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January 13, 2009
Posted: 02:33 PM ET

NEW YORK — There is good news and bad news on Guantanamo Bay. The good news is this: On his first full day in office, President Barack Obama will issue an executive order to close the detention center at Gitmo. The bad news: It won’t happen overnight.

Guantanamo Bay Naval Base

In fact, it could take months. It may even take a year to empty the camp of prisoners. After all, there are 248 men still housed at the prison, which opened seven years ago and has been a source of controversy ever since. And, with the now-realistic assessment of how long closure could take, there is already criticism from some quarters, which is understandable.

Anyone who cares about human rights and America’s moral standing in the world wants the closing of the detention center to be one of Barack Obama’s top priorities. But take heart, it will be.

For while closing Gitmo for good will certainly be more difficult than most people realize, with his executive order President Obama will send a very clear message: He will signal a break with the Bush Administration on some of its most misguided policies.

This order by our new chief executive will be a first step back in the right direction.

-Jami Floyd, In Session anchor

Filed under: Jami Floyd • Last Word


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bebe   January 14th, 2009 10:01 am ET

what happened to the half-brother on trial for killing his sister’s husband

GLORIA, CA   January 14th, 2009 2:36 pm ET

Closing Gitmo will be good if they don’t bring the bad guys to the United States to house in our prisons. Let the Iraq’s deal with them.

Cherylt   January 14th, 2009 3:49 pm ET

Bebe – it was on Banfield & Ford last Thursday – jurors all said Not Guilty….

William   January 14th, 2009 9:37 pm ET

It’s not like they haven’t been trying to close it. Nobody wants the scum that are at Gitmo. It is amazing that we will go all out to defend people that were attempting or killed our service members, but we care less about the young Marines in jail for poor decisions. We expect 18 and 19 year olds to make life or death decisions, and then punish them when the outcome is bad. Where is there outcry from CNN about how they are treated? Where is the outcry about the children and spouses of fallen service members that these people have killed? I guess we can bring them to the US and have Judge Judy be the presiding judge.

Folly   January 15th, 2009 11:41 am ET

You are wrong. Gitmo closing is a horrible mistake. But then most trial attorneys are liberal are they not? You don’t care about our need to protect ourselves. You only want the money from lawsuits after we are dead.

Suzy   January 15th, 2009 3:24 pm ET

How can we close down Gitmo…if it doesn’t belong to us? What about the Castro”s…?

Betty Phillips   January 18th, 2009 6:26 pm ET

If GITMO closes then where do these prisoners go that are not wanted in their country? Are they free here to commit more plane attacks (in the air) or just roam our streets until they can secretly get a message out the yellow coward (Bid Laden). It saddens me to know how many of our country was destroyed by some of the Gitmo prisoners and now they can not have a voice in this matter. May God help us if they are turned loose, that will be the time EVERYONE will wish BUSH WAS STILL LEADING OUR COUNTRY. Betty

Kate   January 21st, 2009 2:58 pm ET

Then what do we do with them, set them free so they can pull another 9/11. These people must of done something bad to get there in the first place. For the longest time Americans had to sit in front of the TV set and watch other Americans get beheaded. Now we are going to slap these idiots on the wrist and set them free. This new president is trying to keep peace among the radicals!? I could see now he is not ready to be a president, and we will all live to regret yesterday. I suddenly don’t feel as protected as I was with Bush. Not that I agreed with everything Bush did, but I felt much more secure.

Betty Phillips   January 22nd, 2009 5:52 pm ET

You are so right Kate!!!, If they get one half of a chance they will make sure they do more damage than what was done on 9/11, and we do not have Bush to protect us. Oh yes! Bush made his share of mistakes, but, I still think he did an outstanding job protecting us here on homeland and for our young boys in that God forsaken place, lets pray that Obama will continue to protect us, this could be a big challenge for him, afterall he is a MUSLIM and it is his breed that will do all they can to take us down again…..,Betty

Amanda   January 22nd, 2009 6:19 pm ET

I doesn’t matter, Nothing will change… oh wait yes it will! More bad people out running around… Great beginning~ I pray that this doesn’t come back to haunt us… CHANGE IS HERE, but is it good?

