WaPo confirms return of military commissions
posted at 9:29 am on May 9, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Give the Obama administration credit for being quick studies in at least one area. For the second successive week, the White House has leaked their plans on a Friday night to restart military commissions for Gitmo detainees rather than their original stated plan of using federal courts to try them like normal criminals. This time, they’ve spread the love to the Washington Post after giving the New York Times first crack at the story, but it’s almost exactly the same, right down to the money quote:
The Obama administration is preparing to revive the system of military commissions established at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, under new rules that would offer terrorism suspects greater legal protections, government officials said.
The rules would block the use of evidence obtained from coercive interrogations, tighten the admissibility of hearsay testimony and allow detainees greater freedom to choose their attorneys, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
The military commissions have allowed the trial of terrorism suspects in a setting that favors the government and protects classified information, but they were sharply criticized during the administration of President George W. Bush. “By any measure, our system of trying detainees has been an enormous failure,” then-candidate Barack Obama said in June 2008. …
The Obama administration’s plan to reinstate the commissions with modifications reflects the fear that some cases would fail in federal courts or in standard military legal settings.
“It looks a lot more difficult now than it did on Jan. 20,” said one government official.
Hmm. In the NYT story, the quote was:
“The more they look at it,” said one official, “the more commissions don’t look as bad as they did on Jan. 20.”
Seems like Barack Obama has some trouble saying, “We goofed,” or at least trouble saying it during a normal news cycle.
In fact, the White House is still looking to spin this. One of the changes under consideration is moving the commissions to the US rather than holding them at Gitmo. What possible difference would that make? The military commissions will still get run by the military. Holding them into the US would make them into media circuses and bring terrorists into the US, entirely to give Obama some PR cover on keeping the commission system in place — the same commission system authorized by Congress, twice.
Maybe this week, a few members of the White House press corps will ask about this, rather than let it slide after the weekend news cycle.
Blowback
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Don’t count on it.
PrincipledPilgrim on May 9, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Hope and Change.
Hope nobody notices when you Change your position.
kingsjester on May 9, 2009 at 9:36 AM
This administration is shameless on the “Friday Night Dump”….
Tim Zank on May 9, 2009 at 9:36 AM
Obam does not have trouble admitting that he screwed up on little things of no consequence or even things of mild consequence (tax evaders as nominees). And when he does admit to messing something up we are constantly told how great his humility is that he is able to admit mistakes, unlike Bush.
But Obama is unable or unwilling to admit that he was wrong on the campaign trail. That there are some things that looked bad while he was running for president (military tribunals) that are perfectly understandable now that he is president.
myrenovations on May 9, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Tim Zank on May 9, 2009 at 9:36 AM
It is all a part of controlling the masses by controlling the message. It is critical to this administration that Obama always comes off guiltless of any knowledge or complicity with anything his own administration does. His job is to keep the masses enthralled. This all reminds me of the rock opera “Tommy” by The Who!
KickandSwimMom on May 9, 2009 at 9:43 AM
How’s that new Katie Perry song go?
blatantblue on May 9, 2009 at 9:44 AM
Why should they? All they’re talking about is how the Scare Force One incident has been successfully put to rest by the openness of the Obama administration…
/s
Skywise on May 9, 2009 at 9:44 AM
It would be more accurate for Obama and Co. to say, “We were completely full of shit in our condemnations of the Bush Administration in its handling of the GWOT and the treatment of the savages that they managed to capture. We did it cynically for political gain and it is abundantly clear now that had no idea what we were talking about.”
cruadin on May 9, 2009 at 9:48 AM
This story certainly wasn’t more important than Mr. Obama ordering Grey Poupon on his hell burger. That’s why it got demoted to Friday night.
