Obama tackles recession, war and ethics on day one

"Closing the site “would further the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States and the interests of justice,” read the draft prepared for the new president’s signature. A copy was obtained by The Associated Press, and an aide said privately that Obama would sign a formal order on Thursday. Some of the 245 detainees currently held at Guantanamo would be released, while others would be transferred elsewhere and later put on trial under terms to be determined."

Look out world Gitmo is closing. Who wants the prisoners?

haha you guys take this seriously!

sounds like you need to get back into that military. anyhow, who needs to complain about Bush? he was exceptional, and gifted to craft the bedrock foundation that we all superbly enjoy. Obama will be quite sorry and lackluster about his becomming the President. what's to remorsefully complain about here, and what is that?

Wow! This is the first time I've read JapanToday. I lived in Korea and Japan for about 4 years. I'm American and I was in the military, but it's not that big of a deal. If you have ever been "outside the wire" and know what it's like I respect your opinion. Everyone else let's see what happens to the world when the American military isn't around.

The difference between President Obama and former President Bush is that at least Obama listens to the people and thus has been building a government run by the people and for the people. Bush on the other hand, ran it his way. That's a big difference if you ask me.

Sarge at 07:17 AM JST - 23rd January "He assembled his cabinet in record time" He should have taken more time. Some of his choices are not the best. For example, couldn't he have picked a treasury secretary who pays his taxes on time, or a secretary of state who knows what sniper fire is, or a commerce secretary not embroiled in scandals, or...

Hmmm, for treasury secretary we have Timothy Geithner. One of three proteges of the Clinton administration given top economic and budget positions by Obama, he was appointed by President Bush to his current position as president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which conducts the day-to-day operations of the Fed on Wall Street. Geithner's first big task is to hand out $350 billion, the 2nd half of the bailout to the major surviving banks. He is also currently busy planning further bank bailouts.

Question: Since the US coffers are already hopelessly buried in debt, who ultimately will be paying for this when Asia decides it can no longer foot the bill? Answer: The American working class, the average Joes and Jaynes. Social services are soon to be put through the shredder.

Look at all the main administration jobs handed out by Obama and you will see those directly responsible for the rapidity of the inevitable financial collapse have been placed in the top jobs.

Lawrence Summers is the new director of the White House National Economic Council. It was Summer and the Clinton administration that backed the deregulation of financial markets (i.e the Republican legislation adopted during Clinton's presidency which repealed the New Deal-era Glass-Steagall Act. Summers is the likely candidate to succeed Bernanke should the latter not be reappointed as Fed Chairman.

"Change...", I don't think so.

Paul Volcker nominated as chairman of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board, at 82 years of age (nothing wrong with experience in itself) is a former investment banker. He was also the key figure from the Reagan administration that led the onslaught against the working class, destroying the unions as a significant force in the US. Those interested in history will remember the mass firing of striking air traffic controllers and the complete crushing of the PATCO union. The aim was to bring inflation under control, the outcome was a Volker induced recession, when in 1982-83 the US rate of unemployment approached 10%. That was the highest then, since WW2.

Think Volcker is planning a different route this time around? I don't.

Well, that sums up the general approach this new administration intends to take to address economic and budget issues. Can't see "change" in anything substantial. Can you?

"He assembled his cabinet in record time"

He should have taken more time. Some of his choices are not the best. For example, couldn't he have picked a treasury secretary who pays his taxes on time, or a secretary of state who knows what sniper fire is, or a commerce secretary not embroiled in scandals, or...

51% of Americans favor closing Gitmo; 47% say it should stay open. That's a virtual split.

Sarge

Pffft! Obama hasn't been dumped with anything - he wanted to be president, remember? He knew what he was getting into. He jumped into it with both feet!

This one we agree on.

Just think of the enormities of everything going on. And whether it was John McCain or Barack Obama, there's a lot of crap that one of them would have gotten. So Barack Obama won and he has this menu of problems all over the country and the world.

For his first two days he's done quite a bit. Maybe everybody isn't agreeing with his actions. But this is what he said he would do and that's what got him elected. He is carring out the wishes of the majority of the country and he was given a mandate. Change the way that this country runs, open thew windows and doors for more transparancy, get rid of Gitmo, FIX THE ECONOMY and the list goes on.

