“I am a proud American and I oppose the closing of Guantanamo Bay”

By Michelle Malkin  •  June 18, 2009 10:06 AM

Please join Melissa Long, whose fiance was murdered in the 9/11 jihadi attacks, in raising your voices on the closure of Gitmo. She and other 9/11 families met with DOJ. They have much to report and warn their fellow citizens about — so listen up and stay tuned.

Read Melissa’s open letter here and pass it on.

Excerpt:

Today I had the honor and privilege of joining other family members and victims of terrorism in meeting with members of the Guantanamo Review Task Force and the Detention Policy Task Force at the Department of Justice. I learned a lot about what our new President is doing and what he has the members of the task forces working on. After doing my own research and listening to the others present today I do not believe that there is a valid reason to close Guantanamo Bay. We are at WAR with TERRORISTS. OUR CONGRESS enacted the Military Commissions Act of 2006 to deal with the issues at hand, including the prosecution or release of detainees who were captured during the current war…

…We are wasting time and energy that could very well be spent on preventing future attacks or aiding all of the survivors of the attacks that have already occurred. Let the intelligence community do their job that they were assigned to do and stop getting in their way. Don’t bring known terrorists to U.S. soil when there is an effective way to deal with them already set up. Stop listening to the liberal media who are trying to fill our heads and headlines with exaggerations, lies, and one-sided arguments. As a family member said today, “Closing Guantanamo is the easy and lazy thing to do.” Stop this travesty of justice!

Posted in: 9/11, Gitmo

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Comments


  1. #1
    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:11 am, ThackerAgency said:

    Yeah, seeing the pictures of those terrorists living it up in Bermuda on our dime. . . swimming in the ocean steps from their taxpayer funded residence on the beach makes me sick.

    If I was a terrorist I would say this is reward for waging jihad. Fight against Americans, get captured, tell a sob story, and live in paradise without having a care in the world.

    Gitmo is where they should stay. They are treated better there than where they were.

  2. #2
    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:15 am, WarEagle82 said:

    Stop this travesty of justice!

    It is June. Obama has been in office five months. Which travesty of justice is she referring to? There are so many to choose from…

  3. #3
    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:16 am, Rogue Cheddar said:

    Agreed. And why are they being released to Bermuda! I’ve never vacationed there for crying out loud! If they are going to be released, release them to Alaska so Sarah can have them pick up the wolf carcasses she drops from the helicopter.
    Sarah: (after shooting jihadist) “Oops, sorry, my bad. Try not to run so close to the wolves! It’s not easy shooting from a moving helicopter you know!”

  4. #4
    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:16 am, Ragspierre said:

    As I have watched THE ONE systematically lower the cost of waging jihad against the US, I have gone from credulous to outrage. The man is far pasted irresponsible. We need to stop this adventure.

  5. #5
    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:16 am, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah how much did we spend on this facility??!! It doesn’t make sense to abandon it unless we put the scoundrels up and San Fran Nan and/or Dirty Harry Reid’s houses.

  6. #7
    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:21 am, stillontheroad said:

    Hell, if they are to be released at least send em to Haiti

  7. #8
    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:21 am, Dexter Alarius said:

    I wouldn’t mind closing Gitmo if they put a similar facility on one of the Alleutians.

  8. #9
    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:24 am, cheapseat said:

    talk about a “Mouse that roared” moment. living in outback outer mongolia, go walkabout to afghanistan, surrender to american forces, spend the rest of your life on resort islands at american taxpayer expense. where do i sign up?

  9. #11
    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:27 am, flmom said:

    Why should the United States or its citizens feel that they have to apologize to the world for being attacked or go on a PR campaign to improve its image? We do not! I feel that our President puts us at shame when he recently said in a trip overseas that he will restore America to its greatness. WE ARE A GREAT NATION, WE ALWAYS HAVE BEEN A GREAT NATION, AND I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN. I don’t need to apologize and the President should not be apologizing to the world for me or for the U.S. for actions that are necessary to bring justice to the over 3000 victims and their families and to prevent further terrorist attacks on our nation.

    This was my favorite paragraph. So true.

  10. #12
    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:27 am, no2pcbs1 said:

    zero has been in office for only a few months and he has accomplished nothing except for slowly tearing this country apart. zero hates this country even though it gave his pathetic ass everything he has. politicians fear voters when they are pissed off, so we need to show those gutless wonders in washington who really runs this country, they’ve been getting away with doing whatever they want. It’s time to let them know that there has been a failure to “communicate” and listening begins now, let’s tell them to shut up and sit down. The people are talking.

