The last thing the Obama administration needs to do is release someone, event if innocent, to describe the treatment of prisoners under Obama's watch. Freeing a witness to torture or other inhuman treatment by agents of a President that received the Nobel Peace Prize is unthinkable by this administration. Sadly, this poor fellow will rot in Guantanamo until after the 2016 elections. Set your watch ....
12
This President promised to close Guantanamo, a US prison on Cuban soil, an island nation which the US has strangled economically for the past six decades. It now appears he has become immune to enacting justice for those illegally detained.
The kicking of the can down the road in the standoff he has with Congress and the Senate screams Gridlock.
It is shameful that he has fallen victim to his own declared ambition to close this eyesore.
There is now very little that separates him from the republicans.
The kicking of the can down the road in the standoff he has with Congress and the Senate screams Gridlock.
It is shameful that he has fallen victim to his own declared ambition to close this eyesore.
There is now very little that separates him from the republicans.
16
Although the plea for justice is for one individual unjustly incarcerated, and even knowing so for years, no sign of freeing him can be seen. This is a travesty of justice, a bad political joke on a human being whose freedom seems so close and yet unreachable. How is this possible in a country of laws, and where an individual ought to be considered innocent unless and until proven guilty? Have we become callous, unprincipled, devoid of empathy?
30
So, what's the real issue here? This sounds like a no-brainer. Obama has released actual, bona fide terrorist leaders to Qatar, who will no doubt release them back into the wild after their year of negotiated house arrest. is Obamaa trying to leverage Congress into granting him even more leeway by precipitating an ongoing diplomatic crisis with the United Kingdom.
Does anyone know the inside story here? This appears to be bad politics, idiotic diplomacy, and horrific public relations.
Does anyone know the inside story here? This appears to be bad politics, idiotic diplomacy, and horrific public relations.
20
Unfortunately for poor Mr. Aamer, there is an extensive track record showing what happens to the non-threatening, peace-loving inhabitants of Gitmo once they're released. They tend to return to the battlefield and kill more people. The UK should probably be thanking us for taking one more radical Muslim off its hands.
6
In our Presidents twisted logic, it is safe to release real terrorist leaders to "stable and reliable allies" like Qatar and Yemen, but not to "unstable, unpopular, and undemocratic" countries like Britain. (That is sarcasm within the quotes for those not capable of discerning that yourselves.) Perhaps if Britain could offer us up a traitor in exchange?
12
You can now see the type of ally Britain have; you can now see what all people of the world have known for decades the contempt the United States shows to all other countries. A country that can arrest anybody in the world while enacting laws that exclude their own citizens from prosecution in the world including the cherished ICC at the The Hague. Sorry you have to continue to beg and grovel.
14
This is simply one more example of Mr. Obama's stubborn, despicable hatred for Great Britain. He has made no attempt to disguise his feelings; yet we still keep hope alive in our hearts that this bitter, ignorant man will do the right thing. It will be remarkable if and when he does so.
8
Does anyone really think that holding one man for over a decade without charges or, for that matter, releasing him will have any meaningful impact on efforts to control terrorism. If the British are willing to take him back, that's their call not ours. Continuing to hold him at Guantanamo without legal explanation demeans us infinitely more than holding him helps. The whole thing is disgusting.
15
The British met with Congress and the departments of State and Defense. What about the CIA and whoever is really in charge of what happens in Guantanamo? The mere existence of that prison is a blot on America.
13
Since Mr. Amer has never been charged and was unanimously called twice for release, I am puzzled why this has not happened? Britain has been our steadfast ally and we have an Extradition Treaty. So what's happening? Does this mean that the bureaucracy has a great clout over the White House? I wonder what's going on in President Obama's mind?
12
A few generations ago, FDR cited his Four Freedoms, in order to justify going to war with and on behalf of our great ally, the United Kingdom. FDR was clear - those Four Freedoms (freedom of speech, of worship, from want, and from fear) were aspirational goals for all humanity.
We were fighting to ensure that every person enjoyed these freedoms. Not just Americans, not just those who lived in countries allied with this, and not just those who were fortunate enough to avoid being caught up as pawns in ridiculous congressional urinating contests.
Things are now different. "Security, security, security." That's become our mantra - strong enough to avoid even a pretense of standing for greater, universal values. As the authors note, the UK has been "slapped in the face." However, in the long run it is the character of the US that suffers the greatest damage.
We were fighting to ensure that every person enjoyed these freedoms. Not just Americans, not just those who lived in countries allied with this, and not just those who were fortunate enough to avoid being caught up as pawns in ridiculous congressional urinating contests.
Things are now different. "Security, security, security." That's become our mantra - strong enough to avoid even a pretense of standing for greater, universal values. As the authors note, the UK has been "slapped in the face." However, in the long run it is the character of the US that suffers the greatest damage.
14
It’s simple, elements in the US government are afraid of what Mr. Aamer will say about his treatment over the past, almost 14 years. Considering that we would be turning him over to Great Britain, there is no risk involved - especially since no case has been made against him. If he has the clearance of all these agencies, fear of what he will say is the only explanation. This is what happens when you turn “justice” over to the Defense Department.
How can we insult Great Britain this way?
How can we insult Great Britain this way?
15
Seems like the President has continually been asked to micro-manage US affairs, but criticized when he uses executive power. Somebody start an online petition, get it signed by millions, and present it to the White House.
2
If Obama has the power to release this man, and did so, can you just hear the squealing from the right about abuse of power?
lol. Britain, you have no idea that this country's majority politicians in charge have no competence whatsoever. They don't even believe proofs of Science. They think they bible is literally the words of a god. And they think the earth is only 6,000 years old. C'mon. You're asking for miracles.
lol. Britain, you have no idea that this country's majority politicians in charge have no competence whatsoever. They don't even believe proofs of Science. They think they bible is literally the words of a god. And they think the earth is only 6,000 years old. C'mon. You're asking for miracles.
8
Obama has always hated Britain, he got that from his father. Whether that is the reason for this, who knows. But it does seem Obama resides in opposite world, where he treats our enemies with respect and our allies with disdain. I cannot wait until we get an adult back in the White House.
2
Perhaps Mr Aamer wasn't really doing charity work or sold for bounty. Perhaps what he was doing and how he was caught would, if opened to the public, clue in terrorist groups to US methods and abilities. The argument of this Op-Ed. that the Obama administration is indifferent to the plight of an innocent man and is content to continue to insult our closest ally, England, just doesn't pass the sniff test. Many have been repatriated from Guantanamo. The reason why Mr Aamer hasn't been repatriated must be important, and secret.
12
sending a probably terrorist back to Britain is a "slap in the face"? If anything, it would be doing the English a favor.
4
If Aamer is a "permanent British resident," Britain ought to be more careful about on whom it confers that status. Aemer is, in fact, a Saudi citizen who moved from Saudi to Afghanistan prior to 9/11. He claims he was in Afghanistan to work for a "Muslim charity," one of the most common cover stories used by Arab al Qaeda fighters captured in Afghanistan (and not entirely untruthful, since "charities" set up by wealthy Saudis to promote Salafism often did pay to sustain Arabs joining the jihad). But the US believes he was a "recruiter, financier, and facilitator" for al Qaeda and in 2001 led a group of bin Laden's "Arab-Afghans" in the fight against US allies, including at Tora Bora.
That he has not been tried for any crime ought to be irrelevant. He is an unlawful combatant captured on the battlefield, not a mere criminal. Unfortunately, tons of ink have been spilled in the effort to persuade people that there is something nefarious about keeping such enrmies off the battlefield, just as we would POWs. Such detainees do have certain limited due process rights, affirmed by Congress and the courts, but the US has no obligation to release them, even as a favor to David Cameron.
That he has not been tried for any crime ought to be irrelevant. He is an unlawful combatant captured on the battlefield, not a mere criminal. Unfortunately, tons of ink have been spilled in the effort to persuade people that there is something nefarious about keeping such enrmies off the battlefield, just as we would POWs. Such detainees do have certain limited due process rights, affirmed by Congress and the courts, but the US has no obligation to release them, even as a favor to David Cameron.
11
President Barack Hussein Obama has targeted American citizens with Hellfire/Griffin missiles fired from drones and killed them without due process of law. America has world historical leading record 25% of the world prison population with only 5% of the planet's people. Only China, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and North Korea execute more of their citizens than America. Britain is protected by the American military-industrial complex along with ethnic sectarian ties born of a common language and cultural heritage history.
Obama has done more than slap Uncle Sam and the American people in the face while violating his sworn oath " to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States". You British need to get in line and wait your turn for justice and recompense. After all you agreed to and participated in the invasions and occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq. Go talk to Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron.
Obama has done more than slap Uncle Sam and the American people in the face while violating his sworn oath " to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States". You British need to get in line and wait your turn for justice and recompense. After all you agreed to and participated in the invasions and occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq. Go talk to Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron.
2
What proof is there that he was doing charity work? I wouldn't take his word or the Brits for that one. We really don't know for sure what he was doing. Being cleared for release does not mean that he is innocent.
4
These MP’s have certainly uncovered that there is something very different about the case of Mr. Aamer. That here is something very secret when the white house refuses to explain to even US senators what the security issue in regard to releasing this seemingly harmless prisoner. The only detainee for whom no government official can provide an explanation.
According to an artilce in the Daily Mail what is so dangerous about releasing this prisoner is that while in captivity he had witnessed matters that are so shockingly explosive if they are ever revealed that the US cannot ever allow these secrets to see the light of day.
What he saw, and will bring to light of day if ever released, is something that will utterly embarrass the government and forever change our understanding of history. And that is that the "intelligence" that Sadaam Husien was going to provide al Quida with chemical weapons, the basis for the whole Iraq war, was concocted by an al Quida detainee who made up this story simply to get his tormentors to stop torturing him.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2312284/Shaker-Aamer-Hes-cleared...
According to an artilce in the Daily Mail what is so dangerous about releasing this prisoner is that while in captivity he had witnessed matters that are so shockingly explosive if they are ever revealed that the US cannot ever allow these secrets to see the light of day.
What he saw, and will bring to light of day if ever released, is something that will utterly embarrass the government and forever change our understanding of history. And that is that the "intelligence" that Sadaam Husien was going to provide al Quida with chemical weapons, the basis for the whole Iraq war, was concocted by an al Quida detainee who made up this story simply to get his tormentors to stop torturing him.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2312284/Shaker-Aamer-Hes-cleared...
7
It is mindboggling that president Obama has ignored
request from David Cameron for the release of Aamer.
In future he may have to make a request to David Cameron
who may not feel obliged to comply. It is clear that
Obama has lost trust of European allies. He couldn't
persuade allies to tighten sanctions against Russia.
As I write president Obama is speaking in Germany
extolling freedom, human dignity that USA vlaue.
What a joke? I am not going to miss David Letterman
so long Obama is in the white house.
request from David Cameron for the release of Aamer.
In future he may have to make a request to David Cameron
who may not feel obliged to comply. It is clear that
Obama has lost trust of European allies. He couldn't
persuade allies to tighten sanctions against Russia.
As I write president Obama is speaking in Germany
extolling freedom, human dignity that USA vlaue.
What a joke? I am not going to miss David Letterman
so long Obama is in the white house.
9
Oh Goody! Another thing we can hang on Obama! Many of you are obviously in a mindset about Obama. May I remind you, this president had to go and repair relationships most of the civilized world after the previous one spread his policy of American Exceptionalism. GWB went out on his white horse and got us into the Iraq War (which, if you look into the FACTS, had absolutely nothing to do with 9/11) and was the cauldron from which emerged almost all the other issues we face globally today.
Also, as another reader so astutely pointed out, I bet we don't know all the details of the whole Guantanamo prisoner situation. And as another said, we seldom take the time or effort to educate ourselves beyond the headlines. We Americans like to wave our Constitution around to proclaim our moral superiority, but seems most of us are still in the "red flag" mentality -- in other words, we make evaluations based on triggers that stimulate our emotional gut response.
We are not always right. We are not always wrong. But if we don't like Obama, we sure are quick to jump on the finger-pointing wagon.
Also, as another reader so astutely pointed out, I bet we don't know all the details of the whole Guantanamo prisoner situation. And as another said, we seldom take the time or effort to educate ourselves beyond the headlines. We Americans like to wave our Constitution around to proclaim our moral superiority, but seems most of us are still in the "red flag" mentality -- in other words, we make evaluations based on triggers that stimulate our emotional gut response.
