Eric Holder: Seriously, We’re Going to Close Gitmo Pretty Soon

By Doug Powers  •  September 20, 2011 04:07 PM

**Written by Doug Powers

Gitmo has taken a back seat to other issues lately, so maybe it’s a strategical error on the AG’s part to come out and remind those whose attention has since been distracted from the issue that the place is in fact still open for business (although it’s not as if Holder has anything else to do).

In spite of that, the Attorney General wants everybody to know that he still hasn’t forgotten about following through with President Obama’s executive order to close Gitmo by January…. of 2010:

BRUSSELS (AP) — U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday that the Obama administration will do its utmost to close the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay before next year’s presidential elections despite political opposition.

Holder said at the European Parliament that even if the current administration fails to close it ahead of elections, it will continue to press ahead if it wins the November 2012 presidential vote.

I’m not sure how Holder’s renewed commitment will sit even with other members of the administration, who recently backed off a wildly unpopular and ill-conceived “civil trials for terrorist suspects” crusade. This would drag the “what will we do with the detainees if it closes” debate back into the conversation just as the election season is starting to heat up. Nothing will reel in the Illinois undecideds faster for Obama than by telling them he’s going to start keeping terrorists in their backyard.

In the spirit of bipartisanship, if the Obama administration is serious about putting Gitmo out of business, I’d like to offer a suggestion that is tried and true: Declare the prison a “green jobs” hub, loan it a half billion taxpayer dollars, then hire the detainees to manufacture and sell solar panels and windmill parts. The place would be shuttered before next summer.

**Written by Doug Powers

Twitter @ThePowersThatBe

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Posted in: Eric Holder,Gitmo

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Comments


  1. #1
    On September 20th, 2011 at 4:17 pm, Cogs said:

    I think Eric Holder would be a nice addition to GITMO!

  2. #2
    On September 20th, 2011 at 4:22 pm, LawDog said:

    Can you imagine the conversation between Holder and Obama. “Eric, give me something to shove down the voters throat…I’m runnin’ for reelection here and I need some-um….”

  3. #3
    On September 20th, 2011 at 4:23 pm, Flyoverman said:

    It will take a while. His efforts are focused on arresting Amish for taking fresh vegetables and raw milk between state lines and filing law suits against the states.

  4. #4
    On September 20th, 2011 at 4:23 pm, Yumpin Yoda said:

    Seriously, We’re Going to Close Gitmo Pretty Soon

    Seriously, you’re going to be out of a job soon Eric. No need

  5. #5
    On September 20th, 2011 at 4:25 pm, Flyoverman said:

    In spite of that, the Attorney General wants everybody to know that he still hasn’t forgotten about following through with President Obama’s executive order to close Gitmo by January…. of 2010:

    Appears Holder can be fired for insubordination. Failed to follow a direct order. Sweeeet.

  6. #6
    On September 20th, 2011 at 4:28 pm, Truesoldier said:

    Gitmo has taken a back seat to other issues lately, so maybe it’s a strategical error on the AG’s part to come out and remind those whose attention has since been distracted from the issue that the place is in fact still open for business

    Or perhaps it is being used as a distraction from Fast and Furious, Solyndra and Light Squared.

  7. #7
    On September 20th, 2011 at 4:31 pm, hawkeye54 said:

    Or perhaps it is being used as a distraction from Fast and Furious, Solyndra and Light Squared.

    Bingo!

  8. #8
    On September 20th, 2011 at 4:51 pm, Hangfire said:

    If you have too many irons in the fire, Eric, you have to build a bigger fire or grow more arms.

  9. #9
    On September 20th, 2011 at 4:56 pm, RedDog said:

    But Sh*tStain, where will we put you and your boss?

  10. #10
    On September 20th, 2011 at 4:59 pm, hawkeye54 said:

    But Sh*tStain, where will we put you and your boss?

    Maybe we can make a deal with Kenya. I hear it has a terrific prison system.

  11. #11
    On September 20th, 2011 at 5:05 pm, thejim said:

    I enjoy the mental picture of these pukes getting perp walked out the White House. I wonder how many vans it will take to pick up this whole administration?

  12. #12
    On September 20th, 2011 at 5:11 pm, FirstSkirt said:

    Eric: Uh, Mr. President, I’ve got a lot on my plate right now…uh..uh
    Barry: Look, I need a distraction and I can’t be worried about whether or not you’re gonna get indicted. It’s all about ME, not you.
    Eric: Uh, Mr. President, I’m working on the Arizona lawsuit, tracking Joe Arpaio, trying to shred a bunch of stuff on Solyandra, and covering up all that LightSquared stuff, and then there’s those damn Amish.
    Barry: Look, I need this Gitmo issue handled. Get your priorities in order, man. I, I, I, have to get reelected.
    Eric: (sucking sound)Okay, whatever you say.

