tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17208326.post6287748311962958896..comments2023-03-27T05:58:47.681-05:00Comments on my tiny voice in this big world: Does It Feel Different?deannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999738984872112515noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17208326.post-88848014599989186602009-01-23T20:52:00.000-05:002009-01-23T20:52:00.000-05:00Wow, D. I didn't say they should be released and s...Wow, D. I didn't say they should be released and sent to the local country club! Obviously we need to deal with prisoners of war, but if our ideals to not keep us from savagery...we will become the monsters we are fighting.<BR/><BR/>That is the statement I was talking about making. Saying, we are better than what happened here. It's not about looking good to the world. It's a statement about who we say we are. About what we stand for.<BR/><BR/>We need to deal with war criminals. We need to have places to send them if their countries decline them. Gitmo's reputation could no longer be that place, in my opinion. <BR/><BR/>These are scary times. The challenge will be how to not compromise ourselves while still securing our country.Kathrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04316184294080235850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17208326.post-18996057781589050912009-01-23T16:12:00.000-05:002009-01-23T16:12:00.000-05:00Gitmo.... it only brought shame to us because 1) t...Gitmo.... it only brought shame to us because 1) the terrorists wanted it to (because it is where all their key players ended up), and 2) because for one prisoner (of highest value) they went too far. As far as they went does not come close to the way our soldiers are tortured by the enemy when captured - and that is something that will never change. <BR/><BR/>For me, personally, those kinds of "statements to the world" should not be made to the world - they should be classified directives. What he did was weaken our defense - it's that simple. I'm all for upholding our values and being able to say we do not do this... I am not for saying "Guess what? If we capture the enemy, we're going to make sure nothing bad happens to them. We won't even ask them what their name is if they don't want to talk to us." These are war criminals, not American citizens - there is a difference, whether anyone wants to believe that or not. <BR/><BR/>How much of the information that we gathered over the last 7 years that actually thwarted another terrorist attack on our soil to you think came from those prisoners? I'm willing to bet around 90%... and now, we no longer have the means to gather that kind of information, even we enter into another war after another terrorist attack that is probably now eminent. He may look good to the world, but I really believe it is a grave error. <BR/><BR/>Now, where do you supposed almost 300 prisoners will go?? His order is going to lead to more than just the closing of Gitmo.... and the US has been trying for years to send these prisoners back to their native or other countries, and we have been declined!! Bush would have shut that place down had he had the capability... nobody wants these guys. Would you be happy if Maine decided to take a few?? I would not!deannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999738984872112515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17208326.post-52712654536180144132009-01-23T13:19:00.000-05:002009-01-23T13:19:00.000-05:00I don't feel different except for wondering how mu...I don't feel different except for wondering how much change there will actually be. <BR/><BR/>It did strike me about the announced closing of Guantanamo. That struck me as a pointed statement to the world: we don't agree with or support what happened here. I think it was a wise political move. It also signaled action at the very beginning of the new administration...another wise political move.<BR/><BR/>I do hear you regarding our sense of safety. I hope that we can maintain security without compromising our ideals--personal freedom, fair treatment of prisoners, etc. I do not envy the people that must walk a sometimes fine line to keep our country safe.<BR/><BR/>Gitmo, though, was a place that brought shame to us. I think closing it signals an acknowledgment on our part.Kathrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04316184294080235850noreply@blogger.com