Obama’s Pentagon review: Gitmo meets the standards of the Geneva Conventions
posted at 4:35 pm on February 20, 2009 by Allahpundit
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When does the military’s compliance with international law qualify as bad news? When you’re a new president desperate for excuses to follow through on a dopey campaign promise that’ll please your nutroots base and no one else.
Oh well. Back to the “it just looks bad” argument.
A Pentagon review of conditions in the Guantanamo Bay military prison has concluded that the treatment of detainees meets the requirements of the Geneva Convention but that prisoners in the highest-security camps should be allowed more religious and social interaction with each other, according to a government official who has read the 85-page document.
The report, which was ordered by President Obama, was prepared by Adm. Patrick M. Walsh, the vice chief of naval operations, and has been delivered to the White House. Obama requested the review as part of an executive order on the planned closure of the prison at the Guantanamo Bay U.S. naval base on the southeastern tip of Cuba…
Walsh concluded that … force-feeding, which involves strapping prisoners to feeding chairs and forcing tubes down one nostril and into their stomachs, is in compliance the Geneva Convention’s mandate that the lives of prisoners must be preserved, the government official said.
Actually, insofar as this gives The One a handy alternative to expanding our renditions program, it does mean good news for him — or rather, it would if the left still cared about renditions, which they haven’t since January 20th. Exit question: With opposition to closing Gitmo already near majority levels, the media had better keep this as quiet as possible, huh?
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It’s almost like Gitmo was a contrived political debate to favor democrats or something.
lorien1973 on February 20, 2009 at 4:36 PM
What? You mean President Bush is not a war criminal?
right2bright on February 20, 2009 at 4:37 PM
Suckas!!
29Victor on February 20, 2009 at 4:37 PM
It was a disaster until Mbama was immaculated, then it was all nice, and the oceans stopped rising too.
Akzed on February 20, 2009 at 4:37 PM
that the far-right kooks also borrowed from to attempt to drive a wedge in the GOP
jp on February 20, 2009 at 4:39 PM
The left explodes in insanity in 3, 2, 1….
William Amos on February 20, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Good work, ADM Walsh. Good thing you’ve already got that 4th star, though.
Otis B on February 20, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Heartache.
Spirit of 1776 on February 20, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Yeah, I mean, who woulda thought?
CP on February 20, 2009 at 4:39 PM
HAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!
*cough cough*
“Admiral Walsh, you relieved of command, I’m appointing General Wesley Clark in your place.”
Bishop on February 20, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Calling Code Pink, ACLU …
darwin on February 20, 2009 at 4:39 PM
How does this help Michelle Obama’s children? >.<
BlameAmericaLast on February 20, 2009 at 4:40 PM
Slowly, painfully for us, Obama and the Dems “may” come to realize the necessity of Gitmo, and “may” come to realize that what happens at Gitmo should stay at Gitmo.
But, the MSM will never highlight this examination of Gitmo…since the purpose of any such “look see” at Gitmo was to gather hard evidence that Bush was a war criminal and everything that went on at Gitmo was a major attrocity.
Since the results apparently do not match the presupposition…it’ll be file 13′d by the White House and the MSM and quickly forgotten.
coldwarrior on February 20, 2009 at 4:40 PM
The jerks and drones of the left. Shameless. Their messiah takes power and all of a sudden all the “wrongs” of the Bush administration are suddenly “good” because we have a black liberal president.
Somebody has to say it.
jencab on February 20, 2009 at 4:41 PM
This makes me sick. talk about exploiting our troops and our national safety during a time of war…all of which the left accused Bush of doing…all for votes.
What liars. They ginned up anti american sentiment-TO OUR DETRIMENT-for their own power. They directly and indirectly smeared our troops…only to find, what? It was precisely what they knew it to be all along. Perfectly fine and the best option for holding enemies of the west.
Impeach them. All of them.
Mommypundit on February 20, 2009 at 4:41 PM
everybody that pushed this lie should be exposed as the frauds they are publicly.
How will Keith Olberman handle this? Perfect opportunity for O’Reily and Hannity…
Of course this, like the Stimulus vote, comes out on a Friday Afternoon.
jp on February 20, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Boy, this won’t fair well at all with among the “true believers.”
I’ve got some friends I need to email and rub this into their noses.