  11. #13
    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:29 am, rocketman said:

    ***
    President Obama (PBUH) is HOPING that the terrorists will CHANGE. If he is wrong a lot of innocent people are going to die.
    ***
    Our Left Wing Media (not MSM) would be going nuts if President Bush had done this. But–they know that the Messiah can do no wrong–and can not make mistakes either.
    ***
    John Bibb
    ***

  12. #14
    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:31 am, shimauma2 said:

    /me continues to pray for barry hussein’s conviction…in the meantime I’ll sign if it keeps the animals in the cages they deserve.

  13. #15
    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:31 am, jangar said:

    Which travesty of justice is she referring to? There are so many to choose from…

    The Obama mission statement: Bring America to her knees.

    And we only thought he took the sacred oath of office. Domestic terrorist and public enemy number one.

  14. #16
    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:33 am, NJ-Aviator said:

    The problem is the liberal government wants to release all of these detainees. They believe it’s wrong to keep them imprisoned despite their history. They also believe that if the US shows them good will, they will no longer want to attack the US.

    As we all know, the reality is much different. As Fmr. President Bush noted in a speech yesterday, we can’t cure these terrorists with therapy. They will kill Americans at that drop of a hat.

    Melissa Long is correct and what she is attempting to do is the right thing to do and we should support it. But until Obama and the Dems are out of power, they really don’t care what the right has to say about anything. They are going to do whatever they want to do. Regardless of whether or not it puts Americans at danger.

    This statement by John Kerry in an interview with Greta Sustern said it all after she asked him bout the democrats having a super-majority.

    he said…

    “It’s a fun time to be in politics.”

    Fun… yeah. Well Dear John… you let us all know how much fun it is after some crazed group if jihadists manages to pull off an attack on US Soil due to Obama’s and your lax security policies.

    Idiot.

  15. #17
    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:45 am, rainbow said:

    TOTUS says there’s plenty of room at the White House! There’s also room in Crook’s County Illinois!!

  16. #18
    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:46 am, sbw999 said:

    Forget it with this Adminstration; GITMO will close. They are 100% focused on what they think will make our enemies like us. It is the demented and dangerous “logic” of liberalism.

  17. #19
    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:47 am, happyscrapper said:

    he said…

    “It’s a fun time to be in politics.”

    Oh my gosh, did John F’ing Kerry really say that? It is a FUN time to be in politics? I am ready to scream! How can he say a thing like that? The country is going broke and we are in more danger right now than we have ever been, Korea has nukes and threatens to use them on us, Iran is rioting, China is calling in all their markers…and John Kerry thinks that is fun. You need no further proof that these people are insane. This is a serious problem with them, a complete inability to face reality. This has to be a result of a flaw in the gene pool. They must be weeded out and never allowed to breed again.

  18. #20
    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:54 am, sbw999 said:

    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:47 am, happyscrapper said:
    he said…

    How can he say a thing like that?

    He can say it because he is part of a party that believes in dictatorship, not democracy, a party that loves a fixed game, inhabited by people that would stab their mothers in the back to keep absolute power. He can say it because he married money, doesn’t have to worry about his mortgage payment, and can sit in his ivory tower playing with this country’s people like they are pieces on a game board. He can say it because he, as most are in Washington, are disconnected from the reality of the lives of voters.

  19. #21
    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:54 am, flmom said:

    “It’s a fun time to be in politics.”

    Translation: We won.

  20. #22
    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:56 am, jsmiddleton4 said:

    Maybe those 40 virgins are Bermudian?

    Remember the left is sympathetic to these terrorist. The left’s mindset is they are brave and courageous standing up against an evil empire, the U.S. What the left sees as the complaint these terrorist have against the U.S., the left has similar complaints even though they start from different points. Terrorist start at the religion of Islam, the left starts with the religion of the left.

    Both end up at same place, a prosperous Christian conservative America is to be taken down and destroyed.

    It is highly unlikely the left will ever see terrorist like the ones at Gitmo with anything other than a sympathetic eye AND perceive Bush as the criminal whose illegality needs to be amended.

    Gitmo’s closing, or acts like it, are not going to be stopped by complaining. The only way to stop it is to win back majorities in Congress and then the White House.

  21. #23
    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:57 am, jangar said:

    They are 100% focused on what they think will make our enemies like us.

    Correction…50% focused on making our enemies like us and 50% focused on pissing off conservatives.

