How Long Will It Take For Obama’s Decision To Close Gitmo To Burn Him?
During the election Obama promised on multiple occasions to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility currently being used to house detainees in the war on terror. Here’s an example of what he said:
I have said repeatedly that I intend to close Guantánamo, and I will follow through on that. I’ve said repeatedly that America doesn’t torture and I’m going to make sure that we don’t torture. Those are part and parcel of an effort to regain America’s moral stature in the world.
I’m wondering if Obama won’t live to regret those words.
On one hand, if he follows through and closes down Guantanamo – thus releasing the noxious terrorists kept there back into the world – I’d be willing to bet that it’d be a matter of a few months before those terrorists were making headlines again by having been caught participating in more terrorism and attacks.
On the other hand, if Obama doesn’t follow through and close Guantanamo – or if he pulls a Clintonesque move like closing that detention facility but moving the detainees to some other location, well now that’s not really the sort of hope ‘n change he campaigned on now is it? Remember, Gitmo has become an issue so important to the left that the orange jumpsuits worn by the detainees there have become de rigeur at anti-war events across the country.
I’ll readily admit that there are no simple solutions for Gitmo. I think the status quo is far from optimal, but I think Obama is about to learn that throwing rocks at the decisions other people have to make is much easier than having to make those decisions yourself.