We are not always right. We are not always wrong. But if we don't like Obama, we sure are quick to jump on the finger-pointing wagon.
10
Five definite terrorists are sent back to battle us in exchange for a traitor. One person who has been cleared for release multiple times and who is desired by the UK to return to the UK is still in incarcerated. Such is the machinations of this administration. It is no wonder that the administration and Congress are deemed so poorly by the public. A simple task that could be easily accomplished. But we seem intent on insuring that his children hate the USA and will be prime candidates for recruitment by terrorist groups. They can see no logical reason for the fourteen year imprisonment of their father.
3
But we are told (by Obama and cohorts) that the rest of the world loves him. You mean we've been deceived? Just what does the rest of the world think of Obama?
4
If the were the British government that made the request, that might be a slap in the face of Britain. As it is, it is the request of some individuals acting individually, so, if anything, it is a slap in those individuals face. Proportion, please.
1
Mr Aamer may be remaining in prison because there maybe a problem with the leaders of the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan. We need to recall that it was the Northern Alliance folks who turned turned in Mr. Aamer to the Americans in what I has been alleged to be some nasty corruption. Some secrets never show up until many years later or just never, unfortunately. It just does not make sense that he has not been released unless there is a dark secret in the background.
6
What is it Islamists do with captured Western aid workers again?
3
Since a succession of British Prime Ministers have made boot-licking acquiescence to the United States the centerpiece of their foreign policy, Britain should get used to being treated with contempt. Nobody respects a toady.
2
Nothing unusual here. The Brits are just getting a first hand look at the first half of the defining characteristic of the Obama administration, incompetent arrogance.
2
President Obama has numerous valid reasons for blaming Congress for his failure to fulfill many campaign promises, but this clearly isn't one of them. While I thought, and still do, that Hillary Clinton would have probably been a more effective president, 2008 was the first presidential election when I didn't feel it was a lesser-of-two evils situation and didn't have to hold my nose while voting. Since I can't imagine voting for any of the possible Republican candidates if it were possible for Obama to run again I would have to sit out the next election. If this account is accurate, I can't imagine a better way for the U.S. to foster anti-American sentiments.
1
This writer is confused. Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood are now our most trusted Allies.
2
All politics is personal. Is it possible that Obama is getting back at Cameron for being the first EU country signing up with China's Infrastructure Investment Bank?
1
What is the matter with us? We're the strangest country on this planet. Holding an innocent man (after being tortured) for 14 years?
The writers are correct. These things matter in our ongoing forever war against terror? How can we hope to convince the world we are the 'good' guys when we do such horrible, unjust detentions such as this? We are supposed to be about the rule of law and justice. Too many times, we show the world our true face and they are starting to turn away. We are our own worst enemy, are we not?
The writers are correct. These things matter in our ongoing forever war against terror? How can we hope to convince the world we are the 'good' guys when we do such horrible, unjust detentions such as this? We are supposed to be about the rule of law and justice. Too many times, we show the world our true face and they are starting to turn away. We are our own worst enemy, are we not?
6
More fallout from the bush reign of error. Why did Bush send him to Gitmo? Why didn't Bush release him in 2007? Obama must feel like janitor left with cleaning up the disasters Bush created.
8
This seems less about intelligence concerns than political concerns. As the president begins this period of legacy polishing he once again reflects his basic temperament toward being overly cautious and always looking for compromise so the responsibility for his actions can be shared. Except there is no one to compromise with in this and the numerous other detainees being held.
Could there be a few who are such hardened fighters that if released they would immediately join a new jihadist movement? Probably very few. But there are also many detainees who were swept up in the hysteria of post 9/11 that need to be released or need to be tried in a court of law. The idea of unilateral detention without charges or trial harkens back to the dark ages. We don't have kings anymore and presidents can't just toss people into a dungeon and throw away the key. Mr. President, simply follow the rule of law! If Congress balks, remind them that they too must follow the rule of law.
Could there be a few who are such hardened fighters that if released they would immediately join a new jihadist movement? Probably very few. But there are also many detainees who were swept up in the hysteria of post 9/11 that need to be released or need to be tried in a court of law. The idea of unilateral detention without charges or trial harkens back to the dark ages. We don't have kings anymore and presidents can't just toss people into a dungeon and throw away the key. Mr. President, simply follow the rule of law! If Congress balks, remind them that they too must follow the rule of law.
4
Obama despises the Anglosphere. Yes, I do realize what that remark means. Do you?
5
What is at issue is that Mr. Aamer, an innocent man by all accounts, will upon regaining his freedom draw the curtain on the heinous crimes committed by the United States in Afghanistan. That will embarrass a load of establishment types in Washington.
Obama has demonstrated from day one that he is essentially spineless and out of his depth. It is likely Obama neither has the bandwidth nor the power to handle this. He has never had control of his office, and is ruling by the consent of the pre-established power structure. Obama's primary concern now is passing something like the TPP to assure post-presidency payoffs like Clinton has enjoyed.
Britain, do not take offense. Obama is just out of his depth.
Obama has demonstrated from day one that he is essentially spineless and out of his depth. It is likely Obama neither has the bandwidth nor the power to handle this. He has never had control of his office, and is ruling by the consent of the pre-established power structure. Obama's primary concern now is passing something like the TPP to assure post-presidency payoffs like Clinton has enjoyed.
Britain, do not take offense. Obama is just out of his depth.
4
The op-ed piece suggests there is no reason that Aamer is still being held. But the truth is that there is; it's not a good one I imagine, such as the committing of a crime; it's more likely they are keeping him because of British behavior towards the colonies in 1775. Americans know little of history, but they can sure hold a grudge.
2
How can the American people help??? This has not been publicized in the American media, so we have had no knowledge of it. Kick up a storm in the media here, and you are likely to see some movement in this tragic situation.
3
The writers have a lot to learn about 'American Exceptionalism'. We live in a simplistic 'good guy-bad guy world where evil and even inferiority is presumed by race, culture and religion. Our media supports any view that brings 'readers' and commercial exposure whether accurate, truthful or not. Our politicians play to the public mood nurtured by such 'Exceptionalism' and thereby develop a special interest funnel for money and power that perpetuates everything. How else can we explain the death and misery caused by our war of choice in Iraq based on false pretenses, or a half-century occupation by an ally, of an entire indigenous population (that we even pay for)? As for one individual unlawfully held and tortured, liberation would mean admission of infallibility bringing about too many questions for 'exceptional' people's.
7
Is this guy as bad or worse than those currently running roughshod over the Middle East? Would he join ISIS if released? If he did, would it matter? After 13 years in prison, does he have some inside track on vulnerabilities within the United States? Moreover, just what harm will the remaining band of detainees have on the security of our country that isn't currently being addressed? Close the damnable place and 'repurpose' it as a shopping mall for Cubans.
5
Gitmo is a war crime. Those complicit in its continuation are war criminals. A detainee released to a nation like Britain, with a lively English-language press, would say things which would embarrass our president and senators. This is terrifying to them. They will do anything to prevent such terrorism.
Releasing detainees to third-world nations with strange languages and compliant press poses no such danger.
Releasing detainees to third-world nations with strange languages and compliant press poses no such danger.
1
Who exactly are the four people who went to represent the case from the side of Britain. Not a single name is mentioned . Did they have the jurisdiction, the authorization to go and talk in Ameruca. What exactly was the current view of America and whom exactly they went and met and exactly what did they say ?
I have never seen NYT publishing such half baked articles without presenting all details of persons and without representing both sides of the issue.
This is third class journalese and much below the high journalistic standards of the NY T .
I have never seen NYT publishing such half baked articles without presenting all details of persons and without representing both sides of the issue.
This is third class journalese and much below the high journalistic standards of the NY T .
6
What all four of these incompetents (authors) have in common and why they are not at all "strange" bed fellows is the lack of confidence the British electorate has in them. Confidence having a very fecund meaning on that fair Isle. Last time I checked one of the remaining four kingodms comprising the United K. relized it had been buggered (again) by London on a recent referendum and voted in a brand new neo nationalist "stop the 10 Downing insanity" party. Only Sinn Fein enjoys this kind of monolithic support.
Could it be the type of arrogance on display in this very feeble bit of bleating will be responsible for an evern broader backlash? Consider the very curious demographic oddity of Britian supplying more terrorists to the war on terror than soldiers to combat them. There are now more British serving terrorists than British serving soldiers and the British man and women in the street (including most Muslims) has had quite enough thank you very much. I will not speak to the terroist in question's claims of innocence except to say that "charity worker" on behalf of a regim that beheaded people in sports stadiums and forbad women to leave the home is if not an oxymoron a reality only on the other side of the looking glass.
In short Britian does not want him and Washington knows it- funny how well things work out sometimes. Why not make a more serious attempt at relevance just for old times sake fellas before UKIP eats you all for lunch the next go round.
Could it be the type of arrogance on display in this very feeble bit of bleating will be responsible for an evern broader backlash? Consider the very curious demographic oddity of Britian supplying more terrorists to the war on terror than soldiers to combat them. There are now more British serving terrorists than British serving soldiers and the British man and women in the street (including most Muslims) has had quite enough thank you very much. I will not speak to the terroist in question's claims of innocence except to say that "charity worker" on behalf of a regim that beheaded people in sports stadiums and forbad women to leave the home is if not an oxymoron a reality only on the other side of the looking glass.
In short Britian does not want him and Washington knows it- funny how well things work out sometimes. Why not make a more serious attempt at relevance just for old times sake fellas before UKIP eats you all for lunch the next go round.
7
Not just these four PMs are insisting on Aamer's release, but so is David Cammeron who asked Obama for Aamer's release just yesterday. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3114653/You-free-Shaker-Aamer-Ca... For those of you insisting that there is more to the story, Google people! It's your friend.
3
Content of one prisoner in Guantanamo costs $2,8 million per year. There are 54 prisoner left. Total: $142,2 million. May be it is time to close Guantanamo?
Guantanamo - it is a prison, which has made America famous all over the world as a nation that is fighting for human rights, but uses the most severe torture and violates international norms.
Guantanamo - it is a prison, which has made America famous all over the world as a nation that is fighting for human rights, but uses the most severe torture and violates international norms.
2
The Israelis, Saudis, Japanese, South Koreans, Baltics and Eastern Europeans all welcome you into their world with open arms. Each has been insulted by the president and none is sure of his intentions.
BTW: At least the president gave the queen a disc of his greatest speeches so take comfort in that. I'm sure she's watched them all, over and over.
BTW: At least the president gave the queen a disc of his greatest speeches so take comfort in that. I'm sure she's watched them all, over and over.
4
TO: Corbyn, Slaughter, Davis and Mitchell, MP UK
RE: AWOT (American War on Terror)
-------------
AWOT is more than a mess. It's a disaster, and menace to friend and foe alike; but friend especially.
AWOT is an incoherent self-destructive charade born during American politicians' post 9-11 panic attack. That it was subsequently hijacked by Republican neoconservatives ensconced in the White House who used it as a smokescreen to fight wars of choice in the Middle East to advance their "Plan for the New American Century" (PNAC) hardly helped matters. AWOT became a pretext for invading Baathist Iraq and supporting Likud Israel despite neither having anything to do with Bin Laden, al-Qaeda, or 9-11 itself -- distortions that became its undoing.
Since it lacks anything resembling logical consistency or any kind of realistic strategy to fight al-Qaeda and actually defeat it beyond killing on a vast scale, those ensnared by AWOT face the same cruel yet random fates that any European who fell into the Sicherheitsdienst's hands during WW-2 faced. To compare the brutality inflicted by CIA torturers at secret interrogation centers in Eastern Europe, Egypt, Iraq and Afghanistan with the SD's terrorism in Nazi Occupied Europe might seem unfair and polemical. But since AWOT has already lasted nearly three times longer than WW-2 with no end in sight its degeneration into administrative anarchy resembling the Third Reich's should be three times more advanced.
So don't get your hopes up.
RE: AWOT (American War on Terror)
-------------
AWOT is more than a mess. It's a disaster, and menace to friend and foe alike; but friend especially.
AWOT is an incoherent self-destructive charade born during American politicians' post 9-11 panic attack. That it was subsequently hijacked by Republican neoconservatives ensconced in the White House who used it as a smokescreen to fight wars of choice in the Middle East to advance their "Plan for the New American Century" (PNAC) hardly helped matters. AWOT became a pretext for invading Baathist Iraq and supporting Likud Israel despite neither having anything to do with Bin Laden, al-Qaeda, or 9-11 itself -- distortions that became its undoing.
