The President and the Hunger Strike

[Scuba]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/opinion/president-obama-and-the-hunger-strike-at-guantanamo.html

President Obama said a lot of important things on Tuesday about the prison in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. It is a blight on the nation’s reputation. It mocks American standards of justice by keeping people imprisoned without charges. It has actually hindered the prosecution and imprisonment of dangerous terrorists. Even if Guantánamo seemed justified to some people in the immediate aftermath of the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, those justifications are wearing thin. It is unsustainable and should be closed.

As of Tuesday morning, Charlie Savage reported in The Times, 100 of the 166 inmates at Guantánamo are participating in a hunger strike against their conditions and indefinite detention. Twenty-one have been “approved” for force-feeding, which involves the insertion of a tube through their nostrils and down their throats.

Mr. Obama defended the practice. “I don’t want these individuals to die,” he said. Most people don’t. But a recently published bipartisan report on detainee treatment by the Constitution Project said “forced feeding of detainees is a form of abuse and must end.” The World Medical Association has long considered forced feeding a violation of a physicians’ ethics when it is done against a competent person’s express wishes, a point that was reinforced on April 25 by Dr. Jeremy Lazarus, president of the American Medical Association, in a letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.

...

Mr. Obama was asked about the hunger strike at a White House news conference. “I think it is critical,” he said, “for us to understand that Guantánamo is not necessary to keep America safe. It is expensive. It is inefficient. It hurts us in terms of our international standing. It lessens cooperation with our allies on counterterrorism efforts. It is a recruitment tool for extremists.”

So why are these prisoners being held? Why is Gitmo still open?

[PDJane]

1. Political cowardice.

[Skittles]

2. don't you know it's only the fault of Congress, Scuba?

our resident King Apologist will be stopping by shortly with 22 links

[treestar]

4. It is the fault of Congress

That is plain fact.

[Skittles]

5. *yawn*

[newmember]

7. what is?

Keeping Guantanamo open

[treestar]

9. They did not follow through

The President signed the Executive Order. That is plain fact. This is one of those areas where people reveal themselves as wanting to blame the President for everything. No one else ever seems to come in for anything, even Republicans.

[morningfog]

12. Why the hell has he done nothing else for 5 years?

Why not transfer those who have wrapped up sentences or still serving time? There are countries ready to take them. Why not release those who have been absolved of wrong doing? Why not improve the conditions? Why not provide greater access to lawyers and counts?

It is feeble minded to focus solely on closure.

[Skittles]

14. careful, morningfog

you're steering them off their black & white talking points - they might have to actually THINK

[morningfog]

15. We can't have that!

[treestar]

17. There are not countries ready to take them; that is part of the problem

Call the Congressmen who won't do what they need to do - Obama would go along with whatever they passed to close it - this is one of the biggest BS against Obama, he can be criticized, but when people blame him for this, they are showing their true colors, they are obsessed with one man and won't make anyone else responsible even if they are.

[morningfog]

19. You are wrong. On all points.

As usual. And don't had me true colors bullshit. What a fucking joke.

Read this to try and get up to speed.

http://www.closeguantanamo.org/Articles/36-What-you-missed-the-NDAA-allows-the-President-to-release-prisoners-from-Guantanamo

[treestar]

24. CT BS.

If only the President had all the power!

Some of you seem to want badly to be able to live in a simple system where one person has all the power. Our system is too frustrating.

[morningfog]

11. That is just bullshit. Obama can release

many of the detainees. Some have been cleared, some have been convicted and there are countries ready to take them. The conditions of gitmo also fall on Obama. Yes, the failure to close gitmo is shared with congress. But so much more is owned by Obama.

[treestar]

18. Congress and the President are equal powers

We have separation of powers in our country, which prevents us from being tyrannized.

And you know you complain when Obama does something with the executive powers, don't you?

[morningfog]

20. Christ, you are insufferable.

Your blind adoration and unwillingness to engage in critical thought or to educate yourself is obnoxious. I'm going to put you ignore to save myself from attempting to engage with you.

[treestar]

23. Stating that Congress and the Presidency are too separate powers is insufferable?

Just what type of country do you want to live in, anyway?

No it's not blind adoration to say Congress is a separate and equal branch. It has been for over 200 years and always will be.

Maybe those who can't stand thinking about that are looking for someone they can blindly adore? Would prefer to live in a country where they could follow and worship one leader?

[sharp_stick]

8. King Apologist

that's funny did you think it up all by yourself or did you get help?

[Skittles]

13. and that matters to you.....

why?

[sharp_stick]

16. Just curious

I find simple remarks interesting in sort of a historical way.

[SidDithers]

21. ...

Sid

[newmember]

3. If they have not been charged or convicted

Send them back to their own country.

[Sheepshank]

6. Have you asked your Senator and Congressman that question?

I would be extremely interested in seeing their responses.

[morningfog]

10. Obama now owns a gitmo torture practice.

[avebury]

22. It does not matter what Obama, Congress or the

American people want. It is beyond barbaric to stick a tube down the throat of a person who has chosen to go on a hunger strike. If they do not want to eat then it it their right to make that decision. Many of the detainees should have been let go a long time ago and to keep them in perpetual detention makes Guantanamo no better then a gulag under Stalin. Bush's gulag has now become Obama's gulag and shame on him for not closing it down.

Edit to add, this is not the first time the the US has force fed prisoners.

http://workhousemuseums.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3&Itemid=8

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/suffrage/nwp/profiles.html