The story begs the question, how is it, if Mr. Obama and his team are sooooooo bright, that it was the supposedly old and dumb McCain and Palin who saw all the myriad problems with trials of terrorists in US Courts and stuck with the military commissions, but the Obama team took more than two and one half years to reach that self evident conclusion?
eaglewingz08 on May 9, 2009 at 9:52 AM
this is more than saying “we made a mistake”. this issue was huge for him in the campaign. the left is rabid on this issue.
why won’t the left wingers stand up? i know the answer. he placates them with something else. and it always involves either billions of dollars, or some erosion of the Constitution or both.
kelley in virginia on May 9, 2009 at 9:54 AM
The MSM will rationalize the Obama administration decision to agree with the Bush administration by showing a picture of the Obama’s smiling and holding hands. Ahhh, aren’t they dreamy?
perroviejo on May 9, 2009 at 9:54 AM
Why am I picturing “W” sitting out back at his ranch in Crawford this morning, chowing down on steak and eggs and laughing his butt off as he watches Obama eat helping after helping of crow?
And yet, he says nothing.
Still a man of honor. A president who had, and still has, class.
fogw on May 9, 2009 at 9:55 AM
and maybe the trials should be a media circus. how could holding a protest sign “death to terrorists” not be a winner? (well, it would be a winner here where i live)
kelley in virginia on May 9, 2009 at 9:56 AM
Good morning, Ed.
The One never goofs.
Only his staff do.
Loxodonta on May 9, 2009 at 9:56 AM
lol
unseen on May 9, 2009 at 9:56 AM
geo. w. bush might be sitting around crawford not saying anything, but cheney’s blood pressure keeps escalating. obama’s presidency will do more damage to cheney’s heart than any of the last 5 administrations.
kelley in virginia on May 9, 2009 at 9:58 AM
Compared to Obama, little girls have principles, more courage, and better taste.
Don’t do what I told you to do!
Do what I tell you to do!
– WC Fields
Loxodonta on May 9, 2009 at 10:01 AM
Friday night dumps may help with a news cycle, but if the conservatives can communicate a compelling narrative about the Obama (fill in the blank) incompetence, corruption, recklessness, lies to gain power, irresponsible spending, etc., the democrats free rein could end soon.
It also makes sense to hold the “Contract with America, Rev. 2.0″ until the most effective time. The whining among the HA commentariat is a small price to pay in order to use this information against democrats – at the most effective time.
Right_of_Attila on May 9, 2009 at 10:05 AM
Now this… THIS is change I can believe in.
Let’s not rip on them for doing the right thing, folks. This should be applauded.
Red Cloud on May 9, 2009 at 10:07 AM
Moveon.org is afraid of Barack Obama, they’re terrified to confront him.
Make a mental note of this, it might be of strategic importance for conservatives.
jeff_from_mpls on May 9, 2009 at 10:09 AM
This is true, but to a point.
They are bunch of filthy liars bearing gifts.
Telling us about all these breaks from the “last eight years.” Bunch of dirty little blood sucking leech liars.
They are so busy playing with this issue. Enough political posturing — get to work. Get it done. They are sitting with their thumbs up their a$$es!
blatantblue on May 9, 2009 at 10:09 AM
thomasaur on May 9, 2009 at 10:14 AM
The One never admits error.
GarandFan on May 9, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Good point thomasaur
blatantblue on May 9, 2009 at 10:22 AM
Yes, yes, it’s all so clear. We must immanentize the eschaton, as the leftist utopians used to say in the 18th century.
We must serve as midwives to the coming cataclysm to make way for the inevitable dawn of new conservatism.
The gated-community radicals are theory-people. They’re here to test out theories they learned in their critical theory classes in college.
The ACORN people hear “habeas corpus” but inside they hear Charlie Brown’s teacher “wha whaah wha whaaa.”
The ACORN people and the gated-community radicals are totally different cultures. In the end, if the ACORN people sense that the gated-community intellectuals are criticizing Glorious Leader, they’re going to mobilize.
If you’re a praying sort, pray for that day. It’s our opportunity.
jeff_from_mpls on May 9, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Odious Jihad
maverick muse on May 9, 2009 at 10:43 AM
So can Obama simply change the rules of the military commissions that were put in place by Congress? Or will they have to go back to Congress to get their new rules passed into law, creating more delay? As I recall, the SCOTUS demanded the MCAs because the Bush administration first tried to set its own rules.