Since it lacks anything resembling logical consistency or any kind of realistic strategy to fight al-Qaeda and actually defeat it beyond killing on a vast scale, those ensnared by AWOT face the same cruel yet random fates that any European who fell into the Sicherheitsdienst's hands during WW-2 faced. To compare the brutality inflicted by CIA torturers at secret interrogation centers in Eastern Europe, Egypt, Iraq and Afghanistan with the SD's terrorism in Nazi Occupied Europe might seem unfair and polemical. But since AWOT has already lasted nearly three times longer than WW-2 with no end in sight its degeneration into administrative anarchy resembling the Third Reich's should be three times more advanced.
So don't get your hopes up.
4
Most of the comments here are knee jerk reactions to the article. Most are willing to believe everything that could said against Obama adminsitration. However, there are other facts not mentioned in this article. All British detainees have since been released except Mr Aamer, who is a Saudi citizen. Both Bush and Obama administrations have cleared his release to Saudi Arabia, but not to Britain. Interestingly, the UK newspaper Independent wrote in 2012 that the British Government did their best to prevent MR Aamer's lawyers from accessing his records. It is also reported that the British MI5 was actively involved in his brutal interrogation. It would seem that the UK Government might have a public position as well as a private one. It would be rather convenient for them to complain publicly that the US is delaying the release especailly when politicains such as these authors posture for their own constituencies.
13
We are an appalling country and no one cares. Time has passed, torture, torture, years and years for this man, he is just a wrinkle in the discourse, an aside to the war on terror, Obama should be ashamed!! He is just another hack who became president, full of promises and lies, and so it goes. I have watched too many presidents at this point. They all are useless, and then there are the ones like George W Bush who are devastatingly bad. But Obama decided not to go after W. It must have been a bargain in the first place.
5
Brits need to wake up and learn hardball. "You don't get what you want until we get what we want". It's the only way, but one they forgot decades ago.
1
I have to admit, other than the usual GOP apologists who pop up here constantly, what would make anyone take this story at face value? Because it's in the Times? Because these folks have a nice tone and cultured accent? Three quarters of the people here admit they've never heard of this man yet based upon this OpEd piece they have "decided" the United States is wrong.
I don't know anything about this man either. But I'd want to know more before I threw stones about handing him over. While I appreciate the Times offering the forum for this discussion, I'm not anywhere naive enough to imagine I'm qualified to make a decision.
To whit, I doubt Mr. Obama has "slapped" anyone in the face. It's not his style. He should have slapped Congress in the face much more. So I suggest to the authors that there is more here than to which they are privy. And please don't think we in the US are naive enough to imagine just because you are a bi-partisan group from Parliament, you are any less barking mad than a similar group from Congress.
I don't know anything about this man either. But I'd want to know more before I threw stones about handing him over. While I appreciate the Times offering the forum for this discussion, I'm not anywhere naive enough to imagine I'm qualified to make a decision.
To whit, I doubt Mr. Obama has "slapped" anyone in the face. It's not his style. He should have slapped Congress in the face much more. So I suggest to the authors that there is more here than to which they are privy. And please don't think we in the US are naive enough to imagine just because you are a bi-partisan group from Parliament, you are any less barking mad than a similar group from Congress.
20
If his last name were Smith for example it would have registered in the minds of the careless officials here that he is actually Brit and he would have been released long time ago.
With Aamer he is viewed primarily or solely as another Arab or Muslim whose imprisonment is, well OK, innocent or not.
With Aamer he is viewed primarily or solely as another Arab or Muslim whose imprisonment is, well OK, innocent or not.
2
Remember when Obama told Putin "I can help you more after the next election?" It's the same thing here: The Democrats can release terrorists and their sympathizers (and if Mr. Aamer were not one, he would have been released long ago), but only after Democrats first have done their best to win the next election by fooling the public as to what they stand for.
And if you want favors from Obama, you're much better off being an enemy of the US (Russia, Iran) than a friend.
And if you want favors from Obama, you're much better off being an enemy of the US (Russia, Iran) than a friend.
2
It pains me, as an unabashed, unapologetic Anglophile to say this plainly: "Be gone with you." Perhaps you think you are addressing an elite salon with wafer thin cucumber sandwiches served on the lawn, or an audience of vulgar chumps. Did you think no one knew anything about history in this, your former colony?
Have you no shame sir?
Obama has earned the undying, unyielding respect when he returned Winston Churchill's bust. I was delighted to see an American president deal with an imperialist responsible for concentration camps, starvation, and death of millions in the colonies. Bravo, my president!
Obama is dragging his feet on releasing a prisoner from Gitmo? Is he now? And our senators are unaware. No kidding (how aware did you think they were)? Who is the chump now?
I wonder whether you told our unaware senators about what you did with the guy responsible for Lockerbie? That you turned him over to Libyans to get an oil contract. A plane full of great Americans sacrificed over your concern for oil.
Have you no shame sir?
Or have you explained to the American public your love for Islamic extremism that you have carefully fostered within your own country, and are pretty sanguine about exporting to the Middle East and South Asia? You do know, don't you, Americans are dying because of the people you are exporting?
Have you no shame sir?
Does this clear it up for you? Is this the last we are going hear about this from you? Gracias.
Kalidan.
Have you no shame sir?
Obama has earned the undying, unyielding respect when he returned Winston Churchill's bust. I was delighted to see an American president deal with an imperialist responsible for concentration camps, starvation, and death of millions in the colonies. Bravo, my president!
Obama is dragging his feet on releasing a prisoner from Gitmo? Is he now? And our senators are unaware. No kidding (how aware did you think they were)? Who is the chump now?
I wonder whether you told our unaware senators about what you did with the guy responsible for Lockerbie? That you turned him over to Libyans to get an oil contract. A plane full of great Americans sacrificed over your concern for oil.
Have you no shame sir?
Or have you explained to the American public your love for Islamic extremism that you have carefully fostered within your own country, and are pretty sanguine about exporting to the Middle East and South Asia? You do know, don't you, Americans are dying because of the people you are exporting?
Have you no shame sir?
Does this clear it up for you? Is this the last we are going hear about this from you? Gracias.
Kalidan.
15
If what the authors say is true, then there doesn't seem to be a valid reason for continuing to hold this man. However, is there a back story? Could the Times give us some background information about this man?
3
You are four MP's - Please don't represent yourself a the British Government as you are not. Please do not represent this a slap in the face of Britain. This falsification of your actual position as well as your hyperbole in calling this a slap in the face of Britain makes your calls suspicious.
9
Britain, he's just not that into you.
4
You got no help from our legislators because you haven't offered to pay them in some way. Don't you know how our system works? Everyone in government is for sale if the price is right. Nothing is done with a sense of what's right or wrong.
3
Could it be that the last time they released someone called Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi who became their worst nightmare
We are not hearing the full story which is probably clouded as classified,etc
What are the odds that if Shaker Aemer is released he may follow in Abu Bakrs footsteps,etc.
The notion that ISIS is a Mossad, CIA, invention is absurd to say the least and leans towards psychological warfare PR,etc.
Whatever World opinion is about Guantanamo we must remember that detainees are not boy scouts and many after release have reverted to vengeful hatred and retaliations against America and the West.
By pushing for Aamers release Britain may regret what they wish for
Blog:Paul martin foreign correspondent
British journalist/SHOCKJOCK
We are not hearing the full story which is probably clouded as classified,etc
What are the odds that if Shaker Aemer is released he may follow in Abu Bakrs footsteps,etc.
The notion that ISIS is a Mossad, CIA, invention is absurd to say the least and leans towards psychological warfare PR,etc.
Whatever World opinion is about Guantanamo we must remember that detainees are not boy scouts and many after release have reverted to vengeful hatred and retaliations against America and the West.
By pushing for Aamers release Britain may regret what they wish for
Blog:Paul martin foreign correspondent
British journalist/SHOCKJOCK
6
Politicians JEREMY CORBYN, DAVID DAVIS, ANDREW MITCHELL and ANDY SLAUGHTER are grandstanding... suggesting that President Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron incompetent. The conspiracy theorists just love this stuff. The trouble with all this is quite simple: we do not know. And government can wrap most anything, blocking us. Knowledge is needed to cut this issue to the quick. With all this spook stuff, the public is blocked. The "Snowden Affect" is washing through. This is the Cold War Redux. Sen. Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin rides again. Bobby Kennedy was part of that team. This is not about left and right. This is about national security, those six communists in government that we needed to flush.
Today's threat is nuclear. Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, China... and the ubiquitous terrorist. No politician can deal with the black box of terror...
Short of knowing, we are powerless, and for all we know the president may have very good reason. Or he may be forgetful. This may be deliberate or inadvertent.
Galling? Yes. Horrid. But this is the way it is. And if any of you have been caught up in the workings of our dysfunctional, politically motivated government prosecutor, you will get it. See www.sblewis.net and study footnote 5. The implications of this one factor are simply mind boggling.
We no longer trust our department of justice. This is fact. Rudy Giuliani destroyed the logic of trust, and he is not the first.
We do not have the means to trust.
Today's threat is nuclear. Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, China... and the ubiquitous terrorist. No politician can deal with the black box of terror...
Short of knowing, we are powerless, and for all we know the president may have very good reason. Or he may be forgetful. This may be deliberate or inadvertent.
Galling? Yes. Horrid. But this is the way it is. And if any of you have been caught up in the workings of our dysfunctional, politically motivated government prosecutor, you will get it. See www.sblewis.net and study footnote 5. The implications of this one factor are simply mind boggling.
We no longer trust our department of justice. This is fact. Rudy Giuliani destroyed the logic of trust, and he is not the first.
We do not have the means to trust.
Gentleman, you came to the wrong place if you want to find justice, and the rule of law ...
This nation that once stood tall, and knew the respect of the world, is no more.
It now preaches to the world about human rights, yet disavows such here at home, as evidenced by its brutality to its own citizenry.
Take a hard look at our fully militarized police, and our private for-profit prisons, and then take a look at the level of inequality, all of which is documented.
Finally, look at the 24/7/365 all-encompassing surveillance, and ten tell me all is well in the land that has Lady Liberty gracing the entrance to its New York harbor.
And the President, the man I supported twice, financially as well, has held himself above the fray, too haughty to be a real leader, immersed in his own perception of what is Presidential.
We make many mistakes here in the United States, and more often than not, we learn from them; this late in the game as I watch the spinelessness that permeates our government, from the President on down, I despair that "we the people", are sound asleep, oblivious that our nation is breaking apart on the rocks that our leaders have knowingly placed in our path.
This nation that once stood tall, and knew the respect of the world, is no more.
It now preaches to the world about human rights, yet disavows such here at home, as evidenced by its brutality to its own citizenry.
Take a hard look at our fully militarized police, and our private for-profit prisons, and then take a look at the level of inequality, all of which is documented.
Finally, look at the 24/7/365 all-encompassing surveillance, and ten tell me all is well in the land that has Lady Liberty gracing the entrance to its New York harbor.
And the President, the man I supported twice, financially as well, has held himself above the fray, too haughty to be a real leader, immersed in his own perception of what is Presidential.
We make many mistakes here in the United States, and more often than not, we learn from them; this late in the game as I watch the spinelessness that permeates our government, from the President on down, I despair that "we the people", are sound asleep, oblivious that our nation is breaking apart on the rocks that our leaders have knowingly placed in our path.
45
this is the result when the US has a leader who does not believe in American exceptionalism.
I agree with NaCl, but would then argue that Obama now owes it to our trusted ally to tell them why he doesn't plan to release Mr. Aamer. Right now he just looks incompetent and/or disingenuous.
8
Oh please, the GOPTP is fighting tooth, nail and innuendo to keep it open.
and the Israelis should trust obama that they will always have America's back and there will not be a nuclear Iran.
when has this administration not be disingenuous?
what about all the red lines in syria etc. etc.?
when has this administration not be disingenuous?
what about all the red lines in syria etc. etc.?
I don't think you get it that Guantanamo is not an Obama thing.
8
@ 66hawk,
Yea it is an Obama "thing" since he hasn't doen aanythign about it in his tenure as President so he inherited the problem and has let it fester, so again this is on Obama. Or he might let this go till after the 2016 election. I'll put my money on that scenario.
Yea it is an Obama "thing" since he hasn't doen aanythign about it in his tenure as President so he inherited the problem and has let it fester, so again this is on Obama. Or he might let this go till after the 2016 election. I'll put my money on that scenario.
