 2009 at 9:47 AM
This wouldn’t happen if, prior to releasing these ‘detainees’, we spread a rumor that the US gov’t had implanted sophisticated tracking/monitoring devices inside them. They’d all be done in by their own.
hogfat on January 23, 2009 at 9:48 AM
we take the detainees still in custody, try them in US courts for crimes committed in violation of US laws,
uh, excuse me… how exactly are we going to get the witnesses, evidence, etc. together for these U.S. Court trials?
Habeus Corpus much?
JUDGE: “Well since there’s no body of evidence (since it’s all over theire in r#t-shitland)…”
RELEASED!
max1 on January 23, 2009 at 9:48 AM
“Is Obama going to let them vote too?”
Oh, absoutely!!! And he will make the West Bank the 58th State.
I mean another 500,000 votes is nothing to sneeze at.
The Gitmo Guys will be the leaders of Obama’s new
private army.
izoneguy on January 23, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Just in case you missed it!
grapeknutz on January 23, 2009 at 9:51 AM
If and when Obama closes Gitmo, the best place to put the detainees, otherwise known as terrorists, is in Alcatraz and local county jails in California. I believe Berkeley would be a great choice as they feel the military is useless. Perhaps they can visit the detainees and make them comfortable. Maybe San Francisco and LA can open their jails and hearts to the detainees. Even the Hollywood crowd that prefers the detainees to our former president, could visit and bring gifts. Of course, the detainees will be allowed “free” time to go shopping and take in a movie…at tax payers expense. I’ll bet Nancy Pelosi would even have them over for dinner. How lovely.
afotia on January 23, 2009 at 9:51 AM
think about it. if this is what bambi did in his first week of office, then what other horrors does he plan for us?
kelley in virginia on January 23, 2009 at 9:52 AM
I’m not surprise that the NYT seems to be planning to throw him under the bus, too.
Controversy sells papers.
Lets all watch and see what other juicy morsels they have about the one in the wings. I’ll bet it will be fun.
El Coqui on January 23, 2009 at 9:53 AM
When the attack comes, and one of these released Gitmo guys is shown to be a participant, it seems that we should look at impeachment of all the politicians who promoted this catch and release nonsense. If nothing else, class action litigation in the form of civil suits like the one the Goldman and Brown families pursued against O.J. Simpson. While bankrupting Madam Speaker and her pals would not be as satisfying as putting them on the rock pile for life, it would at least get them out of their safe compounds and gated communities and onto the streets with ordinary people. Once out in the real world they might learn that many of us think that terrorists are entitled to a speedy execution, not three hots and a cot or an airplane tocket home.
Orson Buggeigh on January 23, 2009 at 9:53 AM
What a perfect argument as to why most of these people should NEVER EVER be released into society.
“For years the Bush Administration had unchecked power to get information out of these people by any means it deemed necessary, not excluding torture…….”
And yet not one piece of real estate on this nation’s soil crumbled to the ground. What factoid refuses to understand is that non-uniformed enemy combatents pick up in the field of battle DO NOT get the rights of due process afforded to “try them in US courts for crimes committed in violation of US laws” Military justice is the ONLY option.
Rovin on January 23, 2009 at 9:56 AM
Oh yeah, let’s not forget that we are about to get Lanny Breuer as head of the Criminal Division at Justice – same guy who just defended Roger Clemens while he lied his ass off to Congress, and also defended Sandy Berger after he stole the documents from the Archives. Who has any confidence that this sleazebag will prosecute anyone properly???
rockmom on January 23, 2009 at 9:56 AM
Obama’s naivete on this issue is noted and his proposal short-sighted and downright dangerous, but let’s be real here. Bush started this mess by holding these people for so long without trying them. The former President never listened to anyine when his conviction was set and this bowing to enormous pressure is merely an excuse.
That he even considered releasing anyone at Gitmo to our sworn enemy, Saudi Arabia and that sham of a rehabilitation program, is damning enough.
awake on January 23, 2009 at 10:04 AM
The war on terror is no game. These people intend to kill us in large numbers, and unless we take that seriously, they will succeed.