Otis B on February 20, 2009 at 4:41 PM
But only when their man is POTUS…the capture of illegal enemy combatants and sending them to Gitmo was illegal when Bush was POTUS, so illegal and unconstitutional in fact that the left was and still is calling for Bush to be charged with war crimes…hypocrisy thy name is democrat!
Liberty or Death on February 20, 2009 at 4:42 PM
Are they provided with athletic uniforms and a small monthly stipend?
strictnein on February 20, 2009 at 4:42 PM
D’oh!
trs on February 20, 2009 at 4:43 PM
seriously, this needs to be blasted from the rooftops to make the far-left kooks less emboldened.
jp on February 20, 2009 at 4:44 PM
No fair. I was logging in!
BuckeyeSam on February 20, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Food-boarding.
whitetop on February 20, 2009 at 4:45 PM
As a POW camp, perhaps. But, when one looks at Geneva III, the standard remains…brigands, terrorists, saboteurs are entitled to a choice of blindfold or not, and a cigarette or not…before full compliance with Geneva III is meted out.
coldwarrior on February 20, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Zo’s “O-Team” video is a perfect parody of the Democrats and how they play this game. nailed them
jp on February 20, 2009 at 4:46 PM
Does this mean Murtha still wants it in PA?
bluelightbrigade on February 20, 2009 at 4:46 PM
The left ignores facts.
This report will have no effect.
They will still continue the drumbeat of how the US violates the Geneva Conventions.
You really think it would stop?
Byzantine on February 20, 2009 at 4:46 PM
It was never about Gitmo, or renditions, or Iraq, or NAFTA, or any of those other phony “issues” the Libs no longer even pretend to care about.
It was, and is, all about power and money — our money, and how they could get their grubby hands into our pockets and keep them there indefinitely.
AZCoyote on February 20, 2009 at 4:46 PM
Torture? This was liver-night for me as a child.
BuckeyeSam on February 20, 2009 at 4:47 PM
If this keeps up, Leahy won’t have anything left to investigate.
Wethal on February 20, 2009 at 4:49 PM
What are the stipulations of the Geneva Convention regarding terrorists and non-uniformed combatants?
DarkCurrent on February 20, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Obama should really test his power on this one. Make a splashy announcement that Gitmo is gone and the detainees have gone to some happier/better place. The thing is, the place is still there and he’s actually putting more terrorists in there. But the media will sell the lie and his supporters will believe the lie and anyone who questions it or reports otherwise will be called a kook. If he really is the great and powerful Oz, he’ll get away with it.
myrenovations on February 20, 2009 at 4:50 PM
See: coldwarrior on February 20, 2009 at 4:45 PM
coldwarrior on February 20, 2009 at 4:51 PM
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Libs head exploding in 3…2…1..
portlandon on February 20, 2009 at 4:51 PM
yep, the Left in this country are the truely “Greedy” people.
If its not the ones trying to vote themselves a living, its power plays like this to turn around and do “Stimulus” packages to payoff their people.
jp on February 20, 2009 at 4:52 PM
leahy?
rob verdi on February 20, 2009 at 4:53 PM
In contrast to Americans….
drjohn on February 20, 2009 at 4:53 PM
Classic.
Y-not on February 20, 2009 at 4:53 PM
And
Hmmm…perhaps they’re being fattened up before execution…? With all of the embargos Cuba is subject to perhaps the Cubans should inquire as to where the meat for their dinner really came from…/I kid, I kid
Liberty or Death on February 20, 2009 at 4:53 PM
“Yea,…well…that’s just a bunch of torturers saying it’s not torture!
Close Gitmo! Try Bush!”..etc. etc. etc.
eeyore on February 20, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Next thing you know, a surge will be a good idea too.
neuquenguy on February 20, 2009 at 4:54 PM
No protections.
drjohn on February 20, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Well this is certainly convenient now that the Cartoon In Chief is ’surging’ troops to Afghanistan. It wouldn’t look very favoravble if the new enemy detainees didn’t have anywhere to go…
TN Mom on February 20, 2009 at 4:55 PM
Funny how no one ever talks about that isn’t it. I’ve often wondered if any case could be made for some distinctive identifier marking these guys as combatants.
Oldnuke on February 20, 2009 at 4:57 PM
This is just too rich.
Change, indeed.
Otis B on February 20, 2009 at 4:57 PM
I saw your comment after refreshing. It’s a shame Gitmo isn’t really in compliance.