  13. #13
    On September 20th, 2011 at 5:24 pm, Gorebot said:

    These butt-wipes are an embarrassment to the word “incompetence”.

    Oh yeah, and “felon”, too.

  14. #14
    On September 20th, 2011 at 5:29 pm, rambler said:

    Eric, given your track record, you might be joining the terrorists as an inmate.

  15. #15
    On September 20th, 2011 at 5:34 pm, rocketman said:

    ***
    Close GITMO? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
    ***
    Comrade Obama and His Ilk have kept most of President Bush 43′s well thought out policies in place when dealing with terrorists.
    ***
    They just keep talking up a good fight sometime in the future. A long way into the future. And never fight at all.
    ***
    Same plan as used in “focusing in like a laser” on our real unemployment rate of near 20 percent. Almost 3 years and the laser isn’t focused yet!
    ***
    John Bibb
    ***

  16. #16
    On September 20th, 2011 at 5:36 pm, IndyRich said:

    The “justice” department won’t follow the President’s directives OR those of the Supreme Court.

    What does he do in his office all day? Surf for porn??

  17. #17
    On September 20th, 2011 at 5:37 pm, hawkeye54 said:

    Eric, given your track record, you might be joining the terrorists as an inmate.

    Don’t put it past Barky to make you the scapegoat, and we all know how fond terrorists are of goats.

  18. #18
    On September 20th, 2011 at 5:41 pm, spaceycakes said:

    it has kinda slipped their collective minds, what with them all thinking it meant “Imo git mo than I had befo”

  19. #19
    On September 20th, 2011 at 6:00 pm, Green eyed Lady said:

    Gunwalker Updated

    Let’s call it the “tale of the tape.” CBS’s Sharyl Attkisson obtained access to a recorded conversation between an ATF agent and a legal gun dealer in Arizona, who apparently was the source of the two “walked” firearms found at the crime scene. But during the conversation, mention is made of a third assault rifle:
    http://sistertoldjah.com/archives/2011/09/20/gunwalker-more-evidence-of-a-third-gun-at-the-terry-murder/
    Earlier speculation was that the gun was “disappeared” to protect a high-level informant planted in the cartels, who would be exposed were the gun to become part of the public record.

    However, Allahpundit at Hot Air raises another possibility: what if this missing SKS was the gun that fired the shot that killed Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry? Neither of the two AKs has been identified as the fatal weapon, implying that Terry might not have been killed with a “walked” firearm. If this putative third weapon fired the killing shot, however, then you have a direct connection between Operation Fast and Furious and the murder of a US federal agent.

    The incentive some people might have to make this gun vanish seems pretty clear.

    In Operation Fast and Furious, however, one, perhaps two, US federal agents may have been killed with guns provided by the US government to Mexican drug cartels. Over 150 Mexican soldiers, federal agents, and civilians have been killed with “walked” weapons — and that number is growing. There is even evidence of other Gunwalker-style operations elsewhere in the US, with the weapons from which playing a part in who-knows-what-or-how-many crimes.

    This isn’t going away.

  20. #20
    On September 20th, 2011 at 6:30 pm, swmntman said:

    President Obama said “…making sure jobs are available is the first thing I think about when I wake up every morning. It’s the last thing I think about when I go to bed each night…”

    …he sure sucks at all the thinking in-between though.

  21. #21
    On September 20th, 2011 at 6:32 pm, SkyePuppy said:

    On September 20th, 2011 at 5:34 pm, rocketman said:
    Almost 3 years and the laser isn’t focused yet!

    Give the guy some slack. Those lasers need a LOT of fine-tuning.

    /sarc

  22. #22
    On September 20th, 2011 at 6:53 pm, rightisright said:

    …he sure sucks at all the thinking in-between though.

    Good 1

  23. #23
    On September 20th, 2011 at 7:08 pm, DonkeyHoatie said:

    He’s talking to the socialists in Brussels. He has to come up with SOMEthing positive to say about America, and since he, like Moochelle, loathes the country, he has to really scramble around to say something he hopes they’ll like.

    Some of the other things he could have said:
    * “We’re working to become just as insolvent as you guys!”

    * “I think we can make this socialism thing work. I know it’s causing chaos for you folks over here, but hey, we’re Americans, and we can do it right!”

    * “I’ve been working around the clock to make sure we keep up with you on allowing Muslims to establish their own rules.”

    * “Hey, I didn’t know about all those guns that were being exported to Mexico! I’m no arms dealer…”

    * “I think we’re making progress on moving our country to be more like yours. If my boss gets elected next time around, I’m positive we’ll be ready to join your European Union as another state.”

    * “Don’t blame me for letting Iran make nukes that can reach you… that was Hillary’s gig!”

  24. #24
    On September 20th, 2011 at 7:42 pm, Marshall_Will said:

    Doug Powers said:

    The place would be shuttered before next summer.