Please read the op-ed carefully. This man was cleared by the administration under President Bush in 2007, so Guantanamo is very much an Obama thing.
Obama has been the President of the United States for six year and four months. His administration has already released actual terrorists to foreign custody. Why not this guy, who the Brits are requesting be released into their custody? If he has a problematic history, I suspect MI-5 can handle it.
One more example of what should be our shame. An innocent person has been imprisoned for 13+ years, and yet we give it lip service.
14
He was doing charity work you say? Jack the Ripper was practicing surgery then...
11
And your evidence of wrongdoing to warrant such a nasty post would be what? None, of course, unless you know more about this than the CIA and the FBI.
And you base your knowledge of the case on--what?? The fact of his detention is not proof of guilt.
I know it is hard for some people to believe but the majority of Muslims see performing charitable work as an essential part of their religious faith. If you are cynical and uninformed you may choose to believe that there is no smoke without fire. He and his friends were indeed working in Afghanistan with a charity helping to build girls' schools. The facts speak for themselves. He was kidnapped for a payment of $5,000 dollars so that the US could show the world (and particularly the domestic audience) how good they were at capturing "terrorists". I live near Shaker's home in London and I would welcome him back as my neighbour.
Like most Canadians, I have always trusted President Obama. Given the unrelenting, viscious opposition to his presidency for every one of his six-plus years in office, he can be excused for not controlling the roadblocks between his decisions and the downstream actions that put them into effect. That said, the Brits appear to have a case, and after almost 15 years in prison the man's release needs to be expedited if there is no telling evidence of guilt.
26
Wayne, the roadblocks are all of his own doing. All he has to do is give notice, and 30 days later, he can release him. Congress has no say.
Just curious and realizing this is a rhetorical question: Why would any Canadian (never mind "most Canadians") have any emotion -- trust or otherwise -- concerning the American president? The second sentence of your comment indicates a pretty superficial and misleading understanding of the United States (hint: the President was re-elected). Somehow you have imposed your preference for Parliamentary government (what someone in the Washington Post today called "democratic dictatorship") on our preference for divided government (which is why we have had the Congress primarily controlled by one party and the presidency by another for about 25 years). There was one 12-month exception to effectively divided government in the United States during this quarter century. During that period, President Obama could have done just about anything a Canadian Prime Minister can do with no minority party to worry about. He didn't.
We captured innocent people, tortured them, and now we can't let them go because the will tell. A pathetic story.
44
Will tell? This guy has already told his story; the damage is done. The Obama Administration has already released actual terrorist leaders. If there is any substantial reason why this particular schmo cannot be released into MI-5's watchful supervision, it is time for the Obama Administration to explain it publicly.
The architects and managers of Guantanomo are cowards of the first order -- and at several levels. First, for panicking and abandoning the Bill of Rights. Second, for their inability to admit to wrongs and mistakes (and likely to crimes).
President Obama is the most puzzling in this, the greatest contradiction between what he once promised and how he has acted -- despite his alleged legal education and even when there is no electoral penalty for acting.
President Obama is the most puzzling in this, the greatest contradiction between what he once promised and how he has acted -- despite his alleged legal education and even when there is no electoral penalty for acting.
53
The bitter irony is that Obama taught constitutional law. Not that I'm defending Osama bin Laden, but the fact is that he was assassinated without having a trial. That same weekend, one of the three judges who presided over Eichmann's trial died of natural causes. Israel gave Eichmann a chance to defend himself.
17
The Bill of Rights never did and still does not apply to unlawful combatants (or even lawful ones) captured on the battlefield, which is, contrary to the false impression given here, exactly where Aemer was captured.
1
The excuse of Congressional opposition is a blatant falsehood. There is a law requiring notice of intent to release a detainee from Gitmo, the same law that Obama disregarded in his hasty release of dangerous prisoners to swap for the deserter Bergdahl. And, "alleged" legal education is the word of choice in that the media, including the New York Times, utterly failed in their duty to vet this candidate for the highest office in our country.
Sadly, appealing to Mr. Obama rather than getting financial support for a brief documentary that might be narrated by some fetching starlet was a mistake. The former will get nothing but a continuation of bureaucratic incompetence, while the latter might have engendered sufficient public outrage in the U.S., provided you chose a fetching enough starlet to assure a large viewing audience, of securing Mr. Aamer's release.
21
Front page of NYT should be sufficient even to get this lame duck moving in support of what he claims are his ideals. This is an outrageous failure that has cost what appears to be an innocent man nearly 15 years of his life. That nobody will be held accountable at any level for this failure is troubling.
1
Something is keeping Mr. Aamer from freedom. Imagine an army rounding up a bunch of people, torturing them, and getting them to snitch on each other (and then the torture will stop for those of you who are reconcilable). Could Mr. Aamer's imprisonment really boil down to that? Of course it could, and it probably is so given that he has been cleared for release and never convicted. However, Mr. Aamer has a couple other things against him. He may not be a big fan of the freedom-loving and equal rights talking USA. Can't really blame him for that. Secondly, he may want to make untoward remarks about being locked up for 13 years. It might be better to keep him quiet as long as possible because the fella is going to spill his guts about being tortured, and President Obama is going to have to read about it at breakfast--ruining his Count Chocula and perhaps even his round of golf that day.
18
So maybe Aamer gets out in the latter part of November 2016?
Just another example of the incompetence -- and incomprehensibility -- of Obama's handling of national security and foreign affairs. Give the mullahs a clear path to nuclear weapons, but don't get around to signing the release papers for a clearly innocent British citizen.
15
As someone who worked hard for Pres. Obama's campaign during his first and second elections I am extremely disappointed in his actions in this case. If the facts as presented are true, this is a betrayal of those of us who supported him. Clearly the Republican critics have a base here for criticizing the President's incompetence in many matters. Clearly there needs to be a U.S. campaign to re-awaken the Pres. to his campaign promises to close this prison.
19
Unfortunately for all of us, Obama wants to do things his way and ONLY his way. Thus, all of the Executive Orders. He is not a President; he is a tyrant.
If the republican members of Congress would let our Cuban prison be closed Mr. Ammers would be home with his family. Don't put all the blame on Obama.
24
Permission is not needed from Republicans for this, just 30 days notice, that's all.
When the United States throws it's constitution in the rubbish bin, as it did in 2001 much to the glee of our attackers, no one should doubt our ability to be the most ruthless inhuman force on earth.
Shining city on a hill? Bastion of liberty?
No thanks - we'll send a bunch of red necks to the middle east to torture people who look funny and don't talk American!
Shining city on a hill? Bastion of liberty?
No thanks - we'll send a bunch of red necks to the middle east to torture people who look funny and don't talk American!
43
Terrible about all those Americans chopping the heads of men captured and enslaving women and children captured, isn't it? Too bad we can't be governed by those enlightened Muslims and their sympathizers here in the US.
There are plenty of red necks in New England, Erich. Did they go to the Middle East to torture people who don't look like us?
This is a particularly difficult story to understand when you consider that Obama had absolutely no problem releasing five considered the very worst of the worst in exchange for an army deserter.
32
Maybe the Brits should find a deserter and grab him to make an exchange for the terrorist? It worked for the Taliban, why not the Brits? [Hint the Taliban are enemies of the US and the UK is a friend; Obama only likes enemies of the US.]
Indeed. Makes one suspect there's a lot more to the story than what we're reading here – such as the fact that Aamer is a wanted man in Saudi Arabia, he was possibly being bankrolled by bin Laden, and he has in fact been cleared to be released to the Saudis. So perhaps we should just let this play out through diplomatic channels, where the obama administration is trying not to offend either of these 'allies.'
I seem to recall that closing Gitmo promptly was one of Obama's campaign promises, just like transparency and curtailing surveillance. Funny how all those pledges evaporate, especially when you have the media continuously heaping praise on their 'anointed' one.
Guantanamo Bay was to be closed for a long time ago. America has positioned itself as a bastion of democracy and civilization, however barbaric torture, detention without charge, the refusal to deliver the citizens of other countres or to close the prison in accordance with requirements of the Cuban government... All these things spoil the image of America.
29
It does more than spoil the 'image of America', it spoils the nation itself.
The Cuban government places requirements on the United States? Well, maybe now that Obama is capitulating to them, as he has done to Iran. Obama will release detainees from Gitmo, no matter how much of a threat they are to the U.S., just give him time. He already released five terrorists for the release of one Army deserter.
President Obama is familiar with Executive Orders, which allow him to ignore Congress and sidestep the Constitution. The Constitution itself has several amendments that dictate the restraints upon, and the provisions against, and the rules for, dealing with suspected wrongdoers. Why does President Obama ignore the Constitution for his healthcare law yet refuse to consider the same willful ignorance regarding the release of a prisoner?
Congress has no authority to dictate military policy - the President does, as Commander in Chief. Mr. Aamer can only be considered a military prisoner - and therefore not subject to Congressional stupidity. Of course, the majority Democrat Congress that released prisoners in exchange for an American deserter should have been castigated for the idiots they are. And now the majority Republican Congress should be similarly rebuked.
President Obama, since you've already demonstrated a willful disregard of the laws that you swore to obey, what's stopping you now?
Congress has no authority to dictate military policy - the President does, as Commander in Chief. Mr. Aamer can only be considered a military prisoner - and therefore not subject to Congressional stupidity. Of course, the majority Democrat Congress that released prisoners in exchange for an American deserter should have been castigated for the idiots they are. And now the majority Republican Congress should be similarly rebuked.
President Obama, since you've already demonstrated a willful disregard of the laws that you swore to obey, what's stopping you now?
17
Politics aside, can we at least ask whether it's ironic that someone who collaborated in terrorism or Jihadism -- which is the use of extreme violence for the purpose of destroying someone else's civil order -- would stand on their civil rights under that civil order? The Executive does have to have full discretion in deciding these cases, given the nature of the national security threat these individuals have dedicated themselves to be.
6
@Annette Keller: Did you read the article? He has never been accused of a crime. He was doing charity work and captured for a bounty and given to us, the Americans, the supposed 'good' guys. He's been tortured, sitting in prison for 14 years, separated from those he loves, a son he's never seen? This is America. We are not supposed to behave this way.
1
Either you haven't read the article or just aren't interested in the facts. Mr. Asmer was cleared by two administrations to be released. He was doing charity work not terrorism. To be cleared by two administrations takes quite a bit of doing in this age.
1
He was cleared by the Bush administration for release to Saudi Arabia, where he is originally from. He has never been charged with a crime. There is no evidence against him. He has been tortured. If he is a threat to anyone now, it would be because he has been treated so badly.
1
I'm from Texas. "We" believe that those in prison must be there for a good reason. "We" also believe that the available evidence shows that man and dinosaur coexisted and that dinosaurs did not go extinct (if they all have) until after the Flood. There are other beliefs that "we" Americans have. Perhaps one thing you four are up against -- belief vs. fact -- confounds you. It confounds me too. Especially the special relationship that belief and politics enjoy in the USA. I wish you good luck in your quest and hope that Shaker Aamer will soon make a journey home.
56
mr. obama, let mr. aamer go.
enough already!
enough already!
37
If we can be so unjust, perhaps skirting legality, and certainly inhuman, in such a clear case of miscarriage of justice, I fear to think how much more cruel we have been with more dubious cases. What I can't understand is why, at this late date, there is not a recognition of the fact that many persons were caught in a web without being guilty of anything and that these persons should now be released. Having ruined their lives, the least we can do is to make some sort of amend.
29
The Brits all loved him. Now they've learned what some of us knew when we first met him back during his first campaign. He is not a man of deep character or integrity but of shallow, but impressive, intellect.
16
You are wrong. He is NOT a man of impressive intellect. Listen to him speak without his teleprompter. He is a fraud in many, many ways. He has you believing that he has an impressive intellect.
1
Can you blame us for welcoming Obama?? His predecessor proved that shallow intellect guided by "deep character" (sic) steers you into the ditch every time.
I really get a kick out of the constant "incompetence" refrain from people who stumble over their "I am not a scientist" line.
Guantanamo is a national disgrace foisted on us by George Bush and perpetuated by his Group of Pigs party whose greatest achievement in control of any part of governance is to demonstrate that it does not work.
I really get a kick out of the constant "incompetence" refrain from people who stumble over their "I am not a scientist" line.
Guantanamo is a national disgrace foisted on us by George Bush and perpetuated by his Group of Pigs party whose greatest achievement in control of any part of governance is to demonstrate that it does not work.
i, for one, have never been impressed by his intellect. his overweening ambition to be president obviously yes. his ability to fool the american people, time andagain it is alsoa yes. his belief in the constitution non-existent. his desire to swing the country to the left not by nationalization bu through presidential edict shows great shrewdness but not intellect.
