ACLU Calls “Gitmo North” Near Iowa Border “Alarming”

[tekisui]

Source: Des Moines Register

The American Civil Liberties Union says it is opposed to federal plans to transfer terrorist suspects from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to a prison at Thomson, Ill.. calling it an “alarming step.”

The administration of President Barack Obama confirmed Tuesday it plans to acquire the mostly vacant Thomson Correctional Center to house federal convicts and up to 100 terror suspect detainees. The plan is seen by Iowa and Illinois community leaders as an economic boon to the area that would generate more than 3,000 jobs with a four-year economic benefit of about $1 billion.

Thomson is along the Misssissippi River, about 12 miles from Clinton, Ia., which is the area’s major retail center. The plan is seen as providing more than 600 jobs for Iowans.

Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in New York, said in a statement that the creation of a so-called “Gitmo North” is not a meaningful step forward. He said shutting down the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay will be nothing more than a symbolic gesture if we the United States continues what the ACLU perceives as “lawless policies” onshore.

“Alarmingly, all indications are that the administration plans to continue its predecessor’s policy of indefinite detention without a charge or trial for some detainees, with only a change of location,” Romero said. “Such a policy is completely at odds with our democratic commitment to due process and human rights whether it’s occurring in Cuba or Illinois. In fact, while the Obama administration inherited the Guantanamo Bay debacle, this current move is its own affirmative adoption of those policies.”

He said it’s unimaginable that the Obama administration is using the same justification as President George W. Bush’s administration used to undercut centuries of legal jurisprudence and the principle of innocent until proven guilty and the right to confront one’s own accusers.

more: http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2009/12/16/aclu-calls-gitmo-north-near-iowa-border-alarming/

[TheWraith]

1. Apparently they preferred the real thing.

:eyes:

[tekisui]

2. What's the difference?

How is indefinite detention, without charge or due process different in Illinois?

[hayu_lol]

3. Clear denial of Constitutional protections...

and due process.

The ACLU is correct.

[ensho]

4. the ACLU is wrong this time

I rarely disagree with ACLU but this time I think they are all wet.

Gitmo is being closed because they tortured people there.

americans are prepared to deal with terrorists, homegrown or foreign for pete's sake.

[tekisui]

7. Ending torture was a needed step. But, some will be held w/out

charge, indefinitely. How is that acceptable?

[tekisui]

5. 50-100 going to Thompson. Some tried militarily, some detained w/out charge.

The group being sent to Thomson -- numbering between 50 and 100 (the White House won't confirm the total; these numbers were given to Durbin and other Illinois lawmakers) -- fall into two categories: those to be tried in a military commission and those who will, for the time being, be held indefinitely without being charged.The White House confirmed for the first time Tuesday its intent to move the military commission courtroom in Guantanamo to Thomson. It's not known how many detainees would face a military tribunal.

(snip)

Said an administration official at a briefing on Wednesday (the White House insisted his name not be used): "The bottom line is we're trying to get to zero here on the detainees." And if, over at Thomson, "we have to detain any without trial, we will only do so as a last resort."

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/12/16/illinois-gitmo-gitmo-north-white-house-pushes-back-on-branding/

[Solly Mack]

6. K&R

[Mari333]

8. kick for truth

so the whole PR campaign about closing Gitmo is just a PR campaign which the US public will buy lock stock and barrel, because the details of it arent known
indefinite detention with NO trial is inappropriate

and remember, Obama admin dumped the Nuremberg protocols just recently

Its like
"Look at this hand!"

while the other hand is still the same Bush policy magic tricks.

[Historic NY]

9. Too bad they don't have an extra 40 million...to throw at it......

from all counts the people of the area are looking forward to the jobs and the economic revitalization of the area. Its a step closer towards adjudication that didn't exist a year
ago or 6 yrs ago.