Obama to re-brand “enemy combatants”

By Michelle Malkin  •  March 13, 2009 04:26 PM

Well, it was only a matter of time. The Obama administration has decided to abandon the term “enemy combatants” to describe the jihadi suspects at Guantanamo Bay. Makes sense. After all, Attorney General Eric Holder’s former law firm has been calling the Gitmo detainees by a different name for a while now: Clients.

Let the re-branding begin. Bucktown Dusty suggests the DOJ will start calling them “Undocumented Protagonists” ; suicide bombers will be “Next Life Enablers.” Send me your suggestions.

Via WaPo:

The Obama Administration today dropped the term “enemy combatant” to describe those held at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and increased the legal threshold needed to detain them.

The Justice Department disclosed the move in a court filing in response to a federal judge’s order seeking a definition of the term “enemy combatant.”

Judges have said the definition will play a key role in determining whether the government has justified the confinement of scores of detainees who are challenging their status in U.S. District Court.

In a break with the Bush Administration’s policies, the Justice Department said it would only seek to detain those who “substantially supported” the Taliban, Al Qaeda or associated forces or participated in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The Bush Administration had argued it could detain those who provided support to those groups and others “engaged in hostilities” against the United States and its allies.

The Justice Department did not define “substantially supported” in the court papers but said the term would not include those who “provide unwitting or insignificant support” to terror groups. “The particular facts and circumstances justifying detention will vary from case to case,” they wrote.

Though dropping the term “enemy combatant” will have little practical effect, it is a symbolic move by the Obama Administration to break with the past.

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Posted in: Gitmo

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Comments


  1. #1
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:27 pm, corona said:

    “undocumented soldiers”

  2. #2
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:29 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    “Democrat Voters”

  3. #3
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:30 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    “Future University of Illinois Faculty”

  4. #4
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:31 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    “Plaintiffs”

  5. #5
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:33 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    “Just Guys Who Live in the Neighborhood”

  6. #6
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:33 pm, Jeddite said:

    “freelance foreign policy activists”

  7. #7
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:34 pm, Jeddite said:

    “disgruntled socio-political and religion consultants”

  8. #8
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:34 pm, Misscheryl said:

    Minority constituents

  9. #9
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:35 pm, Misscheryl said:

    the hood

  10. #10
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:35 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    “AP Stringers”

  11. #11
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:35 pm, Misscheryl said:

    home boys

  12. #12
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:36 pm, tonyr951 said:

    I feel safer already

  13. #13
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:37 pm, jencab said:

    “Allah’s militia.”

  14. #14
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:37 pm, rightwingrocker said:
  15. #15
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:37 pm, Jeddite said:

    “Candidates for Deputy Secretary of the Treasury”

  16. #16
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:38 pm, formerwm said:

    murderers…killers…baby killers!! Let’s just go out on a limb here and call them what they are.

  17. #17
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:41 pm, PBoilermaker said:

    Funny…when these people were shooting at us we had no qualms calling them “enemy combatants”.

    Obama’s douchebaggery knows no limits.

  18. #18
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:42 pm, bansharia said:

    my guess is “campaign contributers”.

  19. #19
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:42 pm, johnsteele said:

    “Future Democrat Congresspersons”

  20. #20
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:42 pm, RetFireman said:

    Innocent Wayward Goat Herders

    Misunderstood Theologians

    Theological Pyrotechnicians

  21. #21
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:44 pm, Just A Grunt said:

    This is the disturbing part of the report via Fox News

    The government’s new standard relies on the international laws of war to inform the scope of the president’s authority under this statute,

    and makes clear that the government does not claim authority to hold persons based on insignificant or insubstantial support of al Qaeda or the Taliban.
    The cow towing to some sort of international standard is what bothers me.

  22. #22
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:45 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    “Guys You Wouldn’t Want Your Daughter to Date”

  23. #23
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:46 pm, Gabe said:

    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:29 pm, AlohaGuy said:
    “Democrat Voters”

    Exactly!

    I suggest “undocumented Obama supporters” or “religion of peace combatants.”

  24. #24
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:46 pm, hatfield said:

    warrior’s for allah.

  25. #25
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:47 pm, Misscheryl said:

    The government’s new standard???”

    Huh???

  26. #26
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:47 pm, happyscrapper said:

    PERFECT REASON TO TAKE NO PRISONERS!!!Then they can all be called, “Those who gave their lives on the battlefield for allahhhhh!”

  27. #27
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:48 pm, Misscheryl said:

    future free loaders

  28. #28
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:48 pm, Just A Grunt said:

    Maybe these are the “moderate Muslims” we have been searching for with as much success as the hunt for the Holy Grail.

  29. #29
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:48 pm, hatfield said:

    allah’s promise keepers.

  30. #30
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:49 pm, hatfield said:

    Future ACORN employees.