So from my standpoint, Barack Obama is doing the country's business and what he was elected to do. When george bush was president we disagreed. While Barack Obama is president we'll disagree. And like you said,

He jumped into it with both feet!

Boy he's got a job to do. Go Obama!! < :-)

The geezer is a fruitcake, living in his own world. A bit like Bush, but a different mentality in his nut.

Mark my words, he aint going to be able to handle the job, he is a very silly boy.

Based on some statements he and his supporters made prior to the election...

Obama has been President for more then a day, and has yet to arrange for either my rent to be paid, or to pick up my groceries. Damn, guess that makes him a liar and a failure already. Yo, Barrack, waiting on my check!

sailwind: President Obama will handle this in a careful and measured manner. Once we seperate the guilty from the un-lucky we can repatriate those who are not a threat. They've been rotting there for 6 years so another year and probably less is much preferred to what the Bush administration was doing which is nothing. No one except the most ardent lefty would demand the release of these prisoners without review as we still don't know who is being held and what they have done.

". I don't know what planet you are living on "

Bush is gone but the Denial remains.

They wouldn't have it any other way.

Folks,

You do realize that they folks are gonna rot another year dont you?

Aides circulated a draft of an executive order that would close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, within a year and halt all war crimes trials in the meantime.

So much for your 'compassion' you've displayed for them. I haven't read a single post for Obama to release them now or give them their Geneva rights.

But what the heck, let em rot another year and you all will forget about em anyway.

Oh really Sarge then what is may I ask you? Millions of people out of work. Tens of Thousands more almost on a weekly basis. Businesses closing which have been in business for decades. Banks needing another bailout which might not come. An auto industry on the verge of collapse. A stock market which is barely keeping afloat and an outlook which gets worse by the minute. I don't know what planet you are living on but this is well beyond crysis at this point. We are on the verge of not a recession of which we are currently but a depression. If that happens it will make the stock market crash of 1929 seem mild in comparison. If Obama is able to accomplish. even half of what he has set out to do it would be a miracle.

TheQuestion at 10:13 PM JST - 22nd January

"So what exactly are they going to do with the Gitmo prisoners?"

How about letting them "escape" to Cuba, not difficult & if a few of the more important ones were to get shot during the "escape" that would be OK too. These things happen.........

sarge said:

He has talent, all right. Some people are just jealous!

You are right Obama has incredible talent and a very high intellect. I guess that just makes some people jealous. He assembled his cabinet in record time and is currently establishing precedents for the speed in which he is performing his duties. Hard to imagine anyone else acting so decisively in the right direction in such a short time.

Well it is going to happen whether people like it or not. Anything attached to Bush's policies is poison. This has created a Foreign Policy nightmare and has significantly tarnished our image throughout the world. Guantanamo will close as this was one of Obama campaign promises and frankly I agree it needs to close. As far as what they are going to do with the prisoners remains to be seen. My guess is a tribunal will be set up of some sort and will be judged on a case by case basis. Some of the prisoners will likely be released of which there isn't significant evidence to detain them. Might explains the 160 day or so suspension so they have some time to sift though all the paperwork.

"Obama has been dumped with one of ( the ) biggest Black Holes"

Pffft! Obama hasn't been dumped with anything - he wanted to be president, remember? He knew what he was getting into. He jumped into it with both feet!

"one of ( the ) biggest Black Holes"

It's not THE biggest?

27th - Not in the least.

"releasing them ( the Gitmo prisoners ) would be a PR catastrophy"

Especially if they join the next terrorist attack against innocent civilians.

Then he should go get a few years of executive experience like Sarah Palin did, and then run for president. Whoops, too late now! OJT will have to do!

Were you being sarcastic?

So what exactly are they going to do with the Gitmo prisoners? No state wants to take them and releasing them would be a PR catastrophy. If you put them in maximum security prison you run the risk of them being killed by other inmates, same goes for federal prison. So where do you put them?

