by Bill O'Connell on January 29, 2009
With the closing of Guantanamo and the need to restore America’s image in the world, President Obama has condemned the use of torture in the war on terror. This has brought about a collective sigh of relief from our troops who feel they will now be treated more humanely if they are captured now that the enemy knows we have abolished, after three uses, waterboarding to interrogate prisoners. Osama bin Laden has released a directive to his followers that in a show of good faith that all swords used for the purpose of beheading infidels shall from this day forward be clean and sharp.
The new interrogation methods are introduced here. You Tube — Interrogation Methods Demonstrated
We can all sleep more soundly tonight
by Bill O'Connell on January 23, 2009
Guantanamo
In less than one week the lack of experience of Barack Obama, that the media chose to ignore, was on radiant display this week. His two executive orders, one, to close Guantanamo Bay, and two, to only interrogate enemy combatants as per the Army Field Manual, began the process of compromising our safety.
Today’s New York Times carries a story about a Saudi, who was released by the U.S. from Guantanamo is now a deputy leader of al Qaeda’s Yemeni branch. He was suspected of involvement in the deadly bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Yemen. He was released to Saudi Arabia to go through a rehabilitation program in that country before being released. He is back on the front lines, ready to kill Americans.
So what is the president’s plan? He doesn’t have one. Over the course of the next year, he’ll get back to us with whatever plan a commission or a committee recommends. Maybe it was a political bone that he felt he had to throw to the left to keep them at bay. Speaking of hope….
Interrogation
After more than seven years where President Bush kept us safe, President Obama rushed to put us at risk. He abolished the practice of aggressive interrogation. Now the enemy with whom we are engaged has no qualms about decapitating a prisoner (Daniel Pearl), no concern about torturing people and hanging the remains from a bridge for all to see (Blackwater contractors), and has one objective, that is, to see us all dead. How do you negotiate with someone whose only demand is that you die?
The techniques used in very rare circumstances, were thoroughly reviewed and legal opinions issued that permitted their use. Information was obtained that saved lives. But now, the CIA has a much harder job to keep us safe. In the Clinton administration the FBI was prohibited from sharing information with the CIA and vice versa. Over 3,000 Americans died when those two agencies could not share information and connect the dots.
It was encouraging to hear President Obama in his inaugural address say that this enemy will be defeated. But to follow it up by closing Guantanamo and taking an important tool away from the CIA. You can almost envision Osama bin Laden, sit up in his cave and smile and say, “Just like Clinton. The paper tiger is back. Now is the time to strike and the dog will run with its tail between its legs just like in Somalia.”
I hope not. This is not the change we were waiting for.