Lizbeth   January 23rd, 2009 4:24 pm ET

Is the USA more safe now? Will it be more safe when these terrorists are released? Will it be more safe when foreign terrorists caught in their evil acts are given Constitutional rights. No No No No No.

Our safety does not matter to some because we deserve destruction according to the terrorists.

With Obama in charge and in just 2 days terrorists have been given a gift and there is great rejoicing that now is the time for the terrorists to succeed on their justified revenge against the infidels. it is now open season on our USA.

L.A.   February 5th, 2009 1:06 pm ET

I SAY CLEAN IT OUT,WE WILL NEED THE ROOM TO PUT ALL THE CROOKED LAWYERS.I THOUGHT WHEN YOU WENT TO PRISON YOU GAVE UP YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.SOME HOW THE LAWYERS HAVE TURNED THIS AROUND.GOD HELP US?

L.A.   February 5th, 2009 1:19 pm ET

i would lie to comment on the kathleen hilton case.I belive she did it and should be in a mental hospital for the rest of her life.but I also belive the son had a large part in creating this situation.he must have known that his mother could be eaisly influnced,and made her aware of his threats to burn the house down.yet he walks away scott free.i
hold him responsible for the deaths that ocured in this case.and he seemes to show not the slightest compassion for his mothers perdicament.I guess he will get his judement from a higher power.

L.A.   February 5th, 2009 10:12 pm ET

THE MYSA HAS SPOKEN LETS GIVE THE TERRORISTS THE KEYS TO THE CITY AND MAKE THEM CITIZENS. AND IM SURE WE COULD GIVE THEM A LITTLE WELLFARE TO TIDE THEM OVER UNTIL THEY CAN PLAN THERE NEXT ATTACK. AND WE COULD SUPPLY THEM WITH COMPUTERS , SO THEY CAN COMINUATE WITH THE GOOD OL BOYS BACK HOME.ANDLETS GIVE THEM SOME CASH,SO THE WONT HAVE TO STAND IN LINE AT WESTERN UNION WAITING FOR CASH TO ARRIVE FROM OSOMA BENLADEN.SO FAR WITH ONLY A FEW DAYS IN OFFICE ,YOUR DOING A GREAT JOB,KEEP IT UP.

CAL.VET   February 7th, 2009 9:27 pm ET

LETS GIVE BUSH SOME CREDIT.THERE WAS ALREADY A PULL OUT DATE SUGESSTED FOR IRAQ.AND THE PEOPLE OF IRAQ HAVE ALREADY PUT US ON NOTICE,THAT THEY ARE ABOUT READY TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THER OWN SECURITY.EVERYBODY ACTS LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING NEW.AS FAR AS IRAQ IS CONCERNED ,I THINK IF WE ARE GOING TO EMPTY GITMO WE SHOULD TURN THESE PRISONERS OUER TO THE IRAQ ATHOURTEYS AND LET THEM DEAL WITH IT.SURELY THEY ARE IRAQ S ENEMYS AS WELL AS OURS. AS FAR AS THE BAIL OUT GOES , AMERICA NEEDS TO QUIT PRINTTING MONEY WE DONT HAVE.

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About this blog

Sidebar takes you behind the scenes of the day's legal headlines with breaking news and in-depth analysis from In Session's anchors and correspondents.

Contributors
Ashleigh Banfield
Anchor of the daily trial program Ashleigh Banfield:Open Court
Ashleigh Banfield
Jack Ford
A former prosecutor and anchor of the daily trial program Jack Ford: Courtside
Jack Ford
Jami Floyd
Former defense attorney and anchor of her own daily program Jami Floyd: Best Defense
Jami Floyd
Fred Graham
Senior Editor Fred Graham covers legal news in Washington, D.C.
Fred Graham
Jean Casarez
Attorney Jean Casarez covers trials around the country
Jean Casarez
Beth Karas
Former prosecutor Beth Karas covers trials around the country
Beth Karas
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