In My Heart It's Independence Day

[liz_marcs]

Obama Issues Directive to Shut Guantánamo

WASHINGTON — President Obama signed executive orders Thursday directing the Central Intelligence Agency to shut what remains of its network of secret prisons and ordering the closing of the Guantánamo detention camp within a year, government officials said.

The orders, which are the first steps in undoing detention policies of former President George W. Bush, rewrite American rules for the detention of terrorism suspects. They require an immediate review of the 245 detainees still held at the naval base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, to determine if they should be transferred, released or prosecuted.

And the orders bring to an end a Central Intelligence Agency program that kept terrorism suspects in secret custody for months or years, a practice that has brought fierce criticism from foreign governments and human rights activists. They will also prohibit the C.I.A. from using coercive interrogation methods, requiring the agency to follow the same rules used by the military in interrogating terrorism suspects, government officials said.

More from The New York Times

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

This was the A-number-one-with-a-bullet Bush-era policy that I wanted to see crushed like a tin can under Superman's foot. Done within 24 hours after his Inauguration. I am pleased.

Now we can at least try to rebuild our international reputation.

I vote the next really, really good step is offering our Ex and All His Frat Brothers a free, one-way trip to the Hague. Who's with me?

Meanwhile, the St. Petersburg Times (Florida) is keeping its invaluable election tool, The Truth-O-Meter, up and running. They've also included the Obameter to track what campaign promises President Obama has kept.

The tally so far: Within 24 hours, 6 promises kept, 14 in the works, 489 (?!?) promises to go.

My God. Do you feel it? It feels like...Open Government.

My cold, hard heart is doing the post-Whoville Grinch thing.

Comments

[jmthane.livejournal.com]

I vote the next really, really good step is offering our Ex and All His Frat Brothers a free, one-way trip to the Hague.

Hear hear!!!

[wrenlet.livejournal.com]

Amazing. Just AMAZING. Word was the Global Gag Rule might go down this week, too... *CROSSES FINGERS*

[daniidebrabant.livejournal.com]

*wibbles*

Right there with ya.

[smhwpf.livejournal.com]

Wow. Wow! Not just Guantanamo, but the other secret prisons, no more torture, and adherence to the Geneva Convention, including for Gitmo until it closes.

The Rule of Law welcomes the return of the United States of America!

[m-mcgregor.livejournal.com]

Not only is this great just for shutting it all down, but it's just wonderful to see Obama immediately taking action and doing the things he promised he would do. There were so many naysayers both pre and post election that were spewing this "Oh yeah, right, he's really going to 'change' things. Keep believing that, you saps!" nonsense.

The fact that in two days he's already taken drastic steps towards altering how we as a country operate on a world stage...

I feel so jaded after the last eight years that I'm almost unable to believe any of this. It's not too-good to be true. It's too not-bad to be true.

A president with integrity. What a concept.

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

And ethics! Excellent.

[chinookami.livejournal.com]

Everything mcgregor said...Just...Wow. I smiled so much when I read the Obamameter. I'm so excited.

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

The announcement of the closure of Guantanamo coupled with the instruction that the US will not use torture to gather intelligence and will abide by international conventions is really excellent news.

He has time to work on the remain 489 promises. He is looking like a man who keeps his word!

[daneffew.livejournal.com]

What is funny in a very sad way is he has probably done more in 2 days than Bush has done in the last 2 months. And if the Justice Dept doesn't do its duty and proscecute the Bush people for war crimes hopefully the UN will.

[rin-x-x.livejournal.com]

"And if the Justice Dept doesn't do its duty and proscecute the Bush people for war crimes hopefully the UN will."

... I never actually considered that. Do you think it will happen?

[daneffew.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately my mind is a sieve for names but there is someone at the UN that has this responsiblity to investigate warcrimes and has said he will being looking into Bush and company. I heard something about that yesterday I think and from what I heard he wants to go ahead do it. Good for him.

[unusualmusic.livejournal.com]

I love the Obameter! I love the fact that the advent of the internet has allowed us to find such tools in order for we the people to keep a closer eye on our government. And Yes! He is going after torture!

[omegar.livejournal.com]

oh well. Must be nice to have Government you believe in.

WE are stuck with a pile of idiots who can't even rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic properly.

[rin-x-x.livejournal.com]

Woooooooooo!

[agilesreader.livejournal.com]

Yea!!!!!! And Yippiee! I am extremely happy that Obama is in office! I am positively elated that he is crushing Bush's illegal activities! Sadly, I do not think that either he or Chaney will face charges. I am satisfied with him being gone.

[green-maia.livejournal.com]

Yes!!!

[diachrony.livejournal.com]

I'm so happy about Obama's first days, it's hard to even describe.