NYC Letter: Trust Team Barry, Part V

Day 122 of CHOPE

While we're at it, we're going to close Guantanamo. And we're going to restore habeas corpus. ... We're going to lead by example, by not just word but by deed. That's our vision for the future.

Mr. Obama,
then-candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination,
wand-waving Gitmo away just like [SNAP!] that
SAN ANTONIO June 24, 2007 (WaPo)

During his campaign Mr. Obama repeatedly promised to close the Guantánamo detention facility. Hearing such an uniequivocal promise, again and again, one assumes Mr. Obama had thought long and hard about the logistic, legal, and security difficulties. One assumes Mr. Obama had a plan addressing these incumbent difficulties. [Pause.] And one would be wrong.

HEY! WHERE'S THE CHOPE?
How? When? Details.
[Picture source: Amnesty International]

Perhaps Mr. Obama's most surprised constituency is the Democrat rubberstamp Congress.

DEMOCRATS ON CAPITOL HILL REBEL AGAINST
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S GUANTANAMO BAY PLAN
Lawmakers Reject Funding To Shut Down
Detainee Center At Gitmo, Want Obama To Present A Plan

May 20, 2009 (ABC News) - In a 90-6 vote, the Senate followed in the footsteps of the House of Representatives and passed an amendment deleting $80 million in funds from a war funding bill earmarked to close the Guantanamo Bay prison.

Republicans have been raising alarm bells for weeks about the prospect of Obama's planned Guantanamo closure.

... Democrats have answered by rejecting Obama's request for money to start the base closure. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev:

Democrats under no circumstances will move forward without a comprehensive, responsible plan from the president. We will never allow terrorists to be released into the United States.

Reid became exasperated with reporters when pressed to connect the dots between closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay and not bringing detainees to U.S. shores.

If terrorists are released in the United States, part of what we don't want is for them be put in prisons in the United States. We don't want them around the United States.

I don't doubt that the President -- and I think he'll say this tomorrow -- that we've made some hasty decisions that are now going to take some time to unwind. And closing Guantanamo Bay obviously is one of those decisions.

Robert Gibbs,
press secretary left holding the bag
WASHINGTON May 20, 2009 (White House)

Apparently those who so desperately want to close Gitmo haven't thought through where the prisoners are to go.

Last month Mr. Obama went begging for a little cooperation from Europe. France deigned to take one terrorist from Gitmo. Austrian Interior Minister Maria Fekter asked, if they're not dangerous, why not just keep them in America?

Well, Schottermitzi, because they are dangerous. They're terrorists.

CHOPE.

Vision. Words. Bupkis.