    Me thinks Obama’s muslim roots run a bit too deep, so that’s got to add into the math as well. Sad how dedicated terrorist pigs are thoughtfully considered, but nothing for America. Just where is Obama’s loyalty? Hmmm?

  22. #24
    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:58 am, John Deaux said:

    The DHS thinks I’m an extremist, too. Does that mean I can move to Bermuda on the public dime?

  23. #25
    On June 18th, 2009 at 11:03 am, MtsEdge said:

    They are 100% focused on what they think will make our enemies like us. It is the demented and dangerous “logic” of liberalism.

    Sounds like a weird form of Stockholm syndrome (or perhaps Munchausen syndrome by proxy, since they keep acting like America has the problem).

  24. #26
    On June 18th, 2009 at 11:04 am, MtsEdge said:

    The left’s mindset is they are brave and courageous standing up against an evil empire, the U.S.

    The leftists or the terrorists? (rhetorical)

  25. #27
    On June 18th, 2009 at 11:10 am, NJ-Aviator said:

    happyscrapper said:

    he said…

    “It’s a fun time to be in politics.”

    Oh my gosh, did John F’ing Kerry really say that? It is a FUN time to be in politics?

    Here’s the exact quote.

    We have major initiatives under way. We’ve passed children’s health care. We’ve put a stimulus into the economy, which will have an impact on alternative and renewable energy. I’m very excited. I think that we are moving down a very interesting road and it’s a fun time to be in public life.

  26. #28
    On June 18th, 2009 at 11:12 am, NJ-Aviator said:

    And my apologies to Greta for mangling the spelling of her name. :)

    Greta Van Susteren

  27. #29
    On June 18th, 2009 at 11:20 am, J S Ragman said:

    I think they should send some of the Gitmo detainees to my neck of the woods. I’m sure I could muster up 72 aroused Virginians to take care of them.

  28. #30
    On June 18th, 2009 at 11:28 am, sassy745 said:

    IMPEACH OBAMA

  29. #31
    On June 18th, 2009 at 11:29 am, flmom said:

    Sounds like a weird form of Stockholm syndrome (or perhaps Munchausen syndrome by proxy, since they keep acting like America has the problem).

    Interesting you should mention that as I read a good article that posits that very theory:

    http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/03/obamas_political_munchausen_by.html

  30. #32
    On June 18th, 2009 at 11:30 am, flmom said:

    I think they should send some of the Gitmo detainees to my neck of the woods. I’m sure I could muster up 72 aroused Virginians to take care of them.

    The picture that conjures up is priceless!

  31. #33
    On June 18th, 2009 at 11:35 am, MtsEdge said:

    Yes, it looks like that theory has been out there for a while. Glad to know I’m on the same page with great minds!

  32. #34
    On June 18th, 2009 at 11:42 am, Savage24 said:

    Well I’m against closing Guantanamo Bay too. Guess what, that makes us “low-level-terrorist” according to the DoD. My God will we ever get rid of these idiots? Looking at those pictures of these terrorist on the beaches of Bermuda,I wonder if these are recruiting posters for Al Qaeda?

  33. #35
    On June 18th, 2009 at 11:45 am, jangar said:

    I wonder if these are recruiting posters for Al Qaeda?

    At the very least a good ad for Obama Department of Defense Travel Agency for Al Qaeda.

  34. #37
    On June 18th, 2009 at 12:16 pm, zyzzyg said:

    Absolutely, use the Military Commissions Act of 2006 to deal with the detainees. Find them innocent, find them guilty, let them commit suicide, but it shouldn’t have to take this long resolve this issue.

  35. #38
    On June 18th, 2009 at 12:36 pm, lgm said:

    With all due respect to this victim of terrorism, her arguments don’t make sense. Most of the original detainees at Gitmo have already been found innocent and released. The travesty of justice was putting them there in the first place.

    Guantanamo bay is for all practical purposes “American soil”. The only difference is that a court (mistakenly IMHO) found that certain US laws don’t apply there. It seems hard to believe that the fight against terrorism is helped by finding ways for Americans to commit acts that in America would be illegal.

  36. #39
    On June 18th, 2009 at 12:39 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On June 18th, 2009 at 12:36 pm, lgm said:
    With all due respect to this victim of terrorism, her arguments don’t make sense. Most of the original detainees at Gitmo have already been found innocent and released. The travesty of justice was putting them there in the first place.

    Yeah, those “innocent” prisoners have gone back to the terrorist training camps and are now back shooting at our soldiers. lgm…you really are a moron.