1
.
This is a strange story. it contradicts the administration's demonstrated anxiety to get rid of Guantanamo inmates so as to redress its embarrassing failure to close the facility as promised long ago. To that end Obama acted downright recklessly a year ago when he released five high value Taliban commanders in exchange for Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who had gone AWOL in Afghanistan. Now Bergdahl is being tried for desertion.
The current hesitation to accommodate the British on Shaker Aamer, seems therefore inconsistent and very odd, unless he is not quite as innocent and tame as his supporters claim.
In any case, we have here only half the story. To hold a sensible opinion on this matter readers need to hear the administration's explanation.
This is a strange story. it contradicts the administration's demonstrated anxiety to get rid of Guantanamo inmates so as to redress its embarrassing failure to close the facility as promised long ago. To that end Obama acted downright recklessly a year ago when he released five high value Taliban commanders in exchange for Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who had gone AWOL in Afghanistan. Now Bergdahl is being tried for desertion.
The current hesitation to accommodate the British on Shaker Aamer, seems therefore inconsistent and very odd, unless he is not quite as innocent and tame as his supporters claim.
In any case, we have here only half the story. To hold a sensible opinion on this matter readers need to hear the administration's explanation.
141
"To hold a sensible opinion on this matter readers need to hear the administration's explanation."
These four senior Members of Parliament of both major parties write here that the Administration does not have an explanation. They met with all the representative on this, and there was no coherent explanation offered when they pressed for one.
Are we to suspect the writers are lying about that?
Are we to wait patiently until the Administration gets around to thinking about this?
Both suggestions are insults too.
These four senior Members of Parliament of both major parties write here that the Administration does not have an explanation. They met with all the representative on this, and there was no coherent explanation offered when they pressed for one.
Are we to suspect the writers are lying about that?
Are we to wait patiently until the Administration gets around to thinking about this?
Both suggestions are insults too.
28
Perhaps there is more to the story, or perhaps this is simply how the president operates.
It wouldn't surprise me, a cynic, if the president didn't want to waste political capital on a released GITMO detainee at a time when he's being hammered politically for his weak foreign policy or trying to achieve something more important like the trade or Iranian deals.
It wouldn't surprise me, a cynic, if the president didn't want to waste political capital on a released GITMO detainee at a time when he's being hammered politically for his weak foreign policy or trying to achieve something more important like the trade or Iranian deals.
8
AACNY -- "It wouldn't surprise me, a cynic, if the president didn't want to waste political capital on a released GITMO detainee at a time when he's being hammered politically . . .."
I have to agree that could explain current inaction.
However, it does not explain inaction for the last two years of Bush and the whole six years of Obama.
There is always something more important? That takes cynicism too far.
I have to agree that could explain current inaction.
However, it does not explain inaction for the last two years of Bush and the whole six years of Obama.
There is always something more important? That takes cynicism too far.
3
Actually, it's not just Obama. He's just the tip of the giant neoliberal iceberg that has control over both political parties. But we have global warming. Eventually, it will melt while the neoliberal policies persists around the world. The burning of fossil fuels for as long as possible is the goal, so you know its going to get pretty hot. The British shouldn't take this personally. Everyone gets the same treatment. If Americans get lucky enough to vote these con jobs out of office, we will be too busy building our own country back up and getting people out of prison and back to work. But this will be a daunting task. Especially if it gets very hot.
23
remove as spam
Obama is anti-British.....it is that simple. The MP's shouldn't take it personally....it is the nation you country he hates, not you.
12
Pathetic answer, And utterly devoid of reality. Obama hates colonialism (and who can blame him for that or his hating of racism) and the British Empire is long dead.
I fear you are yet another FOX style white 'ethnic patriot' who fears and hates our POTUS.
I fear you are yet another FOX style white 'ethnic patriot' who fears and hates our POTUS.
1
England is not "most trusted" anything. England is essentially a post colonial white power in decline and is of marginal value on the international scene, a used commodity. Mr. Aamer has low value thus has sunk below the political horizon. England and Aamer are unloved and unappreciated. Aamer's white washed resume was duly noted.
Welcome to the world of Obama's allies and supporters. He treats them worse than the enemies and potential friends. So how exactly is this a surprise?
19
These prisoners and their families don't vote in US elections. The rest is moot.
12
But I'm sure the Democrats are looking for ways to qualify them to vote!
Obama's intention to shut Guantanamo down is nothing more than a curtsy to the Congress and to the American people!
This prison won't be closed until the USA has plans for the so-called "World terrorism"
This prison won't be closed until the USA has plans for the so-called "World terrorism"
5
Correction, France is the US's oldest friend and ally. You know, the guys who helped us defeat the British in the Revolutionary War. The same British we went to war with in 1812 and who considered helping the southern states during the revolutionary war.
104
Thank you. Unfortunately, here in America, our kids are taught revisionist Howard Zinn history.
10
Really? That is what you took away from the article? And to top it all off you are wrong. The original American colonies were British, colonised by Brits and supported by Britain before America came into existence, and against French territorial claims. Ever heard of the 7 Years War? And of course the crux of the American Revolution was Brits wanting to be treated like Brits and not like second class colonial citizens.
32
"Treated like brits.." You mean being allowed to cluelessly carve up the world into dysfunctionally and unstable regions that lead to never ending conflicts you eventually abandon for the rest of the world to clean up?
Right - got it covered, thanks for all the help!
Right - got it covered, thanks for all the help!
9
The USA was founded on the principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence. I think many American are aware of the words in that document, but have not stopped to fully appreciate them. It states: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." This wasn't a declaration that all Americans have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It was a declaration that ALL MEN are endowed with these unalienable rights. It is high time that the US government stopped hiding behind the constitution, which applies only to US citizens, to deprive non-US citizens of these basic rights. If we believe in the principles outline in the Declaration of Independence, then lets start living by them and respect the rights of every single individual whether a US citizen or not.
42
Craig,
By the time they close out this report, take note of the number of comments; there are far too few Americans these days who know what our Constitution and our Bill of Rights mean, and this is why we are now ruled by successive groups of plutocrats.
The people are sated now, just as surely as they were during the heady days of the Roman Empire, when "Bread and Circuses", were the panacea.
By the time they close out this report, take note of the number of comments; there are far too few Americans these days who know what our Constitution and our Bill of Rights mean, and this is why we are now ruled by successive groups of plutocrats.
The people are sated now, just as surely as they were during the heady days of the Roman Empire, when "Bread and Circuses", were the panacea.
Oh Goodness is this another argument for open borders?
The Constitution does apply to only U.S. citizens, but why do we give citizenship to someone who was merely born here of parents who are not U.S. citizens. Certain elements have misconstrued the Fourteenth Amendment to allow for these "birthright citizens", when the Framers had no such intent Certain elements read the Constitution to serve their own needs.
1
Our regular voters are wasting too much time watching stupid TV, seeing silly movies, poor entertainment & sports; instead of spending quality time reading, learning, socially acting, studying, interacting with nature and being more worldly aware of our real problems. As long as we have an "under-educated" voters we will be heading the become a nation with an unmanageable/unacceptable social structure.Why do we have to resource to an Op-Ed to implore for "fairness" to this situation? Simply, the US political and governing system are crippled, absurdly inefficient, chaotic and socially unviable. The stalemate between the legislative & executive branches are destroying systematically the "America Dream", taking our nation for hostage of its own selfishness towards basic human rights. I am exhausted of learning of this social havoc; tired of reading the same uncivilized behavior towards friendly nations. To solve this we need a more educated society who can duly elect more"intelligent" people to govern us.
66
Frankly - I find your hypothesis silly and a bit arrogant. That same uneducated population gave us Lincoln, the first and second Roosevelt, Reagan and Clinton (whom I personally dislike but turned out to be a fairly decent president). What we are lacking is any candidate with integrity, a shred of honesty or the backbone to risk a political career or the welfare of the nation.
Politicans who view their time as "service" rather than raking in the benefits are damn few and far between. Our current president is woefully unfit for the office. He is arrogant, thin skinned and unwilling to get his hands dirty. He would prefer to pontificate from on high without having to suffer the slings and arrows of the consequences of his choice.
What we need is not a smarter electorate but a political class that isn't mostly high profile shysters and self serving egomaniacs.
Politicans who view their time as "service" rather than raking in the benefits are damn few and far between. Our current president is woefully unfit for the office. He is arrogant, thin skinned and unwilling to get his hands dirty. He would prefer to pontificate from on high without having to suffer the slings and arrows of the consequences of his choice.
What we need is not a smarter electorate but a political class that isn't mostly high profile shysters and self serving egomaniacs.
The description of Britain as USA most trusted ally is rather pompous. There is now a well expanded opinion that considers the UK as USA's poodle. This apprehension is only confirm by the humiliating treatment given to Messrs Corby, Davis, Mitchell and Slaughter in Washington. Perhaps things would have been different if the British Government been less subservient vis a vis the USA, from the Iraq invasion onwards.
20
Sorry but the 'opinion' section is no place to argue this matter. What is the counter-argument, please?
15
If there is a counter-argument, nobody has expressed it so far.
Mr. Obama has caused more grief for our allies than any other President in the history of our nation. Looking forward to when Mr. Obama packs up his family (Michelle will have a lot of designer dresses to pack) and returns to his home in Chicago, where they can all resume their close relationship with Rev. Wright.
19
What's with the gratuitous swipe at Mrs. Obama, and what does that have to do with this essay? You want talk about designer dresses? Let's start with Nancy Reagan. But please, in another forum, where it is appropriate.
Racist rather than factual criticism is the internal enemy. Accusation of birtherism, murderous cops and those whites like you who support dividion and prejudice are this countries curse.
No doubt you would accuse Obama of 'throwing Israel under the bus' by critisizing their lies about wanting peace, for continuing stealing land and for AIPACs corrupting influence on US politics to steer thi snation in another nations interest, No doubt you support keeping arabs under US financed murderous dictatorships, as muslims 'cannot handle democracy'. (vote against our interests).
Some of us believe the US should embody and live up to it's ideals and principles and not trash the min the name of pure cynical power. THat way evil lies,
But I doubt you care about things like principles, human rights, or morality outside of empty 'flag waving'.
No doubt you would accuse Obama of 'throwing Israel under the bus' by critisizing their lies about wanting peace, for continuing stealing land and for AIPACs corrupting influence on US politics to steer thi snation in another nations interest, No doubt you support keeping arabs under US financed murderous dictatorships, as muslims 'cannot handle democracy'. (vote against our interests).
Some of us believe the US should embody and live up to it's ideals and principles and not trash the min the name of pure cynical power. THat way evil lies,
But I doubt you care about things like principles, human rights, or morality outside of empty 'flag waving'.
why would obama do anything to help America's standing with the world improve.
15
He certainly has not done that with another close ally: Israel!
10
He is Israel true ally as Herzog called him Israels best friend. Bibi is NOT Israel and making itself into a theocratic apartheid state and lying to the world about wanting a 2 state solution do not require Obama to do anything to make Israel look bad. They do that themselves and yet Obama still sent them more money and weapons (Iron Dome) than Bush did.
As a long-time Liberal Democrat and Obama supporter, I must admit there are days when I think Presidential terms should be limited to 6 years. Just kidding, of course, but I find it disturbing that we could confront our longest-lasting friend and ally in such a way. Of course, when it comes to Guantanamo I always have a deep-down suspicion that Congress is involved somehow, and that they have placed a road-block for the President. As they have promised to do from Day One, and have carried out that promise. I doubt that we will ever know the true background in this, but I am sure it involves money, power and politics.
22
Love how an Obama supporter makes up excuses for his inability to do the job. When Obama releases these people no one wants them. Why would that be if they are so innocent? Do you want them living next door to you? I don't.
1
If it were a fact that this situation is the fault of congress, Obama would be finding the nearest microphone to bash them about it!
2009-2011 saw a Democratic WH and filibuster proof majority in Congress. Obama's first Executive Action was to close Guantanamo, with proposals to transfer the detainees to US soil. NY wouldn't take them. Chicago wouldn't take them. No one would take them. Obama could have had any of his most cherished programs passed those first two years in office, but he simply chose not to. You can't lay this all at the feet of the GOP.
What can one say? American Exceptionalism is the only explanation. No matter what, always the good guys whose security matters more than the rights of innocent people.
