For the first time, a federal judge has ordered the Bush administration to release prisoners held at the U.S. military facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, ruling that 17 Chinese Muslims must be brought to his courtroom by the end of the week so that they can be set free.
U.S. District Judge Ricardo M. Urbina said that the government’s authority to hold the men had “ceased” and that they were entitled to be released…
The 17 are Uighurs who fled persecution in the far western reaches of China. U.S. authorities, fearing what Chinese officials would do, have refused to send them back to China, and no other country has been willing to take them.
The judge’s order came more than six years after the men were sent to Guantanamo and more than four years after the Pentagon cleared most of them to be released. The Supreme Court ruled four months ago that judges can order the release of prisoners wrongly held at Guantanamo.
“This is a historic day for the United States,” said Emi MacLean, a lawyer for the Center for Constitutional Rights. “Finally, we are beginning the process of taking responsibility for our mistakes and fixing them.”
The schmucks working for George W. Bush are trying to halt their release.
Thanks, K B
Fine, let them out and send them back to China. Sounds like they were being kept at Gitmo for thier own good.
Can’t wait to see what happens to them when they are sent from the nice safe prison at Gitmo to China…
I never admit a mistake, right Dick?
Yes, send them back to China and then let their government “make them go away”. 17 less extremists on the face of the planet.
When Obama wins, I hope he follows through on his promise to prosecute Mr Bush & Co for criminal activity.
“17 less extremists on the face of the planet.”
Nope. 17 more new immigrants who will live initially in the Washington area with an existing community of Uighurs. Welcome to America boys.
Unless the appeal succeeds, if which case keep working on your Guantanamo tan.
#5 “When Obama wins, I hope he follows through on his promise to prosecute Mr Bush & Co for criminal activity.”
Doubt it. The Dem Congress realized that there was insufficient evidence to impeach. The one case with actual evidence, warrantless wiretapping, was the best bet but was decided that it wouldn’t fly.
If a Dem controlled congress figured it out, no prosecutor would touch it and a Fed Judge would ask why they weren’t prosecuted in the proper venue in the 1st place.
It isn’t going anywhere.
#8 “I fail to see how anything about being kept in a place like Guantanamo Bay could be called ‘good.’ ”
That’s because you don’t understand the difference in treatment between those at gitmo and those accused of terrorism in the PRC.
You should get a basic grade school education, then these types of things wouldn’t be mysterious to you.
Of course, if #1 or #2 could read English they’d notice they’re coming to Florida. Not that staying OT, is part of the neocon skillset.
[Yes, RTFA. – ed.]
#10 “Of course, if #1 or #2 could read English they’d notice they’re coming to Florida.”
Umm, apparently you can’t read either?
“On Tuesday, they also argued that immigration laws prohibit the release into the United States of individuals alleged to have terrorist ties and asked for an emergency order to block the release.”
hello?
is this thing on?
we’ve been holding these people with no evidence of any wrongdoing for seven years
does that strike no one as fundamentally wrong?
don’t you fear it happening to you? what if you became a “false positive”? will you support your own incarceration? waterboarding? extraordinary rendition?
wake up america, this can happen to you.
Since Bush’s Thugs SHANGHAIED these poor souls from Pakistan, I say MAKE THEM US CITIZENS, and in RESTITUTION FOR ***ILLEGAL JAIL TIME***, GIVE THEM ALL RANCHES IN CRAWFORD, TEXAS !!!
12,
There are none so blind that will not see.
The smucks tried to send them home years ago. They didn’t want to go.
No government on Earth wants them for some strange reason.
That being the case maybe they can live at your house?
#15. Well, we wouldn’t’ve had this problem if we hadn’t picked them up in the first place. And you don’t think they don’t have good reason not to go home?
#9: Right. We should put all asylum seekers in conditions just slightly less worse than where they came from. Good call!
Mistakes happen. Most of those originally sent to Gitmo were grabbed by Afghan warlords out for the bounty.
#10 “Of course, if #1 or #2 could read English they’d notice they’re coming to Florida. Not that staying OT, is part of the neocon skillset.
[Yes, RTFA. – ed.]”
Court blocks Chinese Gitmo detainees release
Apparently, moss & the ed need to study up on how our legal system works…
#19, Cow-Paddy,
Of course, if you knew anything about the Justice system you would also understand why the Judge gave them a week before releasing the prisoners.
The government is appealing the order. Since the Supreme Court has already ruled that Bush may not keep prisoners without habeas corpus and the government has already decided the prisoners are NOT a threat, I don’t see what argument they have.
The government lawyer is wrong though when he contends that only the President has authority to decide immigration not the courts. That properly falls under Congress and is adjudicated by the courts.
#20 Mr. Fission said, “and the government has already decided the prisoners are NOT a threat, I don’t see what argument they have.”
A good enough argument for the court to block their release. As I thought.