The guy is barley a day in office and you guys are already riding him off. Obama has been dumped with one of biggest Black Holes in the countries history. Not to mention everyone's expectations are unrealistic. Eight years of Bush's failed policies can't be fixed overnight. This is going to take some time as he isn't super-human. Obama isn't blaming the American people but is mealy saying that everyone is going to have to make sacrifices and do their part. There is no way around this as the economy can't fix itself after all. Not to mention just getting Congress and both parties to agree on anything is going to take nothing short of an act of god lol. For once partisismm is going to need to take a back seat and cooperation needs to be the focus. Obama faces more then likely any President has before since Lincoln. Therefore I will give him at least a chance to prove himself unlike most of you.

In terms of Foreign policy War In Iraq, Guantanamo, Afghanistan are likely on the radar. In reference to Japan there actually are three issues. North Korea is the obvious one. The other two though for me are more important and would certainly signify a Major change in Japan-US Relations no doubt. This one likely would create a firestorm but is an issue long overdue. Not to mention it would certainly send a very strong message to to the US commitment on Foreign Policy and improve Japan-US ties significantly. Well at least it would from the Japanese public point of view. This one likely will never happen but you never know. I am speaking of coarse of withdrawing forces from Okinawa and the relocation and withdrawal of Military Bases. The Military people on here won't like hearing this one no doubt. The second one is building a memorial for the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

A formal apology from both sides would make a strong statement as well. You can't move forward of what you haven't addressed of the past. This no question would be historic and I feel would help strengthen relations. It would mean the Treaty wold need to be nullified but this needs to be done. Japan is not a threat anymore and is one of the US most important allies. Why is it still necessary to have this in place? Strategic importance is just a cop-out and a convenient excuse to use. Not to mention it has strained relations likely more then anything else. With this out of the way Japan couldn't blame US for it domestic problems. It has also put pressure on the Japanese Government when incidents do happen and has strained relations further. The Japanese people don't want us there. They have a right as it is their country after all. We wouldn't like it now would we if the role was reversed and in fact it goes against own own constitution.

We the People by the People for the People. What, that only applies to US? If that is the case we shouldn't be preaching democracy all over the place as we would be hypocrites. At the very least more effort should be used in finding a solution in which everyone agrees with and is acceptable to the public. Obama has a real opportunity here to change history and why stop now as this is just the beginning. It would be interesting to get a locals point of view on this. Not sure though how many Japanese people actually read these forums instead of the usual suspects though. National Pride is important for any country and it is about time we give some of that back. This is just my fool dream but is one of the most important foreign policies we could make in regards to Japan US relations.

"At least he's capable of learning"

Then he should go get a few years of executive experience like Sarah Palin did, and then run for president. Whoops, too late now! OJT will have to do!

At least he's capable of learning. Obama is PRESIDENT... YEAH!

Stephen Hess, presidential historian: "It's like the first day of school"

I think the next 4 years are going to be school for the former junior senator.

"245 detainees would be released".. Bush spend billions to capture and hold these people, now Obama just realse them ? to where? What a gamble!

" No gift from lobbyists?" how long will this last? watch out for gifts from lobbyists to President's relatives who do not serve in the administration.

Sworn in again? not the same though.

I was going to post about how disturbing the whole personality cult thing is but I see yang yong did it for me.

taniwja: America will become a military dictatorship in the near future.

While we're at it, how will the Yankees do next season?

Obama is PRESIDENT Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Go Obama! Go! Already done more than shrub in a DAY! Yeeeeeeeeah! I am LOVIN' it!

Part two from taniwha with fewer typos

The reality in the end is that all of this is nothing less than a symptom of the final convulsions of capitalism. There are no more markets to divide, and if there were no way to divide them outside of war between nations. There is no way for American production to manufacture goods enough to pay off its debt even if there were the consumers with money enough to buy them. Successive administrations have hollowed out American production turning to financial products over real ones, financial wizardry and now the genie, if you like is well and truly out of the bottle and cannot be put back in. In any event, the forces of globalization, an inevitable development, have meant that other economies developed by America after the 2nd world war to create markets for American capitalism to harvest, now 'own' America. The very fact that America was the agent of this global economic collapse is due only to the fact that nation became at the apex of world capitalism, the king maker if you like, and now it has been usurped by a part of the world that has not developed a middle class enough to develop itself into a new capitalist economic powerhouse.

