Ball Back in Obama’s Court on Gitmo Tribunals
February 1, 2009
The chief judge at the Guantanamo Bay war crimes court Thursday rejected President Obama’s request to halt the prosecution of terrorism suspects. Obama had made a request rather than an order. The judge does have a lot of jurisdiction here, but I can’t imagine it holding up if Obama really pushed. I don’t really see the judges rejection of a request like this from the commander in chief as defensible. This could get interesting. There is a full and well written report on the issue over at the LA. times.
Extraordinary Rendition
February 1, 2009
Under the Bush administration, the CIA began a practice of nabbing people off of the streets all over the world. They would be stripped, drugged, and flown via secret flights to secret locations, often allegedly chosen because of their lax laws on torture and interrogation. They were mistreated and interrogated, all without accusation, trial, or notification to either the country they were stolen from or their families. Many were released after years of torture without so much as an official accusation or apology.
Barack Obama has been conspicuously silent about the practice. He created a task force to reexamine renditions to make sure that they “do not result in the transfer of individuals to other nations to face torture”, but has otherwise taken no action to ban the practice. The L.A. Times cites an anonymous source within the Obama administration as saying, “The legal advisors working on this looked at rendition. It is controversial in some circles and kicked up a big storm in Europe. But if done within certain parameters, it is an acceptable practice.”.
At some point things like this have to fall under some sort of oversight. The danger of knowledge of capture affecting results is a short term one. Once an individual is noticed as missing, any organization they belong to would act under the assumption of capture. The risk of corruption that inevitably follows government unaccountability is then the greater threat. I could support the practice under very short term conditions. I can’t see holding anyone or more than a week without at least notification to their country of origin. Obama has banned torture and closed Gitmo. He has some credibility on the subject with me, but I’m going to be watching this one closely. I’ll update this post as more becomes available.
Obama at His Best
January 27, 2009
I have found myself most impressed with Obama in the speeches you likely didn’t hear on TV. Those where he wasn’t speaking to the American people, but to an opposition group, or on a very touchy subject. After eight years of a president who responded to criticism either by hiding or lashing out, it is doubly impressive to watch a man who realizes that compromise lies not at the midpoint between opposites, but by extending the hand to invite all parties to the table with the impression that their views will be understood and respected; that they will be included in the final decision, and that all will likely have to make sacrifices in order to come to agreement. It will be that feeling that if they don’t take the proffered hand, that they will be left behind that will fuel the peace process. I’ve heard it said of the stock market that it isn’t fear of failure or the hope of profit that drives men to buy and sell when they do, but the prospect of watching others profit without them because they didn’t act when they had the chance.
Here are a few of the better Obama Moments thus far:
On religion:
If the above video is out, try this link (Obama, A call to Renewal).
On Race:
On the middle east:
Obama Administration Blocks Change
January 26, 2009
It looks like he got his way. After Obama recently asked that the change from analog to digital television be delayed, the Senate voted to postpone the switch from February 17th to June 12th. (via CrunchGear)
Update: Whoa! Looks like this failed to make it through the house. There are still a few weeks left until the dealdline. I’m not sure if this is over yet, but I find it hard to imagine with the problems we currently face that the government would want to be seen squabbling over something like this. (via Zogdo)
Update: Sigh. The switch has been delayed.
I’m starting up a page to keep a tally of what Obama accomplishes. I’m going to have to prioritize what is worth putting up, and it may take me a bit of time to get it linked to relevant sources. I know we have some strong Obama support and opposition among the readers. I’m counting on you to help keep me honest,so as always, feel free to comment wherever it seems relevant. I’m not afraid of dissenting views.
Unbelieveable! Pat Buchanan steps over the line in the sand!
January 17, 2009
Today, the post on the official Pat Buchanan website is entitled “Has Israel Become A Neo-Nazi Germany?”
Pat has done the unthinkable for a major political commentator, he has invoked Godwin’s law at the highest level, comparing the Jewish state to Nazi Germany.
James Carville once said about Hillary and Obama, “If she gave him one of her cojones, they’d both have two.”
I would say of Pat Buchanan that if he gave Bush one of his cajones, the man wouldn’t be able to lift it.