9
This is an example of the President needing to act decisively - order the transfer, inform Congress, hold accountable those who have frustrated the twice cleared transfer, and apologize to our closest ally.
50
Yeah - his pen and phone seem to work fine when it comes to helping illegal immigrants (who have broken our laws) but somehow dries up and cuts off when it comes to freeing a man who's done nothing wrong. He can't be gone soon enough.
Excellent article. The sad part is I have come to hear of Mr. Aamar only now. I have not read a single article on him for the last ten years...and I read a lot (a lot) on news and social issues.
I am curious as to why NYT is publishing this article now? Why did they not do this earlier if there was a lot of work going on to help Mr. Aamar? Is this article timed to make Pres. Obama look bad, but not the Bushes and the Republican party?
I am curious as to why NYT is publishing this article now? Why did they not do this earlier if there was a lot of work going on to help Mr. Aamar? Is this article timed to make Pres. Obama look bad, but not the Bushes and the Republican party?
46
No article has to be timed to make Obama look bad.
That is some creative calendar work! The first President Bush had long since left office (remember eight (8) years of Bill Clinton?). Under "W", Mr. Aamer WAS cleared for release, so who is dragging his feet since his coronation?
Bush, as you like to call the former President, ordered Aamar's release.
The British gave us the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.
This matter is about a duplicitous Saudi who was subsidized by Osama bin Laden.
This matter is about a duplicitous Saudi who was subsidized by Osama bin Laden.
7
He is a citizen of Saudi Arabia. The US has cleared him only for transfer to Saudi Arabia. The possible dirt on him from Wiki, "According to Joint Task Force Guantanamo assessments from 1 November 2007 the US military believed that Aamer was a "recruiter, financier, and facilitator" for al-Qaeda, based partly on evidence given by the informant Yasim Muhammed Basardah, a fellow detainee. The leaked documents alleged that Aamer had confessed to interrogators that he was in Tora Bora with Osama bin Laden at the time of the US bombing. The documents further note that the Saudi intelligence Mabahith identified Aamer "as a high priority for the government of Saudi Arabia, an indication of his law enforcement value to them." Maybe the UK is really talking out of both sides of it's mouth. On one hand demanding his release and on the other saying, "Please don't send him back here."
72
Oh, what tangled webs we weave................
4
Thank you for this information. I consider myself very liberal, but I find myself refusing to succumb to the manipulative pleas in this article without really knowing all the facts. The Brits put up with this PC bullying constantly, so in a way its good the US are ignorant or shielded from these suspect causes.
10
An account most likely given under torture by an informant who told his interrogators what they wanted to hear in order to stop the pain!
11
The very existence of Guantanamo is an expression of lack of faith in "the rule of law": it provides an extra-legal black hole the Administration can drop people in without the embarrassment of explaining why or risking that 'due process' won't agree with them.
Obama seemed to recognize this while campaigning for the Presidency and explicitly promised to close Guantanamo. But the truth is that after he won office he has largely embraced the overreach of executive power that began under Bush and the 'war on terror.' The NSA is another example.
Obama seemed to recognize this while campaigning for the Presidency and explicitly promised to close Guantanamo. But the truth is that after he won office he has largely embraced the overreach of executive power that began under Bush and the 'war on terror.' The NSA is another example.
23
A week from today will mark the 800th Anniversary of Magna Carta. Clause 29 forms the basis of our Fifth Amendment rights to due process of law, the Writ of Habeas Corpus and the Right to Jury Trial. In refusing to release this prisoner, despite his twice being cleared for release to the U.K., which seeks his return, the Obama administration places itself above the rule of law.
Without addressing the issue of "General Warrants," the Second Circuit Court of Appeals held the hovering up of telephone "meta-data" under the "Patriot Act" invalid under the statute. If this country had a Parliamentary system, as do the Commonwealth Nations (Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom), we long ago would have had a vote of "No Confidence" in the Obama administration and held new elections.
The consequences of government ignoring the law, in effect becoming lawless, were outlined in Justice Brandeis' seminal dissent in Olmstead v. U.S., 277 U.S. 438 (1928). I highly recommend that all read it, particularly the concluding paragraphs.
Without addressing the issue of "General Warrants," the Second Circuit Court of Appeals held the hovering up of telephone "meta-data" under the "Patriot Act" invalid under the statute. If this country had a Parliamentary system, as do the Commonwealth Nations (Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom), we long ago would have had a vote of "No Confidence" in the Obama administration and held new elections.
The consequences of government ignoring the law, in effect becoming lawless, were outlined in Justice Brandeis' seminal dissent in Olmstead v. U.S., 277 U.S. 438 (1928). I highly recommend that all read it, particularly the concluding paragraphs.
Let's be real. If David Cameron really wanted the man released, Obama would release him. Sure Cameron asked about it, or announced that he did, but politicians understand the difference between that and really making a point of it.
45
Overall, I don't feel qualified to comment as I don't know the facts. But maybe the UK should take into account what a poor job it has been doing in suppressing radicalization. What has the UK been doing lately to subdue religous tension? Hey, I'm an Englishman living in New York, and even I am quite happy to slap the faces of the Brits who have weakened under the fear of being called bigots and the pressure to be PC.
10
Obama promised to close Guantanamo, and didn't. Perhaps President Clinton will, as her first act. I admire enormously lawyers like yourself you fight against enormous powers to do a simple common just act. I trust you sleep well at night, with the angles. Please don't despair and keep up this good work.
3
Where was Obama to put the dtwainess give Congresses threat to deny use of Amercan prisons, your back yard perhaps?
1
Simply put, this is not a good use of Britain's influence. the person in question is not a British Citizen and the protections of Citizenship should not be extended to "Permanent Residents".
13
So you support torturing and imprisoning the innocent for over a decade and letting it stand even after we know we got it wrong??? Why and how is this good for anyone!?
Are we sure the Prime Minister of Britain really pushed his case?
Hard to believe that if Britain really wanted him back it would have taken this long
Hard to believe that if Britain really wanted him back it would have taken this long
11
It's easier for the White House to do nothing. Few in this country care about people in Guantanamo, no matter how innocent or overdue for release.
6
For senior members of Parliament, you folks sure do "astonish" easily. Do you think our members of Congress should be following this case personally?
I'm astonished that this guy would leave his family behind to go do "charity work" in Afghanistan. So, we're even. Hope you get your man soon.
I'm astonished that this guy would leave his family behind to go do "charity work" in Afghanistan. So, we're even. Hope you get your man soon.
9
He didn't "leave his family." He took his family, including his eldest daughter, to help build a girl's school. The USG agrees, which is why they cleared him twice.
And he hasn't seen one of his children? How was the child conceived?
Beyond the case of this British man (a scandal in & by itself) the fact that a "liberal democracy" violates one of the key pillars of democracy and its own laws amounts to a victory for the terrorists. The fact that Blair (Bliar) was just as dishonest as Bush does not change anything. All Western democracies which used the terror attacks to pass laws denying or violating civil liberties ((The US, Britain, France..) foster the terrorism they claim to be fighting. Edgar Snowden is a badge of honor in this context. Guantanamo and drone are recruiting agents for terrorists. Even if one does not consider the ethics of drones & illegal prisons it should be clear that from a purely practical point of view respect for the law would be a good idea for democracies.
3
This is great in theory. But you really think radical terrorists are going to go more easy on us because we let them all free because we respect to our laws, honor and democracy? They will merely laugh at us, and attack anyway. Guantanamo is a difficult mess for anyone to solve.
4
Steve, with due respect, many guys at Guantanamo are NOT terrorists and drones & illegal prisons create GENUINE terrorists.
Except he's not British. He's a Saudi national who happened to live in Britain.
With friends like the US, who needs enemies?
It is disingenious to suggest that US security organisations are ignorant of these pleas for justice. They've got our all of our calls and text messages bugged. Don't they?
It is disingenious to suggest that US security organisations are ignorant of these pleas for justice. They've got our all of our calls and text messages bugged. Don't they?
6
People released from Guantanamo have often reverted to form--gone back to terrorism.
Yes, terrorist organizations such as Hamas also do a lot of "charity work," in addition to killing people.
The UK passed the British Nationalities Act of 1948, and as a result you are knee-deep in hook-handed terrorists, from Pakistan.
Your concept of "human rights" is different from ours. You treat your prisoners in accordance with your rules, and the US will follow its own rules.
Let's make a deal. Don't complain about ours, and the US won't complain about yours.
Yes, terrorist organizations such as Hamas also do a lot of "charity work," in addition to killing people.
The UK passed the British Nationalities Act of 1948, and as a result you are knee-deep in hook-handed terrorists, from Pakistan.
Your concept of "human rights" is different from ours. You treat your prisoners in accordance with your rules, and the US will follow its own rules.
Let's make a deal. Don't complain about ours, and the US won't complain about yours.
5
What is he supposed to have done? Anything? This should not be too surprising. Our government has never acknowledged any wrongdoing or mistake in the Maher Arar case, where we detained a Canadian citizen with no basis or charges, had him tortured by the Syrians and detained him without counsel before finally releasing him. The SYRIANS acknowledged that he was innocent and the Canadians paid him $10 million dollars in damages, but our people haven't paid a dime or admitted anything. It takes a certain type of personality to do things like that.
50
You mean "personalities", I would venture to guess, meaning the thugs ruling our nation using fear as one of their weapons.
So called "American Justice" is pretty much a laughing stock of other developed countries. Here are a few of the issues:
Judges taking bribes from for-profit prisons to imprison young people;
towns like Ferguson where the city budget is based on petty fines mainly on the poor and black;
a system dominated by plea bargains where whether you are innocent or guilty is a minor issue in the process;
three strikes laws with people jailed for life for the pettiest crime;
ongoing releases of people from death row after exoneration from DNA evidence - but the prosecutors or police who negligently or willfully ignored evidence unpunished;
banks paying billions in fines and recognizing their criminal culpability but no prosecutions for rigging markets, frauds and the rest of it
more people killed in the US by the police in a couple of months that the UK in a century.
Guantanamo Bay is only the tip of the iceberg. Did these British MPs actually expect to see any justice in American Justice. Haven't they been reading the news?
Judges taking bribes from for-profit prisons to imprison young people;
towns like Ferguson where the city budget is based on petty fines mainly on the poor and black;
a system dominated by plea bargains where whether you are innocent or guilty is a minor issue in the process;
three strikes laws with people jailed for life for the pettiest crime;
ongoing releases of people from death row after exoneration from DNA evidence - but the prosecutors or police who negligently or willfully ignored evidence unpunished;
banks paying billions in fines and recognizing their criminal culpability but no prosecutions for rigging markets, frauds and the rest of it
more people killed in the US by the police in a couple of months that the UK in a century.
Guantanamo Bay is only the tip of the iceberg. Did these British MPs actually expect to see any justice in American Justice. Haven't they been reading the news?
98
Since I do not think that President Obama is either "incompetent," and since it is evident that he has done everything within his power (short of disbanding Congress) to release or relocate most of the prisoners remaining in Gitmo, I'm going to give him credit for having a rational basis for not acceding to Great Britain's wishes regarding this man.
The idea that the President awakes each morning wondering: "What can I do today to anger & annoy the government of the United Kingdom?" is idiotic. Classified information unavailable for public release may factor into the decision- which, I know, is unlikely to mollify the people on both left and right well versed after 6 years at thinking the worst of this President's motives and methods, no matter the issue at hand.
The idea that the President awakes each morning wondering: "What can I do today to anger & annoy the government of the United Kingdom?" is idiotic. Classified information unavailable for public release may factor into the decision- which, I know, is unlikely to mollify the people on both left and right well versed after 6 years at thinking the worst of this President's motives and methods, no matter the issue at hand.
152
I totally agree with you. Obama doesn't wake up each morning ready to anger the U.K. He wakes up every morning thinking how can I further my agenda to rid the U.S. of it's Constitution and make everyone with money share it. In other words become a socialist country.
If such "classified evidence" was available, this prisoner would not have been cleared for release even once, let alone twice!