DarkCurrent on February 20, 2009 at 4:57 PM
Is someone going to put the Obama voters in a rubber room and chain them down, before telling them?
tarpon on February 20, 2009 at 4:59 PM
President Betrayama….Obetrayus….Betramayus….whatever; I look forward to the full-page NYT ad from MorOn.org
Bishop on February 20, 2009 at 5:00 PM
Reality is crushing Barry like an insect.
Christien on February 20, 2009 at 5:00 PM
if the NYT gets cheap enough before they go bankrupt this year, we should fund a parody of this
jp on February 20, 2009 at 5:01 PM
I read the US Code somewhere but can’t remember what I did with the link. The difference is the GC is much more stringent, if the enemy is fighting under a recognized nations flag and uniform as POW’s they are to be treated under the protections of the GC, if they do not fight under a recognized nations flag and/or uniform they are deemed illegal enemy combatants and fall under the US Code I mentioned previously (again I wish I could provide a link, maybe someone here on HA knows of it) and therefore the entity holding the detainees are not legally bound by the GC.
So it seems our government goes above and beyond by treating the detainees within the protections of the GC even though they are not obligated to do so, so much for left’s argument that Bush et al are war criminals.
Liberty or Death on February 20, 2009 at 5:02 PM
shocker *rolling eyes*
gatorboy on February 20, 2009 at 5:02 PM
Let’s get some puréed pork down those tubes. Hehe
jcheney on February 20, 2009 at 5:02 PM
Hahaha more rope for The One, Nancy Stretch, and Dingy Harry
hiphopconservative on February 20, 2009 at 5:03 PM
Prelude to a killing…hopefully one of theirs and not ours.
Anyway, sux it up, donk!
Blake on February 20, 2009 at 5:03 PM
coldwarrior, is there any specific language in the Geneva Convention reagarding disposition of remains in these cases?
Specifically, can we feed them to hogs?
DarkCurrent on February 20, 2009 at 5:03 PM
I guess DarkCurrent saw it, but didn’t read it, coldwarrior.
Torch on February 20, 2009 at 5:05 PM
Rest assured Obama will bail them out, every little bit of propaganda helps.
neuquenguy on February 20, 2009 at 5:08 PM
And… did you catch the news, as briefly as it was, that the court ruled that those 17 Chinese Uighurs can’t be released into the US as was ordered by the other judge because it would be in violation of immigration law? So now Obama is really stuck.
Texas Gal on February 20, 2009 at 5:10 PM
I hear ya, however since they are “illegal enemy combatants” and not POW’s (they do not fight under any recognized national flag or wear a recognized nations uniform) according to US Code they don’t have to be allowed protections under the GC, and that may be the only thing saving their terrorist azzes as was pointed out by Cold Warrior:
So in actuality eeyore should be thankful the prescious murdering terrorists he supports and apologizes for ARE NOT SUBJECT to the protections/requirements of the GC or the poor misunderstodd terrorists would have already been given their last cigarette and blind fold!
Liberty or Death on February 20, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Johnson v. Eisentrager [1950] writ of certiorari, which essentially provided context to upholding that non-resident armed aliens committing acts of violence against US personnel overseas are NOT entitled to habeus corpus protections nor adjudication under US federal law nor access to US federal courts.
Interestingly enough, a full documentary presentation of this case can be found at the University of Chicago Law School. Wonder if Obama ever read it? He did teach Constitutional Law there, right? Most likely not. It had nothing to do with shaking down the wealthy.
coldwarrior on February 20, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Fibbs, didya download it, hit “Print,” and read it?
Christien on February 20, 2009 at 5:13 PM
Texas Gal on February 20, 2009 at 5:10 PM
I imagine Bush had similar “stuck” feelings when considering what to do with those Uighurs.
What are you going to do about it, President Obama? Not such an easy task as it seemed, is it?
Otis B on February 20, 2009 at 5:14 PM
You don’t say! I’m so glad we stopped the trials of GITMO terrorists for this.
This is insane on so many levels. But, hey, why not give them more access to the instrument of their twisted ideology, along with new opportunities to plan a nice riot.
They’ll be so appreciative of us for these acts of generosity and humanity that they’ll love us to death.