John E. on May 9, 2009 at 10:45 AM
What did Nancy know and when?
Wade on May 9, 2009 at 10:48 AM
I seem to remember him giving us the impression he would not be afraid to say “sorry.”
Hope andChange.amkun on May 9, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Yes We CanYou Can’t Do That
maverick muse on May 9, 2009 at 10:51 AM
I’m sorry. Eliminating torture evidence and turning these things from kangaroo courts into genuine military commissions isn’t change?
You guys need to make up your mind whether you’re going to smugly assert that Obama isn’t changing anything or whether his changes are imperiling western civilization. Consistent talking points, please.
Hal_10000 on May 9, 2009 at 10:53 AM
On a Friday night in late December 2009 it will be announced that the closing of Gitmo has been delayed.
Basilsbest on May 9, 2009 at 10:54 AM
Yes. But the involvement of the SCOTUS was in response to the Democrat Shrieks as I recall, and the SCOTUS presumed the Moderation Role that Cheney, Mark Steyn, et.al. have been debunking.
maverick muse on May 9, 2009 at 10:54 AM
The only thing Nancy knows is how to spend other people’s hard earned money.
Basilsbest on May 9, 2009 at 10:56 AM
Dumb, and dumber. Law of inintended consequence.
It can easily be argued that, as these are Non Uniformed enemys taken by our Army…. sometimes not even in combat zones… that they are NOT Prisoners of War.
As long as they stay outside of the US itself, full US Civil Rights have not historicly been given them (although its muddy right now due to recent Supreme decisions). However, it cannot be aruged, especialy after the Post Civil War Court decisions, that a Civilian, on US Soil, does not have access to civilian courts.
WHERE these are held does have a Legal Component under our own system.
Romeo13 on May 9, 2009 at 10:57 AM
He has to pull his stunts like this on Friday nights. Saturdays are busy for him. He has to take Michelle shopping for some more $500 dollar shoes, and then hit the golf course. Busy ,busy, busy. Or is that stupid, stupid, stupid.
capejasmine on May 9, 2009 at 11:09 AM
torture is wrong
it is not in my America
because it is unAmerican
therefore it wouldnt be in my america
precisely because its unAmerican.
/getalife
blatantblue on May 9, 2009 at 11:26 AM
This administration IS a friday night dump.
Daggett on May 9, 2009 at 11:40 AM
That was worth the coffee stain on my shirt now. My bad, for drinking coffee, and reading at the same time. LOL
capejasmine on May 9, 2009 at 11:52 AM
I guess the new DNC talking points came out…
Dawnsblood on May 9, 2009 at 11:57 AM
If they move the commissions anywhere where the militants walk upon US soil administered by civilian courts, you can bet that ex parte Milligan will be used.
unclesmrgol on May 9, 2009 at 12:06 PM
They are too frightened by the racist label to even consider such a move.
DannoJyd on May 9, 2009 at 5:13 PM
Wait! Lets Spin the Wheel of Excuses And Blame!
Whoosh
tic (err) tic (ahaa) tic (uhmm)
“too much on his plate”
tic (err) tic (ahaa)
“He Inherited X”
tic (uhmm) tic (err)
“Booshhhhh”
tic (ahaa) tic (uhmm)
“I was only X years old when”
tic tic ??????
DSchoen on May 9, 2009 at 5:13 PM
Chalk it up as more proof that Dabama remains clueless while Bush was da man!
DannoJyd on May 9, 2009 at 5:30 PM
Not really, a simple hissy fit explains it all.
Obama, losing the military commissions law, S. 3930 65 to 34 on Sept. 28 2006, decided by edict, to void (veto) all the work and votes that had been done to get that law passed!
Strange 65 to 34 should be “veto proof” guess Obama has no respect for the Congress as well.
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/o000167/key-votes/
So, we can all call Obama “Immoral” by his own definition!
ROFLMAO!
DSchoen on May 9, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Obama will pay no political price for this. And that tells you everything you need to know about his supporters.
J.E. Dyer on May 10, 2009 at 2:54 PM