Obama renews vow to close Guantanamo detention camp

[hutch--]

I gather there is resistance from some members of the Democrats as well as many Republicans to closing Guantanamo but it is hard to overestimate just how much damage this is doing to US credibility at an international level. Detention without trial is appalling conduct and a method of punishing innocent people who have been cleared of any wrong doing. As long as this situation exists the damage to US credibility will be ongoing and highly counterproductive in any activity the US conducts in the middle east.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/30/us-usa-security-guantanamo-idUSBRE93T0RN20130430?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

[nidud]

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[dedndave]

it's a difficult problem
after events like 9-11, 2001, we have been fighting an all new kind of war
it's hard to know how many innocent lives have been saved by not having these people in circulation

holding prisoners throughout the duration of a war without charging them is not a new thing
what is new is the context and length of this war

while obama may feel compelled to release them,
i am sure his advisors remind him that some of the guys in there are terrorists that are out of action

[nidud]

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[hutch--]

The other area of damage to the US that bothers me is the wear and tear on US servicemen (and women). A lot of these folks are coming back in very bad shape after seeing some terrible things. I recently read the problems of one of the guys who mopped up after the famous Wikileaks video was shown of machine gunning unarmed Iraqis and journalists and he had to try and save wounded children and it left him with terrible problems.

Just as the ugliness of the Vietnam war scarred many US servicemen, the Iraq and Afghanistani wars have scarred many US servicemen who turn to suicide, drugs, booze and violence once they are back home. We had a similar problem here in OZ after the Vietnam war when many of the vets went off the deep end.

I just hope some of these old farts in the government can see the cost of what they have done and don't keep making the same mistake over and over again.

[dedndave]

that's the problem with war, in general
the little guys do the dirty work for those in power - it's always been that way
that applies to the both sides of the war
i am sure that most islamists would rather have a peaceful day with their family
their leaders have essentially brain-washed them into thinking all their problems stem from the US
here in the US, we are brain-washed in a similar manner
we are raised to believe that it is honorable and patriotic to fight wars that have no purpose
many die or come back in bad shape, then the gov't that sent them over there craps on them

I just hope some of these old farts in the government can see the cost of what
they have done and don't keep making the same mistake over and over again.

i believe they don't care
they have their big paychecks and retirement plans
their kids are going to the best schools
they could care less about the guys that go over there or their families

[K_F]

I have a proposal for world peace... It's like apartheid. (I'll get a Nobel Peace Prize for this  :icon_mrgreen: )

Every area has it's own religious denomination West/East/South/North.
Nobody of the wrong denomination is allowed into the other area - shot on sight ;)

Between the areas, there exist 'grey' areas, where there the more tolerant can live/trade peacefully together. No places of worship allowed here (you have to go back across the border for this) - any trouble makers = shot on sight.

There .. simple, problem solved!!
 :t

[Stan]

I have a proposal for world peace... It's like apartheid. (I'll get a Nobel Peace Prize for this  :icon_mrgreen: )

You have my vote for the Noble Prize, very noble.  (You should get the Nobel Programmers Prize.)

- any trouble makers = shot on sight.
There .. simple, problem solved!!
 :t

I want to be on the side which decides which sides the trouble makers are on.
On occasion, a government (with a biased person in command) may "accidentally" shoot the whistle blower(s).
Actually, I want to be the decider.