That's just silly. You're telling me that there is some sort of information unavailable to the CIA/FBI/etc (who have cleared him for release) that is somehow available to the President? I agree that Obama is not trying to anger the British government but it also seems clear that he is ignoring its wishes. I rather suspect the reality is this:
1) As he is a British resident and a Saudi citizens it is the Saudi government which is objecting to his release to the UK
2) His experience at the hands of the US is likely to have been particularly bad and, as something of a cause celebre in the UK, his release and subsequent British media coverage will do yet more damage to the public perception of the US in the UK and rest of Europe
1) As he is a British resident and a Saudi citizens it is the Saudi government which is objecting to his release to the UK
2) His experience at the hands of the US is likely to have been particularly bad and, as something of a cause celebre in the UK, his release and subsequent British media coverage will do yet more damage to the public perception of the US in the UK and rest of Europe
Is there any way in which our behavior at Guantanamo is not a blot on the character of the United States?
8
By not releasing Shaker Aaamer, we will end up strengthening the hands of the terrorist organizations like ISIS, Al Qaeda for they will be able to use this incident to influence the liberal Muslims that their future can remain secure only under such umbrella organizations.
3
What, Guantanamo is still open for business? Sadly, with everything that has happened with the WMD, this doesn't surprise me. Not much does anymore!
2
If Obama tells you he'll do it, your sunk unless you are a billionair $ corporation.
4
Amen to that.
I don't want to make this joke because I don't want in any way to feed the corporate media scandal creating machine, but I can't help it. Maybe they should have made a large contribution to the Clinton Global Initiative.
7
For the United States to hold people, without charges or substantive explanation, is clear violation of the due process principle of our Constitution. Transporting them to a US controled territory, outside a war zone, does not make those Constitutional principles inapplicable. It is what it appears to be - a transparent ruse.
The terrorist war rationale might have been good for a year or two, but, after that, with no individualized explanation for why people are being held, we gave moved into the world imagined in the novels of Franz Kafka. The people of the United States of America do not deserve being branded with the mark of tyranny that, for most of the last century, we decried in others.
Unless President Obam does somethng about this, his own pre-presidency speeches and lectures will be the best evidence of his adoption and eight year extension of the Constitutional breach that he inherited.
The terrorist war rationale might have been good for a year or two, but, after that, with no individualized explanation for why people are being held, we gave moved into the world imagined in the novels of Franz Kafka. The people of the United States of America do not deserve being branded with the mark of tyranny that, for most of the last century, we decried in others.
Unless President Obam does somethng about this, his own pre-presidency speeches and lectures will be the best evidence of his adoption and eight year extension of the Constitutional breach that he inherited.
6
While your comments are beautiful in constitutional theory, do you think these lofty ideals will be respected by an enemy whose sole intent is to kill us and our children?
Maybe the next time our government decides to invade and overthrow another government, you won't be so easily fooled into going along.
30
But, Hillary endorsed it. Or, is the media about to suffer amnesia about it?
With my first child on the way - a son! - I can only try to imagine what must be going through the mind of Mr. Aamer. President Obama owes it to Mr. Aamer's family, the UK, the U.S. and the world the reason why he is being detained. We have nothing to gain by silence - only loss as this man has a significant portion of his life and that of his children.
9
Senators acting clueless about Gitmo is nothing new. They're the ones constantly adding conditions to release of prisoners. It seems odd we couldn't ship a prisoner to the UK. Obama has been shipping prisoners out when a country agrees to take them and he hasn't added anyone to Gitmo. You left out some info somewhere.
7
Cat48,
I have researched Mr. Aamer's story to the nth degree, and can find no holes in the assertions by the British, that he is guiltless.
Is is so difficult to admit we are wrong ??
I have researched Mr. Aamer's story to the nth degree, and can find no holes in the assertions by the British, that he is guiltless.
Is is so difficult to admit we are wrong ??
Maybe the four of you should head over to Afghanistan and do some charity work for your friends in the Taliban. The wonderful Brits drew some real nice borders that people have been dying over for way too long. I can think of two manufactured countries namely Afghanistan and Iraq. Thanks a lot mates.
5
We may have drawn them but you broke them. And guess what happens when you break things? You buy them. Your welcome. Mate.
1
Because the Pentagon is afraid that once Mr. Aamer is a free man, he'll blab about the goings-on at Gitmo. Obama can't abide that either. Neither is he brave to stand up to the Pentagon.
4
Unfortunately I think this is very likely to be true.
1
Can you elaborate on his charity work in Afghanistan ?
4
Good! One man's charity is another man's...
My liberal Democratic tendencies notwithstanding, President Obama DOES have a git for annoying friend and foe alike, in many cases (such as this one) quite unnecessarily. He's a remarkably poor communicator and his speeches lack fire. One might imagine that he might make up for this weakness with strong interpersonal skills behind the scenes but I doubt that this is the case. He's a very intelligent man who has little patience with those who don't see things his way. Perhaps that's why he's failed after nearly 2 full terms to build any relationships of real consequence with national or international leaders of importance. WHY cause such a breech in relations with the United Kingdom over an inconsequential detainee? There is something disturbingly insular about the Obama White House. Reminds me of Nixon's last few years without the malevolence. Let this guy go back to England already, for heaven's sake! WAKE UP, Mr. President.
6
Why does everyone keep parroting that Obama is "highly intelligent" when we have no proof he even went to college. The media was oh so diligent about uncovering Sarah Palin's kindergarten records, but this president is a mystery man, thanks to the lack of even the slightest diligence by the media.
The story sounds so outrageous that it seems incredulous. If he has been cleared for release on two occasions, he should have been released - a long time ago.
If this story is true, it is another symptom of severe ineptitude and paralysis besieging the Obama administration.
If this story is true, it is another symptom of severe ineptitude and paralysis besieging the Obama administration.
6
Are you suggesting the four Members of Parliament simply made this up?
"If this story is true" is the big qualifier. It may be true, but perhaps leaves out important facts. Why do the Saudis want Aamer? The president has to work with both these 'allies' and try not to offend either.
"We are, after all, America’s most trusted ally, and have stood shoulder to shoulder with the United States, expending our blood and treasure, in two controversial wars in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Yes, but, you don't seem to understand what our Congress works on. See, our elections cost a lot of money, mostly to pay the bills of our various media outlets. So, whoever is willing to cough up lots and lots of cash gets Congress to work on their wishes, legal or illegal, even if it means letting poor kids in US hungry to send many billions to a wealthy foreign government.
Now if you form a British lobby and get lots of Brits to write big checks, you may get their attention. Nothing else works in our system of government if it has to pass through Congress.
Yes, but, you don't seem to understand what our Congress works on. See, our elections cost a lot of money, mostly to pay the bills of our various media outlets. So, whoever is willing to cough up lots and lots of cash gets Congress to work on their wishes, legal or illegal, even if it means letting poor kids in US hungry to send many billions to a wealthy foreign government.
Now if you form a British lobby and get lots of Brits to write big checks, you may get their attention. Nothing else works in our system of government if it has to pass through Congress.
17
Another example of post 9/11 America.
The national security apparatus is completely out of control, abetted by secret courts and spineless politicians.
The US kidnaps, tortures, kills and drones thousands of people across the globe. We keep people secret prisons even though we know they are innocent.
Read the heartbreaking story in todays NYT about Seal Team Six and remember how shocked we were about Death Squads in Central America? Seal Team Six has become an American Death Squad operating with no legal or territorial boundries.
To quote from the story, "United States Special Operations Command said that since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, its forces “have been involved in tens of thousands of missions and operations in multiple geographic theaters..."
Think about that for a few seconds. American Death Squads that have been used "TENS Of THOUSANDS" of times across the globe.
Is this the country we want to be living in? Is there any reasonable hope for change with both political parties tripping all over themselves to preserve secret courts and secret prisons that don't even require a court of any kind?
Politicians tell us that the terrorists hate us because we have freedom, then they pass law after law taking away freedoms that go back to the Magna Carta.
Wake up America. Isis in not a threat to America. A system of mass surveillance, secret courts, secret prisons and global death squads is the real danger to America.
The national security apparatus is completely out of control, abetted by secret courts and spineless politicians.
The US kidnaps, tortures, kills and drones thousands of people across the globe. We keep people secret prisons even though we know they are innocent.
Read the heartbreaking story in todays NYT about Seal Team Six and remember how shocked we were about Death Squads in Central America? Seal Team Six has become an American Death Squad operating with no legal or territorial boundries.
To quote from the story, "United States Special Operations Command said that since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, its forces “have been involved in tens of thousands of missions and operations in multiple geographic theaters..."
Think about that for a few seconds. American Death Squads that have been used "TENS Of THOUSANDS" of times across the globe.
Is this the country we want to be living in? Is there any reasonable hope for change with both political parties tripping all over themselves to preserve secret courts and secret prisons that don't even require a court of any kind?
Politicians tell us that the terrorists hate us because we have freedom, then they pass law after law taking away freedoms that go back to the Magna Carta.
Wake up America. Isis in not a threat to America. A system of mass surveillance, secret courts, secret prisons and global death squads is the real danger to America.
23
How can that be? The democrats are in charge. You elected Obama. I don't understand?
I'm sure there is a reason why Obama has not moved on this man's release. Why haven't the Prime minister, or Queen, or Labor Party as a entity supported this? If this man is at Guanto --- there must be important reasons.
3
The Queen doesn't get involved in such matters. It is the job of Her Majesty's Government.
1
Seems Aamer is a wanted man in Saudi Arabia. Possibly he's being detained while the US is working with the Saudis to agree on his release.
1
He's a Saudi citizen who only lived in Britain a few years before taking his family to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Why is this a British matter?
9
Because he is a British permanent resident, and his children are British subjects born there.
3
@OpEd: 'We heard during our visit that “Congress has prevented transfers”; ...'
Pres. Obama signed the legislation passed by Congress. He could have vetoed it, but instead resorted to a presidential signing statement.
'“The administration blames Congress for making it harder to close Guantánamo, yet for a second year President Obama has signed damaging Congressional restrictions into law,” she [Andrea Prasow of Human Rights Watch] said. “The burden is on Obama to show he is serious about closing the prison.”'
Obama Disputes Limits on Detainee Transfers Imposed in Defense Bill
By CHARLIE SAVAGE
JAN. 3, 2013
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/04/us/politics/obama-signs-defense-bill-w...
Pres. Obama signed the legislation passed by Congress. He could have vetoed it, but instead resorted to a presidential signing statement.
'“The administration blames Congress for making it harder to close Guantánamo, yet for a second year President Obama has signed damaging Congressional restrictions into law,” she [Andrea Prasow of Human Rights Watch] said. “The burden is on Obama to show he is serious about closing the prison.”'
Obama Disputes Limits on Detainee Transfers Imposed in Defense Bill
By CHARLIE SAVAGE
JAN. 3, 2013
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/04/us/politics/obama-signs-defense-bill-w...
4
From The Daily Mail (6/5/15):
But this week a source in Washington claimed there were delays because of behind-the-scenes ‘negotiations’ between the US and Britain.
Before agreeing to free Mr Aamer, the Pentagon is demanding cast-iron guarantees he will not pose any threat – and apparently has yet to receive assurances it deems sufficient from the UK. Former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell has called it a ‘slap in the face from our oldest ally and staunchest friend’ and an ‘insult’ to suggest Britain does not have the security and intelligence skills to address any US concerns.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3113061/The-real-reason-Shaker-s...
But this week a source in Washington claimed there were delays because of behind-the-scenes ‘negotiations’ between the US and Britain.
Before agreeing to free Mr Aamer, the Pentagon is demanding cast-iron guarantees he will not pose any threat – and apparently has yet to receive assurances it deems sufficient from the UK. Former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell has called it a ‘slap in the face from our oldest ally and staunchest friend’ and an ‘insult’ to suggest Britain does not have the security and intelligence skills to address any US concerns.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3113061/The-real-reason-Shaker-s...
2
About ten years ago, I bought a book at a bookstore overlooking where the Battle of Lexington was fought. It was hundreds of diary entries of Colonial, British, Hessian and Native American fighters from the Revolution.
Reading that book forever changed my perception of the British after having been fed the saccharine version of history for most of my life. After reading of the atrocities committed as standard operational procedure by the British during our long struggle, including raping young girls in front of their fathers & mothers, impaling babies on bayonets, "braining" colonials (that is, removing their brains after clubbing a hole in the skull), scalping (which they apparently taught the tribes) burning food and fields, various forms of extreme torture such as disembowelment, I am disgusted by any alliance with England. Keep in mind after we won, they came back in 1812 and tried to invade us again. Then we bailed them out in World War 1 and World War 2.
Frankly a few more slaps in the face of the British government are warranted and appropriate. They have their own weird laws that protect terrorists and criminals including serial child rapists and murderers in their borders (the so called Human Rights Act). The British Government has a lot to atone for before arrogantly demanding in the New York Times that we release a suspected terrorist.