    Doug, why the pessimism..? Hey, they could turn doctoring Qtrly and Annual Reports into a cottage industry!

  25. #25
    On September 20th, 2011 at 8:08 pm, TigerLady said:

    I wonder how many vans it will take to pick up this whole administration?

    How many buses did they buy for the “jobs tour”? Strip out the perks and load ‘em up. About 50 crooks per bus should do it.

  26. #26
    On September 20th, 2011 at 8:08 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

    If Holder was smart (which he ain’t), he should beg to keep GITMO open. It’s a much nicer place than Rikers, which I’m hoping is where he ends up if there is any justice in this world.

  27. #27
    On September 20th, 2011 at 8:15 pm, sonerai32645 said:

    where will all thye bad people go?

  28. #28
    On September 20th, 2011 at 10:12 pm, cabrerski said:

    U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday that the Obama administration will do its utmost to close the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay before next year’s presidential elections…

    Hahahahahahahahahahah….stop it! You’re killing me! LOLOLOLOLOL. Y’know Holder, you may have a future in the comedy clubs…after you get out in 10-to-20.

  29. #29
    On September 20th, 2011 at 11:24 pm, Bruce said:

    Which of the REP contenders will be the first to state…“Within the first 5 minutes of my administration, I will FIRE Eric Holder and every state AG he hired.” ??? They will have my vote.

  30. #30
    On September 20th, 2011 at 11:32 pm, Flyoverman said:

    On September 20th, 2011 at 8:15 pm, sonerai32645 said:

    where will all the bad people go?

    Since January 2009 primarily to fund raisers, the golf course, Martha’s Vineyard, and Camp David.

  31. #31
    On September 20th, 2011 at 11:35 pm, Flyoverman said:

    Declare the prison a “green jobs” hub, loan it a half billion taxpayer dollars, then hire the detainees to manufacture and sell solar panels and windmill parts. The place would be shuttered before next summer.

    Or you could have the prisoners manufature CFL bulbs. Let mercury do the job that the hangman normally would.

  32. #32
    On September 20th, 2011 at 11:54 pm, prendad said:

    The sooner we get this guy, gal, whatever it is out of the Attorney General’s office, the better.

  33. #33
    On September 21st, 2011 at 6:51 am, Lazybum said:

    Assuming he runs, Obama may try to close Gitmo right BEFORE the election to kiss his base’s ass, but do it too close to the election to let any of the damage it causes hit the news cycle.

  34. #34
    On September 21st, 2011 at 8:35 am, Truesoldier said:

    On September 21st, 2011 at 6:51 am, Lazybum said:
    Assuming he runs, Obama may try to close Gitmo right BEFORE the election to kiss his base’s

    More likely he will claim he is closing it, the House will not appropriate the monies for closing it, Obama will blame Republicans for obstructing the close of GITMO, his base gets fired up by it.

    typical lib playbook.

  35. #35
    On September 21st, 2011 at 10:31 am, Whirled Peas said:

    “We’re REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY gonna close Gitmo this time if you re-elect me!! If you love me, I’ll REALLY REALLY REALLY close Gitmo!” Hussein O’Mulligan (paraphrased)

  36. #36
    On September 21st, 2011 at 10:33 am, Whirled Peas said:

    On September 20th, 2011 at 10:12 pm, cabrerski said:
    Hahahahahahahahahahah….stop it! You’re killing me! LOLOLOLOLOL. Y’know Holder, you may have a future in the comedy clubs…after you get out in 10-to-20.

    Hope springs eternal and chance would be a fine thing!

  37. #37
    On September 21st, 2011 at 10:35 am, Bunni said:

    If O & Co. close Gitmo, it’s just so they won’t wind up there themselves ;-)

  38. #38
    On September 21st, 2011 at 11:32 am, flameinhair said:

    Flyoverman, said #3 @ 4:23pm,

    It will take a while. His efforts are focused on arresting Amish for taking fresh vegetables and raw milk between state lines and filing law suits against the states.

    Let’s not forget about the FEDS busting GIBSON GUITAR!
    He’s ‘SUCH’ a busy man.

  39. #39
    On September 21st, 2011 at 2:39 pm, Truesoldier said:

    This is interesting timing:

    Even as U.S.-led forces draw down in Afghanistan, U.S. officials expect the number of detainees at their main prison to increase — and by a significant margin.

    Officials had already announced that they would retain control of the Parwan Detention Center north of Kabul well beyond the planned 2012 transfer date because of concerns that the Afghan legal system is still too weak. But U.S. officials recently said they intend to solicit contractors to help expand the facility’s capacity from about 3,500 beds to 5,500 beds.

    So they will close GITMO and move all the prisoners to Afghanistan….

  40. #40
    On September 22nd, 2011 at 8:08 pm, Straight_Talk_Luigi said:

    Yeah, right. And just move all the prisioners here.

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