Saturday, March 29, 2008

'Gitmo No-Mo!'

A coalition of former US secretaries of state has called for the next president to close Guantanamo prison camp. The coalition consists of Colin Powell, Madeline, Albright, Henry Kissinger, James Baker III. and Warren Christopher. This is no ragtag coalition: combined, the five diplomats have served under Presidents Nixon, Ford, Bush I, Clinton, and Bush II and were key architects of American foreign policy during the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf Wars, the Balkan Wars, and the current Iraq War among others.

The former US diplomats seemed to have recognized the hopelessness of dealing with the Bush Administration and instead have focused their efforts on the future president, whoever it may be. The coalition has also called for the opening of diplomatic relations with Iran, a position that has been whole-heartedly endorsed by Sen. Obama, uniquely avoided by Sen. Clinton, and staunchly opposed by Sen. McCain (as well as the Bush Administration).

Personally, I have taken issue with many of policies of the last several decades pursued by the individual diplomats forming the coalition, but I find it quite humbling and encouraging to see the five come together and agree on two of the most pressing international relations issues facing our country today. Additionally, it is encouraging to envision the day when a new president can come in and start to right the wrongs (at least some of them) committed over the last 8 years.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Speaking of negotiations with neighbors in the region... Wonder whatever happened to the 70+ recommendations of the Iraq Study Group? They made allowance for the possibility of the surge. But other than this, has the current administration implemented any of their recommendations.

The lull in the fighting in Iraq is quickly beginning to unravel. Our payments to Moktada are keeping him on the sidelines, while the Washington Post reports this morning that his troops are engaged in all out war in areas of Iraq.

The fiction that things are getting better can't be sustained when there are well armed militias, Sunni and multiple Shiite, ready and willing to do battle to protect their prerogatives and to tap the significant oil revenues in the south.

Anonymous said...

I agree that Gitmo should close. But I don't understand what happens when Gitmo closes.

There are some bad apples there, right? Do they get tried by military tribunals or US courts? There's probably not much 'disclosable' evidence available to support convictions. Or are they deported to anther country? Yet more extraordinary renditions?

Anonymous said...

It IS encouraging to see those men come together in support of an issue that is obviously much bigger than even their own egos. Gitmo looks to be done for as even McCain said just the other day that he would close it in his "Conference On World Affairs" speech.
-Riley

Unknown said...

considering his past I'd lose what little respect I have left for John McCain if he didn't support this

Anonymous said...

its interesting. mccain was so opposed to torture (for good reason) for so long, but in a crucial senate vote this February, he voted to enable waterboarding. the 'maverick' is really caving into the neo-cons on every issue