Guantanamo Vindicated?
Of the many interesting details to emerge about yesterday's successful operation is this one, as reported by The Examiner's Philip Klein:
Some time after Sept. 11, detainees held by the U.S. told interrogators about a man believed to work as a courier for bin Laden, senior administration officials said. The man was described by detainees as a protégé of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and “one of the few Al Qaeda couriers trusted by bin laden.”
Initially, intelligence officials only had the man’s nickname, but they discovered his real name four years ago.
The New York Times confirms that these detainees were held at Guantanamo. So if interrogation at Gitmo gave us the lead to track down Osama, I wonder what those folks who oppose Gitmo's operation think now.
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Comments :
Jun '10
Re: Guantanamo Vindicated?
Do you think it is more of a Rohrshach test? The fact that we have had no more successful attacks on US soil would have been enough for me. There is some serious intel coming out of Gitmo.
Apr '11
Re: Guantanamo Vindicated?
If it was proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that intelligence obtained at Gitmo cured cancer, stopped global warming and stopped poverty, it wouldn't change the mindset of the uber-left one iota. It would give too much credence to the Bush/Cheney/Rumsdeld philosophy of how to fight the war on terror and is just too sacrilege for them to ponder. They would literally shrivel up and die if this reality hit them (think Jim Taggert at the end of Atlas Shrugged for you Ayn Rand fans).
Jun '10
Re: Guantanamo Vindicated?
They gather as many pieces of the puzzle as they can, and just wait for some clue or insight that starts connecting the pieces. It also helps when the enemy makes a mistake, or gets sloppy--like choosing a fortified compound to live in, rather than an anonymous shack.
Mar '11
Re: Guantanamo Vindicated?
Even NPR stated that this raid is a direct result from intel gained from GITMO prisoners 4 years ago, and they've slowly been building the lead ever since.
Nov '10
Re: Guantanamo Vindicated?
I'm seeing and hearing the liberal MSM suddenly sounding as if projecting US military power is a good thing. Wow, who knew!
Apr '11
Re: Guantanamo Vindicated?
ctruppi...I agree with your comments and, actually, got a kick out of them!
If there is any way for the left to vilify the tactics used and the previous administration in the aftermath, rest assured they will!
Hey politics is politics..."Damn the truth and full speed ahead!"
Oct '10
Re: Guantanamo Vindicated?
It's unfortunate that Bush didn't get any mention from Obama. I think the main vindication is of Bush's decisions in making this effort to take the fight to the terrorists.
Jan '11
Re: Guantanamo Vindicated?
On behalf of people who have opposed GTMO, I'll take a stab at it:
First, I'd point out that your question covers an extremely broad number of issues including the camp's location, the poor screening of its prisoners in its early years, the interrogation/torture techniques used, etc. Second, even if these have been shown (once again) to be effective, that does not necessarily make them right or necessarily prudent.
All that being said, yes: if intelligence gleaned from waterboardin, etc. provided a necessary link in the chain of events that led to bin Laden's death, then that is a partial vindication of the Bush administration on this matter.
Conversely, if we learn that the initial "break" came via some other means, will that have any effect on GTMO's proponents?
Re: Guantanamo Vindicated?
Tom Meyer
On behalf of people who have opposed GTMO, I'll take a stab at it:
Perhaps I should have mentioned that while I don't oppose GTMO, I do oppose some of our interrogation techniques -- on philosophical and religious grounds. I just thought it interesting in light of GTMO opposition. Although I'm now hearing reports that these fruitful interrogations took place in the secret prisons outed by the NYT ...
Apr '11
Re: Guantanamo Vindicated?
Tom Meyer
Conversely, if we learn that the initial "break" came via some other means, will that have any effect on GTMO's proponents? · May 2 at 9:15am
Sure, I'll play. The fact is, "GTMO's proponents" - whatever that means*, are not necessarly bound by the world of fantasy. We see the world as a dangerous place, not of our making. Within this world we realize that difficult, and sometimes unpopular decisions need to be made. We don't need to wait for a leader from our side of the aisle to benefit politically from one of these difficult decisions before we "get religion".
*I always love the other side's characteriztion of tough decisions made. In a perfect world I would hope that no wars are ever fought, that there is no need for rendition or harsh interrogation, etc. The fact that I understand that sometimes these uncomfortable truths are necessary does not make me a "proponent".
Jan '11
Re: Guantanamo Vindicated?
ctruppi
We see the world as a dangerous place, not of our making. Within this world we realize that difficult, and sometimes unpopular decisions need to be made. We don't need to wait for a leader from our side of the aisle to benefit politically from one of these difficult decisions before we "get religion"...The fact that I understand that sometimes these uncomfortable truths are necessary does not make me a "proponent".
Ladies and gentleman! Boys and girls! I come here today to present you with a wonder! A being so rare and so unlikely, that you will question your very senses! Behold: a man more self-congratulatory than even President Obama!
Edited on May 2, 2011 at 2:06pmJan '11
Re: Guantanamo Vindicated?
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.
Perhaps I should have mentioned that while I don't oppose GTMO, I do oppose some of our interrogation techniques -- on philosophical and religious grounds. I just thought it interesting in light of GTMO opposition. Although I'm now hearing reports that these fruitful interrogations took place in the secret prisons outed by the NYT ... · May 2 at 9:37am
Thank you for the clarification. It'll be interesting to see how all this pans out. In the meantime, congratulations to the CIA, the Navy SEALs, and to the President on a job well done.