# What Prevents Obama From Closing the Gitmo Prison? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 18, 2013, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152 "2013-11-18T00:27:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152/61 "2013-11-19T16:35:48Z")
I would report this thread for a forum change, but none of our fora have straightjackets. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152/62 "2013-11-19T17:12:33Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > The saga of Chicago being relocated Yemen just gets more and more interesting… now if **Magiver** can only break the story of all the violins in the Middle East. Everyone is all upset when there’s a news story about violins in the Middle East, but if there were more Leonard Bernstein concerts in the Middle East, those people might not go around killing each other all the time! The problem is there aren’t enough violins in the Middle East! > > And here we have the main difference between a **Magiver** post and Emily Litella. That is, that Emily will politely acknowledge substantial errors, and **Magiver** employs the Martingale system of posting: if one keeps doubling down after every loss, sooner or later it may pay off once. are you having a seizure? Should we call 911? What error have I made about a rhetorical statement making fun of Obama’s desire to close Gitmo or move prisoners to Yemen. ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152/63 "2013-11-19T17:20:04Z")
They can be released outside the US. Hundreds have been. For the past several years Obama has dropped the ball and not really not tried to get them released. Then there’s detainees like KSM who no country wants. We’re fine with indefinite detention at Gitmo. There’s no US law stopping Obama from releasing them all though. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152/64 "2013-11-19T21:48:09Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > are you having a seizure? Should we call 911? What error have I made about a rhetorical statement making fun of Obama’s desire to close Gitmo or move prisoners to Yemen. You first started on about transferring prisoners to Chicago. I point out that you’re wrong as a matter of the black-and-white reading of the law. Then you start on about Yemen without acknowledging your error. I’m saying that Emily Litella’s monologues compare favorably to the content of your latest posts, because she recognizes when she makes serious factual mistakes. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152/65 "2013-11-20T03:21:56Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > You first started on about transferring prisoners to Chicago. I point out that you’re wrong as a matter of the black-and-white reading of the law. Then you start on about Yemen without acknowledging your error. I’m saying that Emily Litella’s monologues compare favorably to the content of your latest posts, because she recognizes when she makes serious factual mistakes. So you don’t understand a rhetorical joke about them seeing a basketball tournament in Obama’s hometown. Really. I don’t believe you’re that stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152/66 "2013-11-20T03:35:45Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > If he had thrown in a crack about being a community organizer named Barry … I’ll try to work that one in next time. That’s about as thick as his resume got before he went into politics. His career has been nothing but a popularity contest that required no working skills at all. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152/67 "2013-11-20T03:40:36Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I chose Chicago because that’s his home town. What better place to move terrorists then where he lives. You are making the unwarranted assumption that they _actually are_ terrorists. Instead of just people who were accused so that we’d pay the bounty, or to use us to eliminate a personal enemy, or because someone accused them to make the torture stop. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152/68 "2013-11-20T05:35:20Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > You are making the unwarranted assumption that they _actually are_ terrorists. Instead of just people who were accused so that we’d pay the bounty, or to use us to eliminate a personal enemy, or because someone accused them to make the torture stop. OK, alleged terrorists. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152/69 "2013-11-20T06:58:10Z")
Holy fuck. Der Trihs got Magiver to say something useful and intelligent. I am in shock. Shock! ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152/70 "2013-11-20T08:18:33Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I wasn’t making an actual case to move them to Chicago. OBAMA wants to close Gitmo. Not me. I chose Chicago because that’s his home town. What better place to move terrorists then where he lives. > > I was serious about Yemen because Obama wants to build a facility there to house Gitmo prisoners (from Yemen). > [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > You are making the unwarranted assumption that they _actually are_ terrorists. Instead of just people who were accused so that we’d pay the bounty, or to use us to eliminate a personal enemy, or because someone accused them to make the torture stop. > [@Magiver](#): > > OK, alleged terrorists. And I’ll add that I seriously doubt that Obama would be particularly scared to have them in his home town because he knows that most of them are innocent of anything but being victims of America. And while they are no doubt extremely angry over how we have abused them and ruined their lives, that’s a quality that millions of people have. They’re just a drop in the bucket. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152/71 "2013-11-20T19:51:36Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > So you don’t understand a rhetorical joke about them seeing a basketball tournament in Obama’s hometown. What I don’t understand is your use of the word rhetorical. “Rhetorical” generally refers to “writing formally and effectively especially as a way to persuade or influence people.” Is that what your basketball crack was really intended to do? Because THAT would be funny. > [@](#): > > I don’t believe you’re that stupid. Smile when you say that. ---
