Obama's Gitmo Closing Issues, The Buck Stops THERE

Politico/The Lid ^ | 10/6/09 | The Lid

[Shellybenoit]

Remember President Obama's first full day in office:

"The record is clear: Rather than keep us safer, the prison at Guantanamo has weakened American national security," Obama said during an address on national security at the National Archives in Washington.

"It is a rallying cry for our enemies. It sets back the willingness of our allies to work with us in fighting an enemy that operates in scores of countries. By any measure, the costs of keeping it open far exceed the complications involved in closing it."

At the time the President was roundly criticized for announcing the closing without having any idea what to do with the prisoners in the facility. Now with three months left in his self imposed deadline, he is still looking for a solution. The White House is now saying the deadline may be missed by "a little." Of course this is the same White House that called 18 billion dollars of pork-barrel spending "a little"

At the same time, the President has found a way to deflect the criticism and confusion regarding the late closing. He is setting up in-house White House Attorney Greg Craig to be the fall guy for the Gitmo problems. After all, with President Obama, the buck stops anywhere but with him.

[equalitybeforethelaw]

Regardless of the situation or problem or its cause, there is an never ending list of other people to blame. I believe this is the first lesson required to become an effective community organizer.

[sako shooter]

Share success, own failure: a basic tenant of leadership. Oh, I forgot, the Odious One does not understand leadership; he thinks giving speeches to the UN, the IOC, or a bunch of terrorists in Cairo is leadership.