Colin Powell supports Obama's plan to close Gitmo, slams GOP opposition

[rsexaminer]

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell has come out in support of President Obama and his plan to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, and had some strong words for Republicans who oppose it.

http://www.examiner.com/article/colin-powell-supports-obama-s-plan-to-close-gitmo-slams-gop-opposition

[ghostsinthemachine]

1. It still makes me puke a bit in my mouth when I find myself

agreeing with Colin Powell. I'll never forgive him lying about Iraq when even I knew there were not WMD's.

[Qutzupalotl]

2. excerpt from your link:

"I think it's in the best interest in the nation and it's in the best interest in our moral authority around the world."

Obama's plan does not name a specific American prison where Gitmo prisoners would be transferred to, but does outline that there are at least 13 facilities that are currently under consideration. Powell admits that closing the prison is a "political problem," but stressed the importance to get it done. "I know that nobody really wants to accept these folks," the former Secretary of State said, "There are some prison facilities in the United States...who are anxious to get these folks into their unused prisons or almost vacant prisons."

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Problem is, moving prisoners to other prisons is not what we had in mind about closing Gitmo.

The idea was that they not be kept in hellish captivity with no legal rights.

[monicaangela]

3. I really wish Powell would

come clean and tell the true story about these prisoners. I wish he would tell all he knows about how they got to gitmo, and why it is time we released them. I don't believe we want to be a nation that incarcerates people for life without trial. Lets get rid of this concept along with Gitmo.

Obama’s plan is to send 35 of the 91 Guantánamo prisoners who have already been approved for transfer to other countries, and to accelerate the review of the remaining 56 detainees. The plan calls for transferring prisoners who are deemed more dangerous (although most, if not all, have never had a trial) to domestic prisons, proposing sites in South Carolina, Kansas and Colorado.

http://www.salon.com/2016/02/23/obama_must_fulfill_his_gitmo_pledge_eight_years_is_far_too_long_to_make_campaign_promise_of_closing_prison_a_reality/

[Albertoo]

5. Gitmo, Abu Graib and waterboarding all have hurt America

Undermining its moral grounding. Dumb, dumb, dumb. Thanks GW.