Make It So

by hilzoy

From the LATimes:

"The Obama administration is preparing to admit into the United States as many as seven Chinese Muslims who have been imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay in the first release of any of the detainees into this country, according to current and former U.S. officials.

Their release is seen as a crucial step to plans, announced by President Obama during his first week in office, to close the prison and relocate the detainees. Administration officials also believe that settling some of them in American communities will set an example, helping to persuade other nations to accept Guantanamo detainees too.

But the decision to release the Chinese Muslims, known as Uighurs, is not final and faces challenges from within the government, as well as likely public opposition. Among government agencies, the Homeland Security Department has registered concerns about the plan.

The move would also incense Chinese officials, who consider the Uighurs domestic terrorists and want those held at Guantanamo handed over for investigation. U.S. officials no longer consider the Chinese Muslims to be enemy combatants and fear they would be mistreated in China."

Dear Obama administration: as a member of the public, let me assure you that you need fear no opposition from me. On the contrary: by being willing to step up and do right by some of the people we have imprisoned, you would earn even more of my respect than you have already. 

Even the Bush administration tribunals found that the Uighurs were not enemy combatants. They have been imprisoned for seven and a half years. It is long past time to set them free. 

Comments

[Brett Bellmore]

Agreed.

[Jesurgislac]

Good god. I can't think of a single topic on which Brett, Hilzoy, and myself would be in complete agreement.

But yes: Obama may have let this slide initially, but he's doing the right thing now.

[Ugh]

the Homeland Security Department has registered concerns about the plan

Well sure they did, everyone is guilty in the eyes of the DHS, even those proven innocent. Also, is there a form I can file to register my concerns?

And can I just say that if I see even one fncking member of the GOP talking about "Obama releasing terrorists into the United States" this weekend the I am Going Galt™

[Caravelle]

U.S. officials no longer consider the Chinese Muslims to be enemy combatants and fear they would be mistreated in China."

Awwwwwww.

(That said, agreed too. I hope hope hope he won't fold to pressure and stick with that decision. And that they'll find an accepting community for them who'll help them get a good life back)

[Davebo]

I think Dallas would be a good fit!

[Brett Bellmore]

"Good god. I can't think of a single topic on which Brett, Hilzoy, and myself would be in complete agreement."

I suspect such topics are legion, but we just don't tend to get onto them.

[OCSteve]

About time. Good on ya’ Obama.

And can I just say that if I see even one fncking member of the GOP talking about "Obama releasing terrorists into the United States" this weekend the I am Going Galt™

Get your Galt on then dude. There’s not much in life I can guarantee – but folks on the right screaming “Obama is letting terrorists free in your neighborhood!” is one of them.

[Ugh]

I suspect such topics are legion, but we just don't tend to get onto them.

heh, i was going to make the same point.

There’s not much in life I can guarantee – but folks on the right screaming “Obama is letting terrorists free in your neighborhood!” is one of them.

i was thinking more of GOP reps/senators in congress, i'm sure someone at redstate will be bleating

[S.G.E.W.]

And that they'll find an accepting community for them who'll help them get a good life back.

I'm assuming Northern Virginia, where there's an Uighur community who has publicly offered to help them.

And, you know, Northern Virginia isn't even "real" America anyway. So the right wing can't complain, right?

[d'd'd'dave]

If this article

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/04/the_uighurs_in_their.php

is correct, 17 Uighur men in Gitmo + 5 already released in Albania = 22. 10 of the 22 can be tied to Abdul Haq and Hassam Mahsum. That leaves 12. 3 of the 12 have already been released in Albania. That leaves 9. I assume you're talking about 7 of the 9. What's the story on the other two?

[Nell]

@Caravelle: Per the ACLU website pleading the Guantanamo Uighurs' case, two communities have been organized and ready to welcome them for some time; one is in northern Virginia.

Sec. of State Clinton's early trip to China (mid-February) made the Obama administration unwilling to take the step then, even though it had been considered Step One by all the organizations in the 100 Days campaign. I'm very pleased that the administration is signaling this willingness, and might even get it accomplished, within the first 100 days.

It is bound to make it easier to get other countries to accept released prisoners.

I, too, would like to know why this announcement affects only five of the seven Uighurs still held at Guantanamo.

[Nell]

Oh, wait, I should know better than to pay attention to anything the d'd'distractor says, and misread his comment anyway.

The announcement refers to all seven of the remaining prisoners.

[JeffConn]

OH NOOOOES!!!! But, but, but, if we allow in all those Chinese Muslims, all our radio stations will sound like THIS:
http://www.kungpao1005.com/