  31. #31
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:49 pm, RetFireman said:

    Aw gee you guys. How heasrtless can you be? Do you really not care what being called an “Enemy Combatant” is doing to these poor fellows’ self esteem? I mean, can you just imagine? There they are, just minding their own business when a flock of Blackhawk helicopters come sweeping in, and a load of big, smelly, hairy American goons start grabbing them off the street all willy-nilly, and next thing you know, they are bathed, put in clean clothes, fed, given proper dietary needs, handed new prayer rugs and holy books and slapped with a name like “Enemy Combatant”.

    How can Bush sleep at night knowing the damage he has done to these poor innocents psyches. Why, it was so bad that 5 of them signed forced confessions concerning the crimes against this nation that we all know Bush was responsible for. Hell, I hear Bush even remotely controlled one of the planes himself from Air Force One.

    It is the least Der Fuhrer can do to help them regain some sense of dignity. After all, we want them to return to goat herding, not start hating us.

  32. #32
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:50 pm, thejim said:

    These are not the “Enemy Combatants” that I knew.

  33. #33
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:51 pm, hatfield said:

    Bidens brigade.

  34. #34
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:51 pm, Madam President said:

    Figures as much. Obama pretty much is “one of them”. First executive order was to close down the place, $900 million to Hamas Gaza, and now this.

  35. #35
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:52 pm, Misscheryl said:

    how about – your next door neighbor!

  36. #36
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:52 pm, geminicontender said:

    misunderstood messiahs

  37. #37
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:53 pm, RetFireman said:

    Moderate Taliban

  38. #38
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:53 pm, Gabe said:

    Another one:

    “9/11 victims” because Obama and all liberals feel that Muslims were THE victims of the September 11 attacks, and we “imperialists” deserved the attacks. That is what Obama is really saying when he gets rid of the term “enemy combatants.”

  39. #39
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:54 pm, RetFireman said:

    Unseal his Hawaiian files NOW!!!!

  40. #40
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:54 pm, Bogtrotter said:

    “Future Overlords”

  41. #41
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:55 pm, Misscheryl said:

    Madam – and don’t forget that his first official meeting was with the Arabs and in it he explained how dear to his heart the muslim religion is.

  42. #42
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:55 pm, geminicontender said:

    We need to impeach “our” enemy combatant.

  43. #43
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:55 pm, RetFireman said:

    Targets of the Great Jewish Conspiricy

  44. #44
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:56 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:51 pm, Madam President said:
    Figures as much. Obama pretty much is “one of them”. First executive order was to close down the place, $900 million to Hamas Gaza, and now this.

    Obama is a traitor to this country. I want him deported, back to his homeland of Kenya.

  45. #45
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:56 pm, USN RET said:

    Obama’s BFFs

  46. #46
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:56 pm, mjn1957 said:

    Call them anything you want now, soon they will be called “Plaintiff”

  47. #47
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:57 pm, geminicontender said:

    I am beginning to think that the Messiah is purposely putting this country in great danger. What’s that term? Traitor?

  48. #48
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:57 pm, backwoods conservative said:

    Community Disorganizers.

  49. #49
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:58 pm, walterc said:

    I would suggest we starting referring to them as “Friends of the Family”.

  50. #50
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:58 pm, jencab said:

    “Beezelbub’s Pals”

  51. #51
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:59 pm, calamityville said:

    Welfare recipients.

  52. #52
    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:59 pm, Misscheryl said:

    cave dwellers

    looking for better digs.

  53. #53
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:01 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    Homeowners

  54. #54
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:01 pm, Gabe said:

    On March 13th, 2009 at 4:54 pm, RetFireman said:
    Unseal his Hawaiian files NOW!!!!

    Amen to that. But as long as wimps like AllahPundit at HotAir keep calling a “truther,” anyone who wants Constitutional proof that this Muslim lover is a “natural born citizen,” including many of our soldiers, we will have Obama destroying our country for at least four more years.

  55. #55
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:01 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    “Senior Treasury Officials”

  56. #56
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:02 pm, wighttrasch said:

    ‘Jawbones of an Ass’

  57. #57
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:04 pm, Coregis said:

    Since “Democratic Party Voters” has already been taken, how about:

    1. Cannon Fodder
    2. Skeet
    3. Unvetted Cabinet Nominees

    George Orwell would be so amazed.

  58. #58
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:05 pm, steveegg said:

    The rest of the gang, but especially AlohaGuy, beat me to the punch with the best ones. Let’s see if I can pick through what’s left:

    - Citizens of the world
    - (Anti-)Freedom Fighters
    - Charter Members of the ObamaCorps

  59. #59
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:05 pm, Misscheryl said:

    the “disenfranchised”

  60. #60
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:05 pm, Misscheryl said:

    brown shirts

  61. #61
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:06 pm, J S Ragman said:

    I was thinking “sea kittens”, but that’s already taken.

  62. #62
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:07 pm, Misscheryl said:

    Ok, I’m even scaring myself now. Obama recruiting Gitmo detainees to be his “brown shirts” I just got a tingle.