  37. #40
    On June 18th, 2009 at 12:41 pm, Room 237 said:

    I am agnostic as to whether Guantanamo stays open or closed. I do not want torture (and I find waterboarding in this category) and want some sort of proceedure. Military commissions I think are fine in most cases.

    I do find it funny that if they close the prison, they will simply move the prisoners to a base in Tukrey or Afghanistan.

    I also find funny that back when Cindy Sheenen was viewed as useful by the left, they trumpted how she had ABSOLUTE MORAL AUTHORITY!!! Funny how the left ignores people like Ms. Long who are in the same or similar boats but don’t agree with them.

    (Also funny (and a bit sad) how Mrs. Sheenan was thrown under the bus once it became obvious she was a barking moonbat)

  38. #41
    On June 18th, 2009 at 12:46 pm, Sergeant Tim said:

    On June 18th, 2009 at 12:36 pm, lgm said:

    With all due respect to this victim of terrorism, her arguments don’t make sense. Most of the original detainees at Gitmo have already been found innocent and released. The travesty of justice was putting them there in the first place.

    As ususal, lgm, you know nothing of what you speak. Department of Justice officials admitted to 45 family members there Tuesday that nearly none of the detainees, past and present at Gitmo, were or are innocent.

    And before you attempt to start a long and tedious debate with me about this, click on my name. You will find that I know of what I speak.

  39. #42
    On June 18th, 2009 at 12:55 pm, sbw999 said:

    On June 18th, 2009 at 11:20 am, J S Ragman said:
    I think they should send some of the Gitmo detainees to my neck of the woods. I’m sure I could muster up 72 aroused Virginians to take care of them.

    LOL! Good 1!

  40. #43
    On June 18th, 2009 at 1:00 pm, sbw999 said:

    On June 18th, 2009 at 11:03 am, MtsEdge said:

    Sounds like a weird form of Stockholm syndrome (or perhaps Munchausen syndrome by proxy, since they keep acting like America has the problem).

    Knowing a little bit about psychology I think liberal thinking is a combination of:

    guilt for imagined evils committed by our american ancestors, combined with a puddle deep intellect that precludes reasonable analysis and comparisons, a need to be contrary to sound chic and sophisticated, and a big dose of sophism.

  41. #44
    On June 18th, 2009 at 1:21 pm, Red State Skeptic said:

    Wasn’t the lesson from Cindy Sheehan and the “witches of East Brunswick” that the viewpoints of people aggrived in the war on terror don’t matter any more than those of ordinary people?

  42. #45
    On June 18th, 2009 at 1:21 pm, simcoe said:

    ‘bama’s closing of Guantanamo Bay is an act of fear on his part; it’s the easy road most traveled; its self-delusional denial that he hasn’t done anything offensive so the muslim nations can’t blame him and will be quick to forgive him; and it shows his inexperience in domestic and foreign affairs and his incapability of making the difficult decisions. Let them be someone else’s problem so he won’t have to deal with it. It shows him hoping that out of sight really is out of mind.

    It shows him to be a fearful, blubbering coward.

  43. #46
    On June 18th, 2009 at 1:21 pm, jsmiddleton4 said:

    lgm said:

    “The travesty of justice was putting them there in the first place.”

    I said:

    “It is highly unlikely the left will ever see terrorist like the ones at Gitmo with anything other than a sympathetic eye AND perceive Bush as the criminal whose illegality needs to be amended.”

    Thanks to you again lgm for being so predictably leftist.

  44. #47
    On June 18th, 2009 at 1:24 pm, docflash said:

    lgm,tell us where you would have placed these type of terrorist if you had been in charge.My choice is there would be no prisoners.What is wrong with Gitmo?Every fact finding tour has found it to be quite peachy.

  45. #48
    On June 18th, 2009 at 1:28 pm, NJ-Aviator said:

    OT but regarding the military and liberals.

    Boxer, the U.S. Senator, Chides Brigadier General for Calling Her ‘Ma’am’

    Brig. Gen. Michael Walsh, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was testifying on the Louisiana coastal restoration process in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. He began to answer one of Boxer’s questions with “ma’am” when Boxer immediately cut him off.

    “You know, do me a favor,” a piqued Boxer said. “Could [you] say ’senator’ instead of ‘ma’am?’”

    “Yes, ma’am,” Walsh interjected.

    “It’s just a thing, I worked so hard to get that title, so I’d appreciate it, yes, thank you,” she said.

    “Yes, senator,” he responded.

    “I worked so hard to get that title”

    LOL.. sure you did.