Buy Danish on February 20, 2009 at 5:17 PM
Yes, that’s the one coldwarrior, thank you! What you linked to should be MANDATORY reading for all, especially leftie fruitcakes that espouse their “war crimes” tripe, and yes one would think Obambi would know better especially now that he’s POTUS, but then again those of us with half a brain know he’s an empty suit!
Thanks again coldwarrior!
Liberty or Death on February 20, 2009 at 5:17 PM
I got that. What I mean is that after any intelligence gathering value is exhausted we should shoot them and drop the bodies in a hog pen. And put the video on YouTube.
DarkCurrent on February 20, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Of course Bush did. The difference was that Bush understood the necessity of Gitmo.
Texas Gal on February 20, 2009 at 5:19 PM
They force feed them? Does that make them Islamic Foie gras?
bloggless on February 20, 2009 at 5:19 PM
President Who – The story of a Commander-In-Chief in a time of war, who regenerates every 4-8 years. Yes, the face may be different but the policies are the same, much to the dismay of terrorists and Far Left wackos everywhere.
The 44th President: Jellybaby, anyone?
Faithful Companion Michelle: How does that help my children?
itzWicks on February 20, 2009 at 5:19 PM
Oh good, once all those poor little misunderstood political activists are released from their nightmare, real terrorists like Rush, Hannity, Glenn Beck and the rest of us will have a Geneva Conventions approved reeducation camp.
rbj on February 20, 2009 at 5:20 PM
As for the released/releasable Uighurs, Albania has already accepted a large number of Uighurs from Guantanamo, as a humanitarian gesture, being a Moslem country, when it was made clear by the Chinese government (a former very close ally of Albania before the end of the Cold War) that any Uighurs, terrorists, former terrorists, Uighurs seeking liberation from the Chinese, would be dealt with in the harshest of methods.
There is really no reason at all for any of the Uighurs at Guantanamo to come to the United States. The immediate cultural differences being apparent, and the continued possibility/probability that they would not become model “citizens” after their arrival here also being readily apparent, citing our experience with Yemen’s methodology in handling repatriated Gitmo guests.
If Albania is willing to accept them…why even consider bringing them here? Oh, yeah, almost forgot…Albania remains the poorest country in Europe. Don’t even have high-def cable.
coldwarrior on February 20, 2009 at 5:20 PM
I should add, eeyore especially should click on the links provided by coldwarrior, perhaps then he/she would become much more educated on topics he/she is obviously ignorant about and would hopefully in the future not makes such ignorant comments as this:
Liberty or Death on February 20, 2009 at 5:22 PM
Oh, ok. Yes, I completely agree with you, doing so would bring a smile to my face!
Liberty or Death on February 20, 2009 at 5:23 PM
To coin a phrase
@<@
Kini on February 20, 2009 at 5:24 PM
BWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaa! Oh, this Presidency is so much greater than anything I could ever have dreamed up. What a complete and total nitwit Buck Ofama is.
Jaibones on February 20, 2009 at 5:28 PM
A few months back someone here on HA suggested they be sent back to China and then tossed off the tallest building in the country. I’m for that since I could get a good view from where I live.
DarkCurrent on February 20, 2009 at 5:29 PM
Remember the SNL skit on Reagan, where he faked the dumb routine with the Girl Scouts, and when the room was clear he’s telling jokes in Korean and negotiating arms deals with the Bulgarians?
Obama is so incompetent that he makes Bush look like that guy, and he almost makes Jimmy Carter look Presidential. I’m waiting for black voters who supported Obama just because he’s black to start a recall petition.
“I change my mind – I want to vote for the white dude.”
Jaibones on February 20, 2009 at 5:31 PM
Next Obama will use the Gitmo prisoners to pull his bullet proof Cadillac limo. MSM will be so happy that the limo is not leaving a green car and that the prisoners get the opportunity to exercise. MSM will find away, the spinning has been out of control.
Tremmy on February 20, 2009 at 5:37 PM
Hey , this doesn’t stop the investigation of Bush ,right?
the_nile on February 20, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Obambi never had a solution for where to put the detainees anyway…all that closing it stuff was to placate the Kos Kids. Pfew! Now the Messiah’s engineered some cover to keep Gitmo open.
Why didn’t that eeeevil, stuuuupid BushMcChimpyNaziHitler ever think to have a few people visit and look around and make a report that Gitmo is a-flippin-okay? That Obama, oooooh, the man’s a Genius with a capital G, I tell ya’. (sarc everywhere)
Maybe that’s why Limbaugh has been referring to it as Club Gitmo…Hmmmm, ya think?