Capitalism equals the power of greed, and it has consumed all about it. It now stands a hungry and mean monster that rationality no longer constrains. Anything can happen. Obama is a product of these developments. He has risen out of a system that before him placed George Bush in office. The American people have no say in real change, they are blinded by desperation now. The two party fraud has probably played its penultimate hand in placing a minority representative in office, and this could only happen now, after decades of preparation playing up minority politics over the reality of the class system capitalism depends on.

I'm not intending to suggest Obama is in any way another intellectual midget and a sadist as was his predecessor, but he is no more and no less than a product of this system. As such then, he represents and serves those who control America and indeed their like is in place in every nation state in the world, in similar fraudulent political structures pretending to be democratic. So don’t expect real change from the course America has been on these past several decades (not just the last 8 years). Unfortunately the domestic situation will turn ugly, and it is likely social services will be severely cut back, the police will become increasingly militarized, and there is the likelihood as I posted last year, America will become a military dictatorship in the near future. Unbelievable perhaps to the majority just a year ago.

The alternative though is real democracy. The kind that can only be achieved by a world acting together from the ground up rather than from the top down and in power blocks as it presently consists of. The alternative is to move on from the degrading hell of nation states, capitalism and war, toward a truly democratic system that unites us all.

Taniwha....aren't you ever happy?

:)

A two parter post again from taniwha

tkoind2

The right wingers here are grabbing at any tiny straw they can to indict a man they don't yet know and who they have judged before giving him a fair chance to show the measure of his character

There is hypocrisy in Obama's inauguration that no hyperbole from any amount of over-excited media talking heads can hide. The expense of the show flies in the face of Obama's call for austerity. Is such a comment mean spirited? When Obama uses his inauguration speech to underline his message that all American's must now act with responsibility his words are rendered hollow. When people get over their excitement at seeing George Bush off finally, what will be left will be the harsh reality of just what Obama has been talking about in this speech.

It was not ordinary Amerian's who were to blame for the insane government policies that allowed greedy CEOs and the financial elite in general to lay waste to the financial system of America. Ordinary men and women were encouraged over successive administrations to spend, not to save, and they were given no rights at all to have a say in what kind of regulations should be in place to regulate the irrational greed of the most unrestrained capitalists in control of the natio gurgler n's industry.

Yet Obama lays the blame squarely at the feet of the American people. He didn't even attempt to assert the reality, that it was the utterly reckless policies of successive administrations that allowed this inevitable financial crises to become so all encompassing that America takes the world down the along with its own people.

I posted here previously over the past two years that the draft will be re-instated, and just last year I posted Obama in a speech in front of military cadets suggested the draft should be re-instated. You can be sure it will be. When Obama turns his inaugurations speech into a textbook definition of modern day militarism after declaring America will fight on against all its foes and come out victorious, that this war on terror is not only going to carry on but will be significantly widened.

With regard to America's turn to military might as THE tool of choice to render its foreign policies onto an unwilling world, the Obama administration will match the Bush administration, and in all likelihood the carnage that results will be far more terrible than anything that occurred while Bush sat in the oval room.

The oath thing is nearly as un-important as the flag-pin nonesense....

tkoind2: And in all honesty I think [Bush] could breeze through things because he just didn't care beyond his own agenda.

What a silly generalization.

Actually Chief Justice Roberts made a mistake in the word order of the oath. Obama paused where the word "faithfully" should have been....probably trying to figure out the best way to handle it. Doing the oath over again was probably a smart move just to keep people happy. But in the end any legal challenges would go all the way up to the Supreme Court....and I'm betting that Roberts wouldn't rule against Obama. ;)

unklesam. You are kidding right? I think it was clearly out of respect for the oath and its meaning that he retook the oath today. To me it shows great respect for us all.

Bush also spaced out while being told about 911. And in all honesty I think he could breeze through things because he just didn't care beyond his own agenda.

President Obama is a man with a huge mandate and a massive combination of challenges, expectations and responsibilities to face. And he clearly cares. That separates these two presidents.