**Author:** ![svd678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@svd678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/svd678)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152/72 "2013-11-21T04:50:05Z")
No one has mentioned that Congress passed a law forbidding bringing any to the US; so they can’t be tried here, sent to Chicago games. etc. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152/73 "2013-11-21T05:43:18Z")
> [@svd678](#): > > No one has mentioned that Congress passed a law forbidding bringing any to the US . . . Um… Post number two? Joke? Whoosh? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152/74 "2013-11-21T05:45:15Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > What I don’t understand is your use of the word rhetorical. “Rhetorical” generally refers to “writing formally and effectively especially as a way to persuade or influence people.” Is that what your basketball crack was really intended to do? > > Because THAT would be funny. > > Smile when you say that. There are 2 definitions of rhetorical. the second definition is: of, relating to, or concerned with rhetoric. Rhetoric is language that is intended to influence people and that may not be honest or reasonable. I do not mean to insult you but I thought it was clearly meant to be a statement involving rhetoric. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152/75 "2013-11-21T12:59:01Z")
What about the OK national imprisoned there? If the Brits want him, why not send him back? I have no problem with countries that will take their nationals/citizens. the less of them we have the better. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152/76 "2013-11-21T15:28:46Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > What about the OK national imprisoned there? If the Brits want him, why not send him back? I have no problem with countries that will take their nationals/citizens. the less of them we have the better. For the most part, their countries don’t want them back. Easier to let the US keep them. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152/77 "2013-11-21T18:19:03Z")
Wouldn’t he be sent back to Oklahoma? Oh, typo, I see. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152/78 "2013-11-21T22:12:34Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > What about the OK national imprisoned there? If the Brits want him, why not send him back? I have no problem with countries that will take their nationals/citizens. the less of them we have the better. UK? Ok… Do they want him? Have they asked for his extradition? Has their ambassador presented a request for his repatriation? If so, then, hell yes, we ought to give him back to them. If they haven’t, we should probably be asking them to take him back. Can you give some further details on how this has been negotiated? (I know nothing of this.) ETA: Wikipedia says that Shaker Aamer is the sole British inhabitant at Gitmo; another eight have been sent home. Apparently, yes, the British government have asked that he be sent home. I’d say send him! One less problem. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152/79 "2013-11-21T22:22:03Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > What about the OK national imprisoned there? If the Brits want him, why not send him back? Most likely? Because then he’ll be out of our grasp and free to talk about how terribly we’ve treated him. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152/80 "2013-11-21T22:35:26Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Most likely? Because then he’ll be out of our grasp and free to talk about how terribly we’ve treated him. [He’s doing that already.](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10460318/Last-British-resident-held-in-Guantanamo-Bay-leave-us-to-die-in-peace.html) Also: > [@](#): > > In the 12 years since his arrest he has never been charged with a crime and both the Bush and Obama administrations cleared him for release from Guantánamo. > > His emotive remarks to CBS will add to pressure on the British government to secure his return to prison in the UK. > > Both David Cameron and and Nick Clegg have raised the issue with the White House in the last year but - despite President Barack Obama’s commitment to close the prison - Mr Aamer remains in custody. > > … > > Clive Stafford-Smith, his British lawyer, said he suspects that while the British government is sincere in its requests the “US and UK intelligence services appear to be working together to ensure Shaker stays where he is or gets shipped off to Saudi Arabia”. It’s unclear who’s actually calling the shots on these matters, and who’s holding things up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152.md?page=5)