President Obama broke his cycle of empty veto threats over Guantánamo on Thursday, sending a defense authorization bill back to Congress with a defiant message: “Let’s do this right.”
It was only the fifth veto of his presidency, and came with a rare bit of flare: a public announcement in front of video cameras.
“This legislation specifically impeded our ability to close Guantánamo in a way that I have repeatedly argued is counterproductive to our efforts to defeat terrorism around the world,” he said. “Guantánamo is one of the premiere mechanisms for jihadists to recruit. It’s time for us to close it. It is outdated; it’s expensive; it’s been there for years. And we can do better in terms of keeping our people safe while making sure that we are consistent with our values.”
The fiscal year 2016 defense budget that arrived on Obama’s desk earlier this week attempted to ban all transfers of Guantánamo prisoners to the United States, heighten the barrier to shift them overseas, and prohibit moves to specific countries.
He also cited concerns about the bill’s use of a budgeting gimmick to circumvent spending caps and its failure to adopt certain reforms, but Obama was particularly explicit about rejecting Congress’s attempt to keep the U.S. base at Guantánamo Bay in Cuba open.
“Because of the manner in which this bill would undermine our national security,” he wrote in his official veto message, “I must veto it.”
Obama had dramatically ordered the notorious Bush-era offshore prison closed on his first full day in office, in 2009. But by the end of that year it was already clear that his moral scruples were giving way to political calculation.
He proceeded to repeatedly give in to Republican Congressional opposition. For instance, the White House had previously threatened to veto defense authorization bills that contained provisions blocking the closure of the prison in 2011, 2012 and 2014, but Obama had backed down each time.
This time, however, his veto gives critics hope that maybe he would renew efforts to close the prison before he left office.
The Center for Constitutional Rights, which represents many of the men detained at Guantánamo, called the veto “important” but said in a statement that “lawmakers’ attempts to keep Guantánamo open for partisan political gain are no excuse for President Obama’s failure to close the prison.”
The center warned that if he lacks the political will to “take bold steps now, he will fail to close Guantánamo, and that will be a central part of his legacy as president.”
Watch Obama sign the veto:
Assumptions destroy lives, often irretrievably — and such is the case with many of the people in Gitmo, on watch lists, and so forth — and so does torture (which doesn’t take place only in Gitmo, as the records have been showing us). Someone needs to end this travesty/tragedy. It’s a disgrace. ‘Keeps Obama’s Options Open’ sounds like something you want more for a Thanksgiving soiree than a torture program. That’s some unfortunate headline you chose, Mr. Froomkin. :-/
“…our values…”…just who is “our”?…I was a C/O from the draft during Nam…to this very day I don’t condone killing(s) of any kind…drones or boots on the ground…that being said, I wonder who is behind the screen? who is pulling the lever(s)?, pushing the button(s)? who’s values are being used here? christian values? jewish values? buddhists values?…as near as I can tell there are only 2 values at work in america today, money and killing things…there are a few web-sites that address this, The Intercept, Commondreams, EFF and Epic, I’ll include the ACLU just because of what they do…John Lennon said it best with, “just give me some truth”…who’s values? all I want is some truth…thank you Dan for giving me some truth…
“Guantánamo is one of, but by no means the only site we use or support in another country, that recruits jihadists.”
I fixed that for him…
“We can now close Prison Guantanamo because we are opening Prison Gaia.” 54-46 is my number. I’m not a fool to hurt myself, So I was innocent of what they done to me, They was wrong, Listen to me, they were wrong.
Sweet sounding words from Obama must be taken
with a great amount of distrust.
Especially interesting is his coupling of these words,
“This legislation impeded our ability to close Guantanamo in a way that I have
repeatedly argued is counterproductive to our efforts to defeat terrorism.”
This likely means that a counterproductive manner of closing Guantanamo
would be “impeded” by this legislation.
In fact, based upon history, what he and the congress both prefer and
reinforce is what is counterproductive to ending “terrorism.”
“Impeding” counterproductive efforts cannot be allowed because that
which is counterproductive is the hallmark of what they do.
Words and politicians.
Beware.
Really positive move here by Obama, and this is coming off the heals of a Second Term that is generally seen as being more progressive(Cuba, Iran Deal, Vetoing Keystone, Blocking Arctic Drilling by Shell in the North, Supporting Net Neutrality, Executive Order on Immigration, Criminal Justice Reform). I am still not pleased with him on topics like Drones, TPP, or vetoing U.N resolutions on Palestine but overall as far as American Presidents go he will be seen as one of the best
Wow! Re-write history much!???
To cite a few fallacies,
The “Iran Deal” was based upon lies and is part of a long history
of trying to punish Iranians for their limiting corporate access to resources.
Obama NEVER vetoed the Keystone pipeline. Most of it has been built during
his administration and only the North Dakota and Nebraska leg is waiting
to be finished.
Obama OPENED the arctic to drilling and Shell later backed out.
“Criminal Justice Reform?” Do you mean how his administration has
protected corporate criminals?
What meds are you taking?
Interesting. No mention of the reason for Gitmo in the first place: Detain unlawful combatants in the Global War on Terror, and get important information that saves many lives. The President forgets that Islamists have been at war with us since at least November 21, 1979, with the murder of Marine CPL Steven Crowley in Islamabad, Pakistan, at the U.S. Embassy compound overrun by radical Muslim “students.” They continue to try and kill us and all peace loving people in the world. Until all Islamists are dead or no longer have the means or will to kill us, we must defend ourselves. Remember Mr. President, Gitmo existed AFTER the attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Flight 93. Hardly a recruiting tool, as ANY place these unlawful combatants would be held would surely be vilified by our enemies. And if you bring them to the United States their friends, family and our foes would surely follow, in droves, and as immigrants, migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees; with student, tourist and work visas. Who will stop them, President Obama? Sincerely, Montgomery J. Granger, Major, U.S. Army, Retired. Former ranking U.S. Army Medical Department officer with Joint Detainee Operations Group, Joint Task Force 160, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Author: “Saving Grace at Guantanamo Bay: A Memoir of a Citizen Warrior.”
Why didn’t President Obama and the Democrats handle this when they had a majority in the House and a supermajority in the Senate?
a day late and a dollar short – another 6 billion dollars for the Afghanistan / Iraq debacle – FRAUD.
When the WAR CRIMES are openly addressed and are honest – – – alot of weords that amount to hot air – NO MEANING
“… consistent with our values.” Looks like the Guantanamo gulag and drone assassinations are now USA values. The empire has stooped very low.
Guantanamo will remain a festering sore, on the now dead reputation of the land of the free and the brave, for several more years.
The veto means nothing, and is Obamas’ latest ploy to make it seem, he tried.
Shallow, empty human, devoid of empathy, more of a sociopath than anything else.
The only American President, who opined that killing other humans, was something he didn’t know he could get used to …
Heartless.
Mel
How soon you forget Shrub and his sidekick Darth Vader – You’ve never met the man.
I’m sure they knew they could get used to it.