The right wingers here are grabbing at any tiny straw they can to indict a man they don't yet know and who they have judged before giving him a fair chance to show the measure of his character.

Patience fellow citizens and let time and deed be the judge of this new President, as it was of our poor brother Bush.

Funny, no mention of the most important part of the day... retaking the oath of office !

Seems Obama has already caved into media pressure, who aired his flubbed first attempt at the oath over and over on national television last night. Needless to say I'm worried about this Obama character... his first major public appearance in front of millions is marred by a major bout of the nerves. Unlike Bush, who after the attacks of 9/11 calmly threw out the first pitch for a strike at the WS.

Moderator: The retaking of the oath is in the story.

wuzzademcrat,

I think Obama is the first President ever not to attend the ball. I believe it started with Eisenhower, who was himself a hero. Obama can't really make that claim.

However, "snub" is rather a contrived word, isn't it. Have you any information which leads you to conclude that Obama treated the invitation with scorn or failed to make his apologies? Or have you any evidence that Obama fails to honor the military?

You know, we did without this "tradition" for 164 years. This includes the first 34 years of the American Legion's existence. But do keep trying.

smith and tko: Like your posts, I usually am counter to you guys, but I liked it. I have one question, do either of you feel that showing our "soft" side that would make who ever wants to hit us feel more comfortable about doing it?

I for one, would not want to get tangled up and take some ideology to those hard liner Muslims because I fear what would happen to me if I were to fail or be caught... If we lighten up our approach, what would they have to fear?

Lastly, wuzz, I can't bring myself to consider any religion peaceful (except Buddhism) especially Islam..

Not only did Obama make a big show of "addressing" the Gitmo problem on his first day as pres he also became the first President in 56 years to snub the American Legion’s “Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball," though he did manage to make it to ten other celebrations on his Inauguration Day.

"Osama Bin Laden won. He attacked us and we reacted in a way that validated everything he accused us of to the people he was hoping to convice of our ill intentions."

What did he win? What spoils are his? Who was trying to convince - the entire ummah?You contradict your fellow Leftists here; they all insist OBL is a fringe figure, who has perverted an otherwise peaceful religion.

We'll see. Since August 2008, there has been a surge of aggressive pressure on dissenters. Aggressive use of wireless transmitters on average Americans. It seems probable that that pressure will ease up. If something changes, I probably will be the first to know, so will post on JT. Interesting times, indeed.

He has to pace himself; its a marathon, not a sprint... I'm sure Obama sees the bigger picture in so many ways. I have a feeling that he has to show Americans (even the ones who profess to be color blind) that he is up for the job. He will be judged on his character and not his color to paraphrase MLK...

Listening to some posters here, Obama is already the worst president in history, so day one must be one hell of a day. < :-)

It will be interesting to read the post about Obama's first six months. Day one means squat.

Well.....I think for his first day, Obama had a pretty good one. I think he's starting off good and tackling some good items.

I was glad to see that he open the blinds to tranparency in government. He's at least doing what he said he'd do so far. < :-)

tkoind - B+ for your post. The only error you made is declaring the war lost and OBL the winner; this war is ongoing, and now that we clearly have a better CnC guiding us, we can now begin winning the war. I believe Obama when he says he'll hunt down OBL, which could hardly be called a "loss".

Your declaration of defeat is premature; otherwise your post was quite good.

At least now we have a presidency that is governed by the will of the people, rather than the free will of the President himself. I really like the fact that Obama has a more open mind when it comes to inclusion of both Democrats and Republicans alike. It has also been reported that he, unlike Bush, has reached out and made himself available to not only liberal media sources, but also the more conservative ones. It is this embracing and listening to all that is so much more refreshing to see.

Lets give the guy more than a few days in office before we judge him to be anything. I do have hopes he will put values back into the phrase "American values". Also that he will restore life in "American way of life". For the last 8 years America threw values out the window by acting like we could throw weight around any where we pleased. We've unleashed a death machine that has been breeding future terrorists. It will take time though to change these horrible mistakes.

Some are criticizing the man before he can get his seat warm in the Oval Office. Others are making the man out to be some kind of cult leader. Making Mr. Obama out to have the ability raise the dead and heal the sick. Both views are too extreme.