  46. #49
    On June 18th, 2009 at 1:34 pm, tbear44 said:

    On June 18th, 2009 at 10:21 am, Dexter Alarius said:
    I wouldn’t mind closing Gitmo if they put a similar facility on one of the Alleutians.

    Thanks but no thanks. We don’t want them in Alaska either. However, now that I think about it, I would not mind taking some of these “gentleman” on a one way sight seeing trip.

  47. #50
    On June 18th, 2009 at 1:39 pm, MtsEdge said:

    On June 18th, 2009 at 1:00 pm, sbw999 said:

    Wow, what an analysis! The next question is, how do we rational people combat this condition amongst our afflicted brethren? :)

  48. #51
    On June 18th, 2009 at 1:42 pm, MtsEdge said:

    On June 18th, 2009 at 1:28 pm, NJ-Aviator said:

    See sbw’s analysis of the mental disorder afflicting this woman. She simply MUST turn the conversation to an irrelevant point about HERSELF, a subject on which she presumably has the gravitas, rather than deal with the actual issue being discussed.

  49. #52
    On June 18th, 2009 at 1:43 pm, Sergeant Tim said:

    On June 18th, 2009 at 1:34 pm, tbear44 said:

    We don’t want them in Alaska either.

    What is the name of that island out in the Aleutians where we set off the largest above ground nuclear test weapon and is it still glowing?

  50. #53
    On June 18th, 2009 at 1:48 pm, flmom said:

    Brig. Gen. Michael Walsh, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was testifying on the Louisiana coastal restoration process in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. He began to answer one of Boxer’s questions with “ma’am” when Boxer immediately cut him off.

    “You know, do me a favor,” a piqued Boxer said. “Could [you] say ’senator’ instead of ‘ma’am?’”

    “Yes, ma’am,” Walsh interjected.

    “It’s just a thing, I worked so hard to get that title, so I’d appreciate it, yes, thank you,” she said.

    “Yes, senator,” he responded.

    Wow, Sen. Boxer, we are a little full of ourselves aren’t we.

  51. #54
    On June 18th, 2009 at 1:54 pm, tbear44 said:

    What is the name of that island out in the Aleutians where we set off the largest above ground nuclear test weapon and is it still glowing?

    That would be Amchitka, but I don’t think they even deserve to go there! I am pretty sure that was an underground test though.

  52. #55
    On June 18th, 2009 at 1:57 pm, lgm said:

    happyscrapper said (#36):

    Yeah, those “innocent” prisoners have gone back to the terrorist training camps and are now back shooting at our soldiers.

    That NYTimes reports was dubunked.

    Sergeant Tim said (#38):

    Department of Justice officials admitted to 45 family members there Tuesday that nearly none of the detainees, past and present at Gitmo, were or are innocent.

    Without trials, how would they know?

    docflash said (#44):

    tell us where you would have placed these type of terrorist

    In a military stockade somewhere in the continental US.

  53. #56
    On June 18th, 2009 at 2:01 pm, sonofdy said:

    lgm wants all prisoners take in war to be treated like criminals. Proving once again he is a brain dead idiot outside the world of math. Idiots like him are why I think we should seriously consider shooting all terrorists on sight and never take them prisoner. Americans and others have already died due to this catch and release stupidity.

  54. #57
    On June 18th, 2009 at 2:02 pm, b-cat said:
    tell us where you would have placed these type of terrorist

    In a military stockade somewhere in the continental US.

    Not Bermuda? You dare question the wisdom of Obama? I’m shocked! :shock:

  55. #58
    On June 18th, 2009 at 2:04 pm, b-cat said:

    Sonofdy, I second the motion. Shoot em. If they survive, shoot em again.

  56. #59
    On June 18th, 2009 at 2:04 pm, sonofdy said:

    Without trials, how would they know?

    Because we caught them on the freaking battle field. Stupid moronic statements like this are why we have a good chance of losing in afganistan.

  57. #60
    On June 18th, 2009 at 2:08 pm, sonofdy said:

    In a military stockade somewhere in the continental US.

    Great, lets put it next to your house.

  58. #61
    On June 18th, 2009 at 2:12 pm, Sergeant Tim said:

    On June 18th, 2009 at 1:57 pm, lgm said:

    Without trials, how would they know?

    Utilizing what you lack: intelligence.

    There is our side (the good guys), the side both the enemy and leftist wants to lose. Then there are those the intelligence says are the enemy trying to kill us or supporting those trying to kill us. War is not a court of law where guilty and not guilty are determined. Those who unlawfully wage war may not be ever be found guilty in a court of law but they damn well sure are not innocent.