Uh Ed,did you not get the memo.
Obama is President now,there is no terrorist threat.
This is just a distraction.
We need to concentrate on more serious issues like purchasing carbon credits and making sure Michelle Obama’s kids are happy.
Why should we carry on programs that have been extremely successful in the War on Terror.
It is time for change.
Back to the good ‘ol’ days when America was loved around the world.
Back to Sept.10,2001.
Baxter Greene on January 23, 2009 at 10:05 AM
That’s not the Gitmo detainee I one knew. /sarc
I know someone that has worked with prisioners like these guys. They get treated a lot better than the service members that are guarding them. I say keep Gitmo open they get their daily tea and can watch tv. What else do they need.
Brat4life on January 23, 2009 at 10:05 AM
Send them to Samoa so Nancy Pelosi can give them jobs that avoid paying minimum wage. Another batch to live with Benedict Murtha. Hell, put ‘em up at the White House.
adamsmith on January 23, 2009 at 10:06 AM
My boss insists that this whole Gitmo thing is part of a loss of OUR civil liberties signed by GWB after 9/11. He said anyone can acuse him of being a terrorist and he can be imprisoned indefinately just from the accusation. I have to admit I am not up to speed about this and am not about to argue with my boss (at this point anyway).
If someone would comment on his statement, I would appreciate it.
And no, I am not a troll or astroturfer…
Mr_Magoo on January 23, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Factoid seeks to quit the War on Terror and return to the Speed Trap on Terror.
I’ve got great confidence that the same laws and courts that allow American criminals to walk the streets will be perfectly effective in providing Justice in the case of people we picked up overseas while plotting to kill Americans.
Clearly, our best future option during operations overseas is to a)kill all the prisoners, or b)have Turkish, Bulgarian, or maybe Egyptian MPs along to take custody of prisoners and take care of them according to THEIR country’s value system.
hawksruleva on January 23, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Who cares? This is so last administration. Why, the war on terror came to a sudden end! So says traitorous scum reporter, Dana Priest (who fails to mention her role in leaking classified info about CIA rendition sites).
Buy Danish on January 23, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Okay, as there’s NO threat anymore.
Rescind the Patriot Act NOW.
Dissolve the Gestapo TSA and revert it back to the airport run system it was.
I’m serious. You want to claim this was all a non-event? Fine. I want MY LIBERTIES BACK! NOW!
Skywise on January 23, 2009 at 10:16 AM
Gitmo was opened under Clinton first of all, I beleive.
secondly, your boss is saying anyone around the world is entitled to US COnstitutional rights us citizens have, for the first time in history.
Rendition was also a policy under Clinton.
the ACLU nuts have told people that Bush could just say that any of us is a terrorist with no evidence and have us locked up in Gitmo, thats what the far-left beleives and why this is such a big deal to them.
jp on January 23, 2009 at 10:16 AM
Dear Magoo —- these guys are not citizens with rare exceptions and were not busted on US soil. Aside from that, gee, where do you work? an AK 47 importer? Your boss thinks you can get picked up at any time? Paranoid…
BTW, why doesn’t Murdoch buy the New York Times or start a competitor?
Somebody has to cover stuff like this.
To the guy about 22 spaces above, yes, it sure looks like The One will let millions of brothers out.
IlikedAUH2O on January 23, 2009 at 10:17 AM
This happened because of all the Democrat pressure to release these murdering terrorists. If you think this is bad happening unber GWB, wait until you see what Obama has in store in this regard. Maybe he will release the Gitmo group to John Murtha who can house them at his home in PA. I understand Murtha wants them.
kanda on January 23, 2009 at 10:23 AM
OK, I just got an e-mail from a bud. Ok, Ok.
The comment was from Sherry about 54 spaces above mine and she quoted a The Chicago Sun Times article on people asking The One to release certain prisoners.