  63. #63
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:07 pm, geminicontender said:

    unlicensed pilots

  64. #64
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:08 pm, geminicontender said:

    homewreckers

  65. #65
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:09 pm, mockingbyrd said:

    Undocumented Protagonists.

  66. #66
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:10 pm, Khyris said:

    “Inevitable Recidivists”

    Oh wait sorry, the reason Obama dropped the term “enemy combatants” was because those words were too big and complicated to get his feeble little brain around… If we called them “Inevitable Recidivists” he might have an aneurysm. Maybe “bad guy” would be dumbed-down enough for him to “get” the concept.

  67. #67
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:10 pm, Coregis said:

    Forgot one:

    Unfinished Business

  68. #68
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:11 pm, CO2 Producer said:

    Friendly Fire

    Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Men

    Civil Obedience Advocates

    Roommate Seekers

    Peace Negotiators

    Who? I forgot.

  69. #69
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:11 pm, RetFireman said:
  70. #70
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:11 pm, backwoods conservative said:

    Unexpected Guests.

  71. #71
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:12 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    Undocumented Protagonists.

    Please send Bucktown Dusty his licensing fee… :)

  72. #72
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:12 pm, rusty_armor said:

    Just the thing I feared more than terrorism itself has happened. The trial lawyers have found a foothold in Gitmo.

  73. #73
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:13 pm, Red State Skeptic said:

    alleged terrorists

  74. #74
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:14 pm, jsmiddleton4 said:

    The only people who will accept cabinet level positions in the Obama administration who don’t have tax problems?

  75. #75
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:14 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

    If they close Gitmo and bring them here, then they’ll just call them newly minted Americans.

  76. #76
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:15 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    Buffalo TV Executives

  77. #77
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:15 pm, thejim said:

    AW come on guys, ease up. It has to be confusing as a kid growing up playing with “jihad joes”.

  78. #78
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:15 pm, RetFireman said:

    There is only one name…one term I want to see associated with any of the “detainees” currently there and any that will need to find a new place to stay once our military are forced to take them prisoner.

    “DECEASED”

  79. #79
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:18 pm, tpitman said:

    Graduates of the William Ayers Academy of Societal Realignment?

  80. #80
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:21 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    “Misunderstood Youths” a phrase we should adopt if only because the French use it.

  81. #81
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:21 pm, Bob1234 said:

    From now on, they will be referred to as “alleged perpetrators.”

  82. #82
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:21 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    Youth…not Youths

  83. #83
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:22 pm, Misscheryl said:

    Our Guests!

  84. #84
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:23 pm, Fuller said:

    P O W’s – to be for the duration

  85. #85
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:24 pm, flaming_o said:

    I thought this would be first on the list:

    “community activists”

    It fits (in the Age of Obama). From Att Gen Holder’s pov, it would take one to know one. And William Ayers would identify with the sentiment.

  86. #86
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:25 pm, rusty_armor said:

    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:15 pm, RetFireman said:
    There is only one name…one term I want to see associated with any of the “detainees” currently there and any that will need to find a new place to stay once our military are forced to take them prisoner.

    “DECEASED”

    I am sure the message will get to our field commanders . . .

  87. #87
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:30 pm, Joy said:

    :lol:

    Oh my there are tons of funny answers in this thread.

    :lol:

  88. #88
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:33 pm, wighttrasch said:

    Virgin-Bound

  89. #89
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:35 pm, travlinman said:

    “DOA”

  90. #90
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:36 pm, wighttrasch said:

    Yellowcake Packer

  91. #91
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:37 pm, Misscheryl said:

    convenience store owners

  92. #92
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:38 pm, tonyr951 said:

    “Target practice”

  93. #93
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:42 pm, southsideironworks said:

    Innocent Victims.

    /sarc.

  94. #94
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:43 pm, corona said:

    Yes, this is a joke, but it looks like Barry O‘s cyber squad has taken down The Corner.

  95. #95
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:45 pm, geminicontender said:

    We could turn Gitmo into an exceedingly profitable commercial enterprise. 7-11′s and Dunkin Donuts. Biden could oversee operations and Nancy Pelosi can subsidize them with minimum wage increases.

  96. #96
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:46 pm, TXGator said:

    Dynamite people? :)

  97. #97
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:47 pm, geminicontender said:

    Oh, I forgot. Our Messiah is anti-capitalist. Maybe we can set up ACORN shops there.

  98. #98
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:49 pm, lottadawg said:

    Actually I like that deceased thing!

  99. #99
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:49 pm, NBF said:

    Community Agitators.

    People who agree with Jeremiah Wright.

  100. #100
    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:50 pm, steveegg said:

    On March 13th, 2009 at 5:43 pm, corona said:

    Yes, this is a joke, but it looks like Barry O’s cyber squad has taken down The Corner.

    Looks like a database wipe, and it’s also affecting The Campaign Spot. None of the other NRO blogs seem to be affected.

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