  59. #62
    On June 18th, 2009 at 2:12 pm, sonofdy said:

    So LGM the moron, If I capture a taliban or al queada fighter next year in afganistan, Why shouldn’t I shoot him when you simply would let the poor little oppressed freedom fighter go to kill again???

    I may be court marshaled, but you have to be alive to be court marshaled.

  60. #63
    On June 18th, 2009 at 2:17 pm, Sergeant Tim said:

    Since January 20, lgm, we’ve put billions of dollars of armaments on and into the enemy without a trial. Does that makes Obama a war criminal?

  61. #64
    On June 18th, 2009 at 3:04 pm, huggybear said:

    We are the good guys. So why are we letting the bad guys set the moral standard? Part of being the good guys is acting the part, setting an example for the rest of the world. Conservatives used to get this. I’m not sure what happened to you all since then, but it’s not pretty.

  62. #65
    On June 18th, 2009 at 3:05 pm, lgm said:

    Sergeant Tim said (#58):

    Utilizing what you lack: intelligence.

    Insults like this don’t help your case.

    There is our side (the good guys), the side both the enemy and leftist wants to lose.

    This is across the line. You, by helping America abandon her principles of fairness and justice, are more of a danger to the future of our country than Osama bin Laden. He wants America to change, you are making that happen. Bad bad bad.

    Then there are those the intelligence says are the enemy trying to kill us or supporting those trying to kill us.

    Yup, there be bad guys out there. (Clue: you’re being belittled. Reason: you said I’m a traitor.)

    War is not a court of law where guilty and not guilty are determined.

    Call rewrite: In war, there is not a court …

    Those who unlawfully wage war may not be ever be found guilty in a court of law but they damn well sure are not innocent.

    American principle: those not proven guilty are presumed innocent. This includes many guilty people. It’s the price of democracy, along with eternal vigilance. We don’t throw everyone arrested in jail for fear than a guilty man may go free.

  63. #66
    On June 18th, 2009 at 3:19 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    American legal principle: those not proven guilty are presumed innocent.

    War is not a law enforcement action, which is the point Sgt. Tim was trying to make. Combatant adversaries are not “guilty” or “innocent”. They are the enemy.

    Unlawful combatants, however, are war criminals and should be treated as such. And that’s what we were/are doing with the military tribunals. You can’t treat them like shoplifters.

  64. #67
    On June 18th, 2009 at 3:24 pm, sonofdy said:

    American principle: those not proven guilty are presumed innocent. This includes many guilty people. It’s the price of democracy, along with eternal vigilance. We don’t throw everyone arrested in jail for fear than a guilty man may go free.

    This alone proves you and YOUR president are completely clueless as to what warfare is. This only proves that we can not afford any prisoners to make it because you will let them go to try to kill me and my fellow soldiers again.

    Double taps are to be the order of the day.

    If we follow your mindless, clueless standard we will lose the war in afganistan.

  65. #68
    On June 18th, 2009 at 3:29 pm, Sergeant Tim said:

    On June 18th, 2009 at 3:05 pm, lgm said:

    Sergeant Tim said (#58):

    There is our side (the good guys), the side both the enemy and leftist wants to lose.

    “This is across the line.”

    Really? If I’ve hurt your feelings, you are free to go away mad.

    You, by helping America abandon her principles of fairness and justice, are more of a danger to the future of our country than Osama bin Laden. He wants America to change…

    I thought that was Obama. (Did you just have a Teddy Kennedy moment?)

  66. #69
    On June 18th, 2009 at 3:46 pm, docflash said:

    lgm,since you finally had the guts to reply to our questions,answer this.What is the difference in a military stockade in the US and the military stockade at Gitmo?

  67. #70
    On June 18th, 2009 at 4:02 pm, spaceycakes said:

    How can he say a thing like that?

    I still think Kerry & the Mozambique usurper he married are certifiable.

  68. #72
    On June 18th, 2009 at 4:36 pm, Sergeant Tim said:

    On June 18th, 2009 at 3:05 pm, lgm said:

    “… you said I’m a traitor.”

    Point out where I said that. You can’t.

    When are you going to answer whether Obama is a war criminal or not? You do realized that he has to approve each of those missile attacks in Pakistan’s tribal areas. If is okay to make suspected yet untried terrorists permanently dead, why isn’t it okay to detain them indefinitely?