Mr. Obama went to school in Boston. Maybe he read the same book.
I support our President in his decision about this prisoner.
Reading that book forever changed my perception of the British after having been fed the saccharine version of history for most of my life. After reading of the atrocities committed as standard operational procedure by the British during our long struggle, including raping young girls in front of their fathers & mothers, impaling babies on bayonets, "braining" colonials (that is, removing their brains after clubbing a hole in the skull), scalping (which they apparently taught the tribes) burning food and fields, various forms of extreme torture such as disembowelment, I am disgusted by any alliance with England. Keep in mind after we won, they came back in 1812 and tried to invade us again. Then we bailed them out in World War 1 and World War 2.
Frankly a few more slaps in the face of the British government are warranted and appropriate. They have their own weird laws that protect terrorists and criminals including serial child rapists and murderers in their borders (the so called Human Rights Act). The British Government has a lot to atone for before arrogantly demanding in the New York Times that we release a suspected terrorist.
Mr. Obama went to school in Boston. Maybe he read the same book.
I support our President in his decision about this prisoner.
It is fortunate that this attitude - that it is appropriate to punish an individual for acts their country carried out hundreds of years ago - has no place in any reasonable policy.
9
@Cedar: "Reading that book forever changed my perception of the British ..."
Did you happen to read the *title* of the book?
"They [the British] have their own weird laws ..."
Please cite a source other than yourself.
Did you happen to read the *title* of the book?
"They [the British] have their own weird laws ..."
Please cite a source other than yourself.
1
This article begs the question, "What alleged wrongs is Mr. Aamer accused of and why has he been detained." Well, according to documents published in the Guantanamo Bay files leak, the US military Joint Task Force Guantanamo believed that Aamer had led a unit of fighters in Afghanistan, including the Battle of Tora Bora, while his family was paid a stipend by Osama bin Laden. The family story is sad, his wife suffers from depression and he is in poor health, due in part to repeated hunger strikes and bouts of depression. I don't know if he should be released or not but I do know that this article is biased and does not tell the full story.
7
Pretty certain that a US member of Congress whether the Senate or the House could get security clearance for the detainees of Guantanamo Bay without any assistance from the Obama administration. The author seems determined to blame Obama for not sharing information, when it is probably a lack of interest or research by the Senators and Congressmen
2
Perhaps Prime Minister Cameron should appeal to his good friends in China to see if they can influence this situation?
1
I'm not psychic, but when the questionable nature of Guantanamo prison was first a public concern ten or so years ago, I said to a friend; "I know when they are going to close Guantanamo." "When?" he asked. I replied, "Never." The motive for my sarcasm is that I understand that, in general; powerful tools of militarism are never voluntarily discarded by governments.
And so we have Shaker Aamer as described by the four authors here in a very compelling editorial. Like most I hit Wikipedia for background, I encourage the authors to edit the pages there for Mr Aamer, as they are not quite so rosy as presented here. For instance the authorization for release from Pres Obama is for release to Saudi Arabia only, where Aamer is a wanted man as an associate of Bin Laden.
The devil is in the details in these matters. I remain sarcastic about militarism.
And so we have Shaker Aamer as described by the four authors here in a very compelling editorial. Like most I hit Wikipedia for background, I encourage the authors to edit the pages there for Mr Aamer, as they are not quite so rosy as presented here. For instance the authorization for release from Pres Obama is for release to Saudi Arabia only, where Aamer is a wanted man as an associate of Bin Laden.
The devil is in the details in these matters. I remain sarcastic about militarism.
11
Hello Britain...welcome to our world where various agencies of incomptence crawl over one another, unable to make a decission and dead set on letting others make one either. I don't know much about Mr. Aamer (and it may indeed turn out that he is Osama Bin Laden's nephew) but what is clear from your experience is that American arrogance (coupled with high doses of cluelessness) cares nothing for friendship. The Big Man on Campus wants acolytes and admirers not friends and you dear Britain have played the part so well, for so long. Your reasaonable plea for justice will find a hearing in some quarters no doubt, at least among the Anglophiles, but real Americans will view your pleas as whinging....In America's view it is better to arrest them all and let God sort out the innocent.
27
It would be interesting to know why the Obama administration has not transferred this detainee to British custody.
7
They're right
1
One omission from the signatories, no less noteworthy for the fact that he's no longer an MP, is Tony Blair.
8
It would not be helpful to have Tony Blair's signature. He is a sad joke in the eyes of British people. Americans may still think of him well ? but in Europe he has become an increasing embarrassment whose only interest now is making obscene amounts of money while doing useless work. What will never happen is exactly what should happen, Bush and Blair need to stand trial for lying to the countries and taking them to war. The only reason this has not happened is that current leaders fear a trial like this would set a precedent, which they may be uncomfortable with.
3
This is really outrageous and demonstrates sheer incompetence by the Obama administration and lack of concern for the welfare of persons swept up in the Guantanamo blot on the U.S. If we cannot release prisoners held without charges who the British Parliament and Prime Minister have asked to be released, then Obama is making the Bush Guantanamo fiasco even a worse shame for the United States.
101
Harold,
Obama released 5 prisoners last yr despite public protest, your "logic" is illogical. You sound like some one who only cares about attacking Obama at all costs, not being a person of reason.
Obama released 5 prisoners last yr despite public protest, your "logic" is illogical. You sound like some one who only cares about attacking Obama at all costs, not being a person of reason.
7
Harold, I wouldn't be so quick to render judgement without the chance for a rebuttal to the MP's allegations. This knee jerk, rush to conclusions, has to stop. On more than one occasion Brightbart had us making fools of ourselves by doing that. Ever since I've been very leery of falling for the first press release.
4
To Nancy: It is a shame that people were duped into voting for Obama. He has always been a tool of corporations and an enemy of the Constitution.
During the '08 campaign, he promised to filibuster the FISA Amendments Act if it gave immunity to the telecom companies that helped GW Bush commit thousands of felonies through warrantless wiretapping of US citizens. Not only did he not filibuster, he voted for the bill that, indeed, gave them immunity.
To Harold: Incompetence is not the reason these things have happened. Obama is very competent at shredding the Constitution and helping corporations break myriad laws without punishment, aside from cost-of-doing-business fines.
Obama has a legal obligation to prosecute the people responsible for the torture regime--a LEGAL OBLIGATION under both US and international law. Not only has he refused to do that, he has allowed the criminals to destroy evidence of their crimes.
Mr. Obama is as much criminally responsible for torture as the members of the GW Bush regime and th front line torturers.
Stop looking for him to act with integrity. He has none.
During the '08 campaign, he promised to filibuster the FISA Amendments Act if it gave immunity to the telecom companies that helped GW Bush commit thousands of felonies through warrantless wiretapping of US citizens. Not only did he not filibuster, he voted for the bill that, indeed, gave them immunity.
To Harold: Incompetence is not the reason these things have happened. Obama is very competent at shredding the Constitution and helping corporations break myriad laws without punishment, aside from cost-of-doing-business fines.
Obama has a legal obligation to prosecute the people responsible for the torture regime--a LEGAL OBLIGATION under both US and international law. Not only has he refused to do that, he has allowed the criminals to destroy evidence of their crimes.
Mr. Obama is as much criminally responsible for torture as the members of the GW Bush regime and th front line torturers.
Stop looking for him to act with integrity. He has none.
3
What can you expect from our so called constitutional scholar? He has been nothing but a disappointment to many of us who voted for him. His main excuse has been the Republicans won't let me be myself. So what else is new?
65
Nancy--he released 5 prisoners last yr from Guanto last year!!!
1
Why, "so called?"
You may not like him but why disparage his studies?
You may not like him but why disparage his studies?
1
As we all should have long since come to realize, in matters concerning our state security apparatus reason, due process, fairness have no standing. Any appeal to "national security considerations", the 21st century's equivalent of the post-Civil War era's "bloody shirt", trumps all arguments. It and its dimwitted cousin, "we must support the troops", have, almost literally, become the get-out-of-jail-free card for every half-witted demagogue from the local dogcatcher to the Oval office.
118
Yes, that is true, and Lincoln has done that during the Civil War. The thing is, Mr. Aamer is not a threat in any way to the U.S.. He was sold for a bounty to the U.S., although he was doing charity work. How is charity work a "national security" consideration?
4
Please change "fairness" to "justice" in the first sentence.
"Justice" is supposed to be what America is about. It has been in short supply since 9/11, due largely to the "fear 24/7" that has been encouraged by first the Bush/Cheney gangsters, and now by Obama.
America used to be better than this. I am ashamed of my country.
"Justice" is supposed to be what America is about. It has been in short supply since 9/11, due largely to the "fear 24/7" that has been encouraged by first the Bush/Cheney gangsters, and now by Obama.
America used to be better than this. I am ashamed of my country.
1
We have in Arabic a proverb that fits eloquently the. Situations the USA often finds itself embroiled in.
It goes like. This:" with a razor blade in his mouth he can neither swallow it nor spit it out" which is exactly where The U.S. A stands legally, morally and politically vis a.vis the Guantanamo affair and prisoners therein both subject to American law and denied rights allowed by these very same American laws.
However there is little that is new or surprising in this situation: the U S A have a very long record of failing to exercise what it advocates a s for the issues of Democracy, quietly ignored within Allied ranks and human rights set aside and forgotten when applied to the Palestinians.
It goes like. This:" with a razor blade in his mouth he can neither swallow it nor spit it out" which is exactly where The U.S. A stands legally, morally and politically vis a.vis the Guantanamo affair and prisoners therein both subject to American law and denied rights allowed by these very same American laws.
However there is little that is new or surprising in this situation: the U S A have a very long record of failing to exercise what it advocates a s for the issues of Democracy, quietly ignored within Allied ranks and human rights set aside and forgotten when applied to the Palestinians.
85
If the allegations in your column are true, this is yet more evidence that at the end of the day, the terrorists have won. such a fear is uncalled for in this day and age, fourteen years after the attacks and subsequent war.
109
they might think they're America's closest ally, but all they are is another foreign country. the usa will do that the usa wants. no more. no less.
23
I wish we could transfer all our detainees to the UK. So I hope the office of the president will respond to this request publicly, as keeping Aamer makes no sense if the MP's are correct in their statement.
23
Is there more to this story? The way the authors tell it, pure evil on the part of the Obama White House is the only explanation. Would someone in the White House please speak up?
200
I'm with you, let's hear the rest of the story.
4
Most likely, Mr. Aamer has been brutally tortured. They are afraid to release him because keeping him locked up is the best way to keep him quiet. They are afraid of the reaction of American's own citizens.
"Men and Brethren - what shall we do?" Acts. 2:37
"Men and Brethren - what shall we do?" Acts. 2:37
4
That is exactly the explanation. The US government is the world's premier rogue state.
5
I am ashamed at the manner my country has handled questions of legal process over the past 14 years.
Firstly, the failure to thoroughly investigate the crimes of 9/11, most especially, the collapse of WTC 1, 2, and 7.
And secondly, the regrettable manner in which we have failed to clean up after wars fought based upon false premises, the current case featured in this article, being just one of many examples.
Send the poor man home to Britain's penal system.
What could holding him possibly accomplish.
Firstly, the failure to thoroughly investigate the crimes of 9/11, most especially, the collapse of WTC 1, 2, and 7.
And secondly, the regrettable manner in which we have failed to clean up after wars fought based upon false premises, the current case featured in this article, being just one of many examples.
Send the poor man home to Britain's penal system.
What could holding him possibly accomplish.
47
If it didn't accomplish anything it would not have happened. Obama is protecting someone. Is it himself or is it the CIA, or someone else? If the man is ever released we will find out.
2
Why should he be sent "home to Britain's penal system" when he has been cleared of any wrongdoing? He should go home to his family.
5
Why the penal system? He hasnt been found guilty of anything, he hasnt even been charged.
That is the point of outrage in these cases. The U.S. should hang its head in shame.
That is the point of outrage in these cases. The U.S. should hang its head in shame.
6
So much for the "special relationship." It appears that being the US's lap dog on the invasion of Iraq difn't earn Britain any brownie points. Maybe the UK needs to show some backbone -- advise that it will not discuss common strategy on Iran so long as the US has a hearing problem regarding Guantanamo. Keep their ambassador home until Obama spends 5 cents worth of political capital on alleviating, in the tiniest part, the shame of Guantanamo.
65
The prisoner has been cleared for release to Saudi Arabia. He is not a British citizen according to Wikileaks documents.
4