He is up for some big challenges, there is going to a lot of tests of his "mettle" from some "leaders". It is going to take a lot of time to correct some of the messes, and some messes may not be corrected in one term. Before we liken him to FDR, JFK, or anybody else, lets give more than his first 72 hours. Lets wait about 72 weeks to see if he is doing what he has promised or not. I'm still waiting for him to define what to "hope" in and what he is going to "change". I do have hopes he can make changes, and I am proud he is my president. Patience and time are factors in judging performance though.

Nice T.R. reference. I think he is my favorite president. But, I do agree with the "Speak Softly" way of doing things.

When President Obama said the quote about If you unclench your fist, we will extend a hand, I felt certain that the world heard that statement.

Terror can only thrive if given fuel to feed its hatred and anger. Replace that fuel with opportunity, respect, cooperation and recognition and nations will come around.

Engagement is the answer and setting an example is the method. Like T. Roosevelt had the wisdom to say. "Speak softly but carry a big stick." That should be our policy. Reach out and engage, but let it be known we are not weak.

One clear fact about the War on Terror. We lost.

Ahhhh no. It's an ongoing thing. And it will be ongoing for quite some time.

tkoind2: "America can only win the war on terror by refusing to become what the terrorists hope we will be. That being a totalitarian and brutal state. We must rise above this and stand by our values and belief systems no matter what fears we face. And we must vigilently protect our rights and freedoms against those who would trample them in the name of fear and protection."

Absolutely EXCELLENT post. Of course, the naysayers on here will just say you are a 'terrorist apologist' or some crap like that and choose to ignore the facts you present.

But these people are now very, VERY few and far between, and even most amongst their ranks can only be jaded and bitter while online, and have to hide it inside because their afraid to show their fear in public while so many around them are visibly hopeful and ecstatic with the road the US has decided to take.

You are exactly right that NOW the US can finally declare a war on terror; not with guns and new chemical weapons, etc., but by refusing to become terrorists themselves, as bush forced them to be, and by standing up to the powers that be and saying that they are wrong when they are wrong, as they did with the last election.

Wolfpack: "Obama"

Awwww.... some of you guys are just so very, very sad that already Obama is being likened to Lincoln and Kennedy after a single day while bush, by contrast of how Obama is being seen around the world, is going down as the worst president in history (the latter, by the way, has changed from 'one of').

Obama includes EVERYONE in his USA, and is asking all of you to get together and make the place better, from the poor to the rich, men and women, young and old, from all ethnic backgrounds, etc. He even includes people like you, Whitehawk (of Bukato), as angry and jaded about the idea of being happy makes you.

"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics....the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness..... For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace."

Bush's 'America'?:

"This is an impressive crowd of the haves and have mores. Some people call you the elite, I call you my base."

and when asked why he does things that damage the nation (or in his mind, makes 'tough choices'):

"I'm the commander — see, I don't need to explain — I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being president."

Fortunately, the US has chosen the road of hope this time out, and Obama is being hailed WORLD-WIDE as bringing about a new age in not only politics, but in American relations, etc. He already has mountains being named after him (no joke!), and people in countries across the globe are looking at Obama and starting to question why THEIR countries have nothing but corrupt politicians to choose from, which I think will lead to some having to be more accountable, etc.

The days of the bush era (the new Dark Ages) are over. People can FINALLY be proud of the US again and actually see it as a leading nation, not one dragging the world down the toilet (as with bush).

One clear fact about the War on Terror. We lost. We lost it on the first day that we let our fear make us violate our own values and laws. We lost it the day we tarnished our national reputation with torture, illegal imprisonment and unprovoked wars against sovreign states.

Osama Bin Laden won. He attacked us and we reacted in a way that validated everything he accused us of to the people he was hoping to convice of our ill intentions.

We can blame the Neo-Conservatives and George W.Bush for this loss. And we can blame ourselves for not standing up against Gitmo, prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan, the war in Iraq, violations of the Geneva convention and domestic violations against our constitution like the Patriot Act.

We cannot win a war on terror by becoming authoritarian or refusing to comply with the laws that govern our global community.

