President Barack Obama continues to show how little he values civil liberties. Elected on a promise to close the Guantanamo prison and end the Bush approach to terror suspects, Obama has instead opted to embrace Bush-era policies
According to a report by Pro Publica, the online investigative group, Obama plans to sign an executive order that
establishes indefinite detention as a long-term Obama administration policy and makes clear that the White House alone will manage a review process for those it chooses to hold without charge or trial.
The executive order offers better protections than currently exist, but continues the questionable detention practice and sets precedent for maintaining an array of executive maneuvers that sidestep civil liberties protections.
Jameel Jaffer, a national security lawyer at the American Civil Liberties Association, agreed that “more review is better.” But he said that an executive order would only “normalize and institutionalize indefinite detention and other policies,” that were set in place by the Bush administration.
I don’t remember electing Obama so that he could be an extension of the Bush presidency.
Hank Kalet 