Right On The Mark

With the Senate blocking the release of Gitmo detainees into the United States by stripping President Obama of the $80 million in funding needed to procede with Gitmo's closing I believe it's worth noting my opposition to Gitmo's closing when it was originally announced by the President.

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President Obama, in keeping a campaign promise, signed an executive order to close Gitmo in one year. By doing so he has suspended the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed; a detainee willing to plead guilty to his involvement in the 9/11 attacks & who was also involved with the February 26th, 1993 attack on the World Trade Center making him involved with the likes of Ramzi Yousef & Abdul Rahman Yasin just to name a couple. We've already released more than 500 detainees from Gitmo & about 60 of them have returned to acts of terror. About 250 detainees remain at Gitmo. Where will they go?

Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) says he'd be willing to hold the Gitmo detainees in a maximum security prison in his district. Great --- problem solved. Except Murtha doesn't have a maximum security prison in his district; only a minimum security prison. Oh how convenient. Would you like them in your district? Even in a maximum security prison?

President Obama told Katie Couric that he wanted to "capture or kill" bin Laden. But, pinning him in a cave unable to communicate with his operatives would be satisfactory in protecting the United States. My problem is that if we don't kill bin Laden where will we hold him upon capture? John Murtha's district?

When President Bush was considering closing Gitmo after much criticism from European nations only Albania stepped up to the task. Bush's consideration died because of the lack of cooperation from our European friends. Now Portugal, France, Germany & Switzerland say they'll consider taking the remaining detainees. Great --- let's ship them before they change their minds because I don't want them here.

Today, I offer my first opposition to the actions of President Obama. I'm guessing that if he continues with more of the campaign promises I had a problem with that I'll be dissenting even more in the future. David Harsanyi has already asked "Is Dissent Still Patriotic?" Since dissent was considered patriotic for the last eight years I too wonder how it will be received as we move forward. Maybe we can ask Rush Limbaugh how his dissent has already been received. While I may not share Limbaugh's zeal for an Obama failure I do have my own reservations about the new adminsitration. My hope is that President Obama fails in passing some of his liberal policies that I disagree with just as I voiced my opposition to certain policies under President Bush; such as the bad immigration bill they tried to push through.

While some policies may need to change I believe Gitmo should remain open & the trials should move forward; even at their slow pace to ensure we get it right & get the convictions. Setting & sticking to a standard of no torture may be a good idea but it should also be noted that Gitmo does not equal torture.

I should note in closing that it's good to see President Obama come around on military tribunals. There just may be "hope" after all.