President Obama has arrived at this conclusing and is doing the right thing. Closing illegal prisons and setting in motion proper trials is in line with our American values of freedom, justice and the rule of law.

Banning torture is a patriotic return to the values of our nation and compliance with our legal obligations under international law and our own domestic law.

And I hope he will reverse the damage done to our freedoms at home as well.

America can only win the war on terror by refusing to become what the terrorists hope we will be. That being a totalitarian and brutal state. We must rise above this and stand by our values and belief systems no matter what fears we face. And we must vigilently protect our rights and freedoms against those who would trample them in the name of fear and protection.

President Obama is doing the right thing. If we want to win the war on terror, we have to win the moral war first and regain the cooperation and trust of the global community. Then, together as should have been done from 9/12 on, we can confront and defeat global terror.

Were they not captured on a battlefield, sure not the typical, but the new kind, otherwise, how did they wind up there?

If by battlefield, you mean "in bed in pajamas", then yes they were captured on the new, atypical kind of battlefield.

Were they not captured on a battlefield, sure not the typical, but the new kind, otherwise, how did they wind up there?

Some of them were never on a battlefield. They were handed over to the Americans in exchange for bounty.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8049868/

Skip I think you are mixing your prisoners and conflicts here. It was my assumption that "enemy combatants captured on the battlefield" meant members of the Taliban and Al Quaida captured in Iraq who were shipped off to Gitmo, etc.

On the other hand, Chemical Ali and friends are not classified as enemy combatants, but rather the detritus of the former regime in Bagdhad. Moreover, I would assume that our brave Iraqi allies have first dibs over these clowns.

Finally, neither group fits the POW category.

Just out of interest, why is it that these enemy combatants (captured in Afghanistan) cannot get due process whereas American citizens captured in Afghanistan can?

To the evident anger of Sen Patrick Leahy, D-Vt, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Republicans on the panel invoked longstanding rules to postpone a vote on Eric Holder’s appointment as attorney general."

Eric Holder felt the welfare of a child didn't match up to relations with Castro. He should not even walk around Miami alone. He didn't even give us a chance why Elian would have been better off staying - heck, he could have even attended the inauguration.

You also forgot to mention those who would be released to do nothing wrong, even those who got in through doing nothing wrong!"

Were they not captured on a battlefield, sure not the typical, but the new kind, otherwise, how did they wind up there? If not captured, are you suggesting that they should have been killed on the battlefield?

Also, while it is normal to release POWs (I know, they are not classified as such at this moment) should we include in that release Chemical Ali and others who hve been high up the chain?

"I can not wait until the responsible for 9/11 are brought to justice!" Ok, you guys are getting me confused, do you want them released or do you want them to stand trial. And if standing a trial, should they be let off for good behavior? or a small technicality or plead insanity?

Hold up, hold up, hold. Gitmo MUST remain open.

We need it to hold Bush and Cheney.

Given the way American prisons are, there chances of coming out alive are 50/50 at best. I have a felling that once one of these guys are defiled by "Big Black Bubba", they would probably commit suicide in order to avoid the shame.

"Big Black Bubba"?! what kind of racist are you exactly?

Wolfpack, can I have some of the pot your smoking? The man hasn't even been in office two days and you already say he is the worst president in history? How soon we forget the likes of Andrew Johnson, James Buchanan, and Cleveland's Second term. Even bush got more than 48 hours before he was pelted with tomatoes and eggs. Give it a rest.

Obama has begun his slow retreat against terrorism. It starts with the freeing of terrorists on the streets of the United States within the next year. What choice does he have? He can't send them back to where they came from - that would be rendition and that is bad. But hey, at least the Europeans will be happy.

would forcing the "detainees" to listen to the poem, and benediction from the inauguration be tantamount to torture?

No, but listening to ex-SecDef Donald Rumsfeld's abuse of the English language would definitely be tantamount to torture."

When Gitmo is closed within at last, and the detainees are transferred to the U.S. Justice for review and possible trial. Then this ugly chapter in our history will be removed until another Republican becomes President.

I can not wait until the responsible for 9/11 are brought to justice!

also issued new ethics rules for his administration but those rules did not include intentional tax evasion, or foreign payoffs in the form of "donations" to "libraries".