I spent time in Chicago and heard rumblings like this before. I think it was an ACORN tool to get voters fired up. Not that ACORN was biased or anything…
IlikedAUH2O on January 23, 2009 at 10:23 AM
This is not good. There is no one of substance in his cabinet what so ever. Maybe a accident like blowing up Gitmo? Of course all our personnel could vacate, then a accident could happen. Boom! No more prisoners to worry about. Seriously, this is not a smart move to do.
sheebe on January 23, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Unintended consequence of this closing of Gitmo:
Instead of taking terrorists into custody, the military will simply shoot them. Pretty sure that’s NOT what Code Pink and their ilk want…..
And the logic of the released prisoner is that we made him a terrorist? Hey, guess what? He wasn’t leading no Bible Study when he was caught. He is a TERRORIST and it’s a real shame that they let him go at all….
mjk on January 23, 2009 at 10:32 AM
This very is simple. Simply follow the Geneva convention and give them summary executions.
Johan Klaus on January 23, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Nice discussion at the Belmont Club. I had forgotten how Clinton got us into the Gitmo sitution.
http://pajamasmedia.com/richardfernandez/2009/01/22/the-revolving-door/#more-1984
a capella on January 23, 2009 at 10:38 AM
Just found this via a thread on Digg, courtesy of today’s Dana Priests’ article…
Bush’s ‘War’ On Terror Comes to a Sudden End
Bush already closed the secret prisons two years ago?!
Skywise on January 23, 2009 at 10:38 AM
Ask him what specific ‘civil liberty’ was lost or he lost. (And if the guy says “blowing up the Brooklyn bridge”, run like heck!)
runner on January 23, 2009 at 10:42 AM
if you are a Citizen, but plotting the over-throw of the Govt, I beleive you automatically forfeit your constitutional rights.
but as said, the people in Gitmo aren’t US Citizens.
the one case they had and used was Jose Padilla, who was convicted eventually of being a Terrorist.
jp on January 23, 2009 at 10:43 AM
also point out to the moron that National Security is a Civil Liberty, the one at the top of the chain.
It also secures our economic liberties, 9/11 was a $1 Trillion hit on our economy. Imagine what nuking NYC would do.
jp on January 23, 2009 at 10:44 AM
HELP!
Recently, some official leaving office was quoted here as saying that don’t fool yourselves – torture works.
Who said it???
Blake on January 23, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Mr_Magoo – ask your boss if he’s been picked up. No? Then what’s he worried about? Liberals are constantly hoisting up meaningless canards. Bush could’ve dropped nuclear weapons on Boston, too. But he didn’t.
There are huge differences between overseas surveillance and domestic surveillance. Most of the folks in GITMO were actually picked up in an area of combat operations. So if your boss was in Afghanistan, holding an RPG, and shouting “death to America” then maybe he could’ve been thrown in GITMO. Otherwise – probably not. I don’t think people picked up in the US for plotting terrorist attacks go to GITMO – they go to their local jail.
hawksruleva on January 23, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Maybe Obama should appoint someone like John Kerry to go to Gitmo and find out the truth. Kerry as you know is a Vietnam veteren who claims to have experience in the area of torture. He even headed up some big investigation called
the witch huntWinter Soldier. Uh oh, it’s too late Obama already ordered Gitmo closed. Man these dems are people of acton. That was fast.kanda on January 23, 2009 at 11:11 AM
This rookie Obama is going to get Americans killed.
blatantblue on January 23, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Announcer (excited): “Terrorist Kahleed Al-Kaboom, you’ve just been released from Guantanamo Bay military prison facility! What are you going to do next?!”
Al-Kaboom (jumping up and down excitedly flashing the “number one” sign): “I’m going to Disney Land!”
Wyznowski on January 23, 2009 at 11:15 AM
Have you respectfully asked your boss how many Americans that’s happened to?
DarkCurrent on January 23, 2009 at 11:20 AM
Meh, it’s can’t be that bad. I’m going to stick with what the great George Bush always told us….love Islam and go to the mall.
BL@KBIRD on January 23, 2009 at 11:26 AM
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