  69. #73
    On June 18th, 2009 at 5:18 pm, sonofdy said:

    We are the good guys. So why are we letting the bad guys set the moral standard?

    Do you want to “set the moral standard” or do you want to win the war???

    BTW I am confused as to which enemy is more moral than our troops. Perhaps you can help me with that.

  70. #74
    On June 18th, 2009 at 5:59 pm, huggybear said:

    Do you want to “set the moral standard” or do you want to win the war???

    You say this as though these are mutually exclusive alternatives. They are not.

    I have no issue with detaining enemy combatants. I’ve never read the Geneva Conventions, but it is my understanding that they lay out a framework for how such people should be treated. The Bush Cheney administration went to great lengths to get around Geneva, and this is informing how we treat our detainees. I think this is wrong. And as long as the Obama admin carries on these same policies, they are no better in that regard.

    What I mean by letting them set the moral standard is not that they are “more moral” than our troops. What I’m referring to is the stock answer given by many conservatives that “if the terrorists had a chance they wouldn’t treat our soldiers in accordance with Geneva either. Beheadings, 9/11, blah blah blah.” Which is apparently supposed to excuse the US treating battlefield detainees in a less than civilized manner; as long as we’re treating them better than we think they would treat us, we’re being “more moral” than they are. Hence, the bad guys are setting the moral standard, rather than the US adhering to the much higher, more righteous standards we once abided by.

    To be clear, I still think we’re the good guys, and I still believe we’re treating these detainees better than they would treat us. But we should be even better than that. Our standards should be much, much higher than theirs. It should not be influenced by the nature of our enemy. It should be based on an absolute, unflinching moral authority.

    But don’t take it from me.

  71. #75
    On June 18th, 2009 at 6:07 pm, sonofdy said:

    Oh BS huggybear, you were clearly saying our enemies were more moral than us. And if you don’t know what the geneva conventions are, how the hell do you know if we are violating them???

    Liberals like you who claim to “support the troops” are the first to call our enemies “freedom fighters” and the first to believe any crap they spout out about how bad our military is.

    Liberals like you are more concerned about “moral standards” that don’t really exist than winning the war.

    If liberals like you were running the country in 1941, Hitler would have won.

    So don’t give me that crap about moral standards and supporting the troops because you don’t even know what the standards are. YOU will never have the balls to put on the uniform and risk your life so don’t tell me what it is like to have to win a war while liberals like you wait with baited breathe to jail any troop that violates YOUR moral standards to save his or his buddies a$$.

    In short, shove your fake ignorant moral superiority

  72. #76
    On June 18th, 2009 at 6:09 pm, Sergeant Tim said:

    On June 18th, 2009 at 5:59 pm, huggybear said:

    I’ve never read the Geneva Conventions, but it is my understanding that they lay out a framework for how such people should be treated.

    Then you need to for your understanding is incorrect. The creators of the 1949 protocols (post-WWII) specifically defined who protected persons are (i.e. non-combatants, the wounded, and POWs (captured lawful warriors) and rules of war. They left unlawful combatants unprotected so to dissuade them from hiding among, targeting, and endangering civilians which is the primary purpose for the conventions.

    “if the terrorists had a chance they wouldn’t treat our soldiers in accordance with Geneva either. Beheadings, 9/11, blah blah blah.”

    You mock this and have neither memory nor compassion for the civilians and our troops al Qaeda has butchered. Shame on you.

  73. #77
    On June 18th, 2009 at 6:17 pm, huggybear said:

    In short, shove your fake ignorant moral superiority

    Well aren’t you classy?

    Can you please point out exactly where I said I believe they are “more moral” than us? Actually, scratch that. If you do not believe anything I say, why even bother? Please ignore my fake ignorant @$$.

    The beliefs I express here are 100% sincere. If you do not believe me, oh well. There is really not much I can do about that. Enjoy the rest of your day.

  74. #78
    On June 18th, 2009 at 6:18 pm, lgm said:

    docflash said (#66):

    What is the difference in a military stockade in the US and the military stockade at Gitmo?

    The detainees were sent to Guantanamo bay so that they could be treated in ways that would be illegal in the US proper.

    Sending them there was a statement to the world: “The United States of America intends to violate its own laws in its treatment of these detainees.” This is not the way to win the hearts and minds of the world. It did more real damage to the United States than the attacks themselves.

    Sergeant Tim said (#68):

    “… you said I’m a traitor.”

    Point out where I said that. You can’t.

    It’s italicized.

  75. #79
    On June 18th, 2009 at 6:25 pm, Sergeant Tim said:

    On June 18th, 2009 at 6:18 pm, lgm said:

    It’s italicized.