The second order will set up a study of interrogation methods that could be added to the Army manual, including some that may be more aggressive than those currently permitted.

would forcing the "detainees" to listen to the poem, and benediction from the inauguration be tantamount to torture?

This Gitmo thing - I have a solution for those who don't want the facility closed. Just rendition the inmates to Egypt, Afghanistan, etc, and have them do the housework. Then again, the US could just slaughter these inmates out of hand, rule of law be damned.

I can but try. Actually I have high expectations of the New President, that being said, however, a little bit of irreverence is always a good thing.

Talking about running mates, etc, what about the chap that Joe Biden replaced? The Dickster turning up in a wheelchair yesterday really put the icing on the cake, it was sort of like Dr. Mengele meets Dr. Stranglove. What is wrong with the old chap? Did one of his quaill-shooting victims (sorry buddies) put a "cap in his axs?"

likeitis: Don't worry, sarge is just bitter that his sarcastic rant a few days back of, "But I thought Obama wanted to close Gitmo right away. What's the hold up?" has flown back in his face.

So far, so good. Keep it up. Amazing how it took only one day to already put the brakes on a number of problems and start fixing them.

icingdeath: But you never see anythink about Bidet anymore. I she still about? I don't think Obama has the abilities or courage to chnge anythink in a big way. America will still be known as a warmonger nation with huge gaps in wealth between rich and poor and all that.

Timborder...that is SICK!! Why do that when he has Biden there. What else is a VP supposed to do? I beat Sarah Palin could tell us.

He should be finished by the end of the week, what’s he going to do for the rest of the four years?

You beat me too it, I think Obama should measure the pace of his work a bit more, maybe pop down to Crawford every so often to have a Brokenback Mountain moment with his predecessor.

When Gitmo is closed within a year, some of the detainees will be released to fight us another day

How dare anyone fight us in their own country!

It is sad that in your rush to defend "us" you always trample fairness and justice.

You also forgot to mention those who would be released to do nothing wrong, even those who got in through doing nothing wrong!

In short, yours is about the last attitude I want being used to dispense justice, because the more of your kind of justice we get, the more we need to defend "us".

Then we have the simple fact that Gitmo detainees will be transferred, not released. How many times do you need to trip on your own tongue before you start keeping it in your mouth!

In the last 40 years, the USA has had a Republican president for 28 of them, a mere 70% of the time. For the last 14 they have had a Republican controlled congress for 12 of them. But don't worry, I read Japan Today enough to know that all America's problems are caused by the Democrats, and the nanny state, and left-wing nutjobs. Kind of like winning a football game with 10 minutes of ball control isn't it!!!

Anyways, good luck to Obama, hopefully he is not just a one trick pony whose only real ability is the ability to get himself elected. The USA has been there, done that. And he'd better be able to live up to the rhetoric, because the real economic problems the USA is facing are huge. Of course, if JT posters want to keep going on about imaginary and / or irrelevant issues, please do. It all goes great with my morning tea.

I still don't see what the problem is putting them in a Federal prison. Given the way American prisons are, there chances of coming out alive are 50/50 at best. I guess the problem is where would they go after there term is up? Sending them back to their country after being in a US prison would probably not be such a good idea. If they do manage to survive, then they would be coming out bigger, stronger, smarter, and more violent than when they went in.

I don't know, pretty perplexing if you ask me. But this is why I am in Chemistry and not Politics or Human studies.

When Gitmo is closed within a year, some of the detainees will be released to fight us another day, and some will be transferred to other facilities. Problem solved!

All the best to new adminstration policies team of Obama-Biden-Geithner-Clintons-Mike Mullen-Robert Gates-Rahm emanuel-Robert Gibbs-Eric Shinseki-Steven Chu-Eric Holder-Vilsak -Arne Duncan-Napolitano-Salazar-Peter Orszag-Susan Rice-Ron kirk-Lisa jackson-Ray Lahood-shaun donovan-Tom daschle-Hilda Solis and many others.

Good mix of people of all ethnic groups.

He should be finished by the end of the week, what’s he going to do for the rest of the four years?