Gotta zip over to Kos now to see what excuses they are making for Obambi now.
marybel on February 20, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Heh, I was thinking the same thing…someone call PETA!
Liberty or Death on February 20, 2009 at 5:43 PM
American politics is characterized by the never-ending spectacle of liberals forced to slowly mature into adults by the pressures of reality. Unfortunately, this is often accompanied by the even less pleasant spectacle of watching Republicans regress into childhood. Arlen Specter was probably a lot more coherent as a younger man, before he Benjamin Buttoned into the ancient preschooler who babbled about Scottish law at the Clinton impeachment hearings. I just hope Obama makes it to high-school levels of intellectual and emotional maturity before he gets his first ten thousand Americans killed.
Doctor Zero on February 20, 2009 at 5:48 PM
For a man that is supposed to be the most intelligent president we have ever had, I am continually shaking my head. In one month he has managed to screw up everthing he has touched!
This guy is in so over his head it makes me sick. What makes it even worse are his apologists in the media.
GrayDog on February 20, 2009 at 5:52 PM
Such an act would be allowed in Chicago. But force-feeding ducks? NO!
Tak_Bulgogi on February 20, 2009 at 5:57 PM
Kos report…
So far, the Kidz are ignoring it.
Typical Kos Kiddies.
marybel on February 20, 2009 at 5:58 PM
I loved that skit.
1. Dana Carvey did a great impersonation of Jimmy Stewart and …
B. It really demonstrated how clueless liberals were about Reagan. He really was that smart and politically sophisticated.
hawkdriver on February 20, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Gotta love these Friday night news dumps. Although it is reassuring to know that there are ADULTS somewhere telling him what’s what.
On that note, I hope Zombie’s camera batteries are charged and he has an empty memory card. There are sure to be a rash of protests in Berzerkley this weekend. Please???
hoosiermama on February 20, 2009 at 5:59 PM
I’ll be in the shower for awhile. See what I do for my HA friends?
marybel on February 20, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Do for your HA friends? Huh? Are you going to send links to pictures or something?
hawkdriver on February 20, 2009 at 6:01 PM
I realize you’re being sarcastic but even if Bush had done the same thing (made a report) the left would have still demonized him and called him a war criminal.
Liberty or Death on February 20, 2009 at 6:01 PM
Um…no, I’d better not say anything at all…
:-)
coldwarrior on February 20, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Yep, there’s a lady that lives in my housing development that used to have a bumber sticker on her car that read, “My parrot is smarter than my president.” Now that her man is POTUS she no longer has the sticker on her car, but I think I’ll buy one of my own now and place it on my car and see what reactions I get. I can’t wait until she’s behind me some morning and reads it…hehehe!
Liberty or Death on February 20, 2009 at 6:05 PM
Isn’t this some real f-ing change you can believe in! Has
hardballscrewball Chris Mathews got that tingle up his damn leg yet, that’s really swell chris you freaking moron , that’s because you ar4e peeing yourself you twit, and Keith, Keith,….are you out there? why the hell dont you repot this you spineless worthless piece of crap! I think YOU get the worst journalist in the world award for NOT reporting this scumbag. I put you right up there with baghdad bob in journalism. asshat.UNREPENTANT CONSERVATIVE CAPITOLIST on February 20, 2009 at 6:10 PM
The highest security risk need more interaction with each other? REALLY? That is the advice in this 85 page document?
Has anyone ever done a study on the treatment of our people by these Terrorist? I mean the feces slinging what have you?
Lets just forget our own, and only concern ourselves with the killers? By all means let them spend more time socializing and plotting what could it hurt/sarc
Dr Evil on February 20, 2009 at 6:20 PM
Even though they aren’t protected under the Convention? Awesome!
Cr4sh Dummy on February 20, 2009 at 6:22 PM
So does this mean NBC/MSNBC, CNN, ABC, CBS, PBS, BBC and nearly every newspaper in print has been full of it for the past 8 years? I think so!
Cr4sh Dummy on February 20, 2009 at 6:25 PM
All the true believers I know have been utterly silent for the past month. Guess they see all the broken promises too.
HEH.
PattyJ on February 20, 2009 at 7:15 PM
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