    Step back from the bong, hang your head out the window for a few minutes to clear your foggy brain, state the post number, and then count down within it (count slowly math professor so you get it right) to the line where it is “italicized.” You can’t because it is not there, here, or anywhere.

  76. #80
    On June 18th, 2009 at 6:27 pm, huggybear said:

    You mock this and have neither memory nor compassion for the civilians and our troops al Qaeda has butchered.

    It’s entirely possible to feel sorrow and compassion for the victims of Islamic terrorism AND believe their suffering does not justify lowering our moral standards.

  77. #81
    On June 18th, 2009 at 6:40 pm, Sergeant Tim said:

    Oh, lgm:

    When are you going to answer whether Obama is a war criminal or not? You do realized that he has to approve each of those missile attacks in Pakistan’s tribal areas. If is okay to make suspected yet untried terrorists permanently dead, why isn’t it okay to detain them indefinitely?

  78. #82
    On June 18th, 2009 at 8:09 pm, docflash said:

    On June 18th, 2009 at 12:36 pm, lgm said:

    “Guantanamo bay is for all practical purposes “American soil”. ”

    You said it.

  79. #83
    On June 18th, 2009 at 11:51 pm, jangar said:

    I said it on 9/12 and I’ll say it again…people will quickly forget about our national tragedy of 9/11 and it will be hell trying to come together as a united nation against the enemy again.

    And when we are hit again, the smoke will clear and it will be the same thing all over again. Many refuse to acknowledge that evil does exist and that there is only one way to deal with it. Not a pretty situation, but necessary to save lives and secure the safety of our country.

    So for now we will continue to dance around the maypole until the next slaughter…then find someone to blame.

  80. #84
    On June 18th, 2009 at 11:56 pm, jangar said:

    Oh, almost forgot…

    lgm…you’re a gullible idiot. Turn off your tv and try exploring facts.

  81. #85
    On June 19th, 2009 at 8:55 am, sonofdy said:

    Huggybear get back to me after you have been to war. You are an idiot if you think we can afford to be prefectly moral or that its even posiable. Needless to say I can asure you that with “supporters” like you we don’t need enemies.

  82. #86
    On June 19th, 2009 at 10:07 am, Yashmak said:

    The detainees were sent to Guantanamo bay so that they could be treated in ways that would be illegal in the US proper.

    – lgm

    Irrelevant. In no war that this nation has conducted in the last 150 years, have prisoners of said war been granted all the rights and legal priveleges of US citizens. You act as if it should be different this time, but I see no reason why.

  83. #87
    On June 19th, 2009 at 4:00 pm, Ilovemycountry said:

    She’s free to move there and keep it open.

  84. #88
    On June 19th, 2009 at 5:03 pm, sonofdy said:

    Ilovemycountry mumbled something inane and stupid

  85. #89
    On June 19th, 2009 at 5:30 pm, Sergeant Tim said:

    On June 19th, 2009 at 5:03 pm, sonofdy said:

    Ilovemycountry mumbled something inane and stupid

    So I see. Apparently, it also submitted much the same comment to our web site (moderated). If it answers my email, I will publish its comment. If not, I will flush its comment. What say you, it?

  86. #90
    On June 19th, 2009 at 7:05 pm, Ilovemycountry said:

    Oh boy, here we go – I’m here espousing the virtues of freedom and free will and you people get insulted by it.

    This nice woman has the liberty to move to Cuba and keep the prison open – why would that offend anyone?

  87. #91
    On June 19th, 2009 at 8:36 pm, Sergeant Tim said:

    On June 19th, 2009 at 7:05 pm, Ilovemycountry said:

    Please look at your original comment (#83 above) at 4:00 PM and then this one you apparently submitted to my site at 4:03 PM:

    “All of you are free to movew there and keep the prison open – thanks.”

    How would moving to Cuba (even if that was possible) keep the prison open?

    That aside, if you meant to imply that from the ranks of the family members the DOJ would find a great many volunteers to take care of the detainees, I’d agree (and volunteer). Maybe you would restate your point as perhaps your intent was not to offend Melissa and family members in general.

  88. #92
    On June 22nd, 2009 at 2:26 pm, Ilovemycountry said:

    Hi “Sergeant Tim

    Oops, I thought your site was satire so I made a satirical comment – you aren’t serious – are you?

    The majority of proud Americans voted to close that prison – your perspective lost by a significant margin.

    Stop exploiting widows and get over it already.

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