Insert Annoying Lyric from The Who Here

Michael C. Moynihan | February 23, 2009

More continuity between the Bush and Obama administrations, writes Charlie Savage in the New York Times. Obama will close Guantanamo sometime in the next year (after they figure out what to do with the remaining detainees), but what happens to those imprisoned at the Bagram base in Afghanistan? Same as before, it seems:

The Obama administration has told a federal judge that military detainees in Afghanistan have no legal right to challenge their imprisonment there, embracing a key argument of former President Bush's legal team.

In a two-sentence filing late Friday, the Justice Department said that the new administration had reviewed its position in a case brought by prisoners at the United States Air Force base at Bagram, just north of the Afghan capital. The Obama team determined that the Bush policy was correct: such prisoners cannot sue for their release.

"Having considered the matter, the government adheres to its previously articulated position," wrote Michael F. Hertz, acting assistant attorney general.

The closely watched case is a habeas corpus lawsuit on behalf of several prisoners who have been indefinitely detained for years without trial. The detainees argue that they are not enemy combatants, and they want a judge to review the evidence against them and order the military to release them.

And if you didn't notice this story, which dropped on Friday without much fanfare, an administration-ordered review of Guantanamo claims that it is, in fact, Geneva-compliant:

A Pentagon report requested by President Obama on the conditions at the Guantánamo Bay detention center concluded that the prison complies with the humane-treatment requirements of the Geneva Conventions. But it makes recommendations for improvements including increasing human contact for the prisoners, according to two government officials who have read parts of it.

A few stories on state secrets and the Obama administration here and here. I wrote about the lack of any significant change in "war on terror" issues here.

Comments

Mister DNA|2.23.09 @ 6:59PM|#

Sixteen stitches put her right and her dad said:
"Don't say I didn't warn You".
Sally got married to a rock musician
She met in California.
Tommy always talks about the day
the disciples all went wild!
Sally still carries a scar on her cheek
to remind her of his smile

|2.23.09 @ 7:03PM|#

I'll post this template here now. I have a feeling it will come in handy over the next four (eight?) years.

The Obama administration has ____________________________________, embracing a key argument of former President Bush's _______________.

Warty|2.23.09 @ 7:05PM|#

That half-black Muslim sure plays a mean pinball.

|2.23.09 @ 7:05PM|#

She goes, squeeze me, come on and squeeze me
Come on and tease me like you do
I'm so in love with you
Mama's got a squeeze box
Daddy never sleeps at night

She goes in and out and in and out and in and out and in and out

'Cause she's playing all night
And the music's all right
Mama's got a squeeze box
Daddy never sleeps at night

|2.23.09 @ 7:06PM|#

Warty, don't you mean half-black Muslim chimpanzee?

|2.23.09 @ 7:06PM|#

"Once upon a time there lived an old miser man
By the name of Silas Stingy
He carried all his money in a little black box
Which was heavy as a rock
With a big padlock
All the little kids would shout
When Silas was about

[Chorus:]
Money, money, money bags
Money, money, money bags
There goes mingy Stingy
There goes mingy Stingy
Money, money, money bags
Money, money, money bags
There goes mingy Stingy
There goes mingy Stingy"

anon|2.23.09 @ 7:07PM|#

teenage wasteland?

dirty smellie hippie|2.23.09 @ 7:09PM|#

baba o'riley you fucktard

BakedPenguin|2.23.09 @ 7:14PM|#

I'm free - I'mmm free.
And freedom tastes of reality,
I'm free - I'm free,
And I'm waiting for you to follow me.

If I told you what it takes to reach the highest high -
*Police kick down door, shoot penguin, receive medals*

BakedPenguin|2.23.09 @ 7:19PM|#

Oops. I thought this was a Balko thread. Sorry about that.

|2.23.09 @ 7:20PM|#

Warty, don't you mean half-black Muslim chimpanzee?

You know what I realized? There was no thread on the chimp attack itself. I mean, what the fuck, Reason editors? A psychotic chimp attacking someone and getting shot by the cops? Maybe he had Lyme disease? Xanax tea? Do you see the possibilities here? This shit practically writes itself.

(Yes, I realize a woman has been horribly mauled, and that is awful. But comedy never stops.)

Ska|2.23.09 @ 7:20PM|#

I used to wake up in the morning
I used to feel so bad
I got so sick of having sleepless nights
I went and told my dad

He said, 'Son now here's some little something'
And stuck them on my wall
And now my nights ain't quite so lonely
In fact I, I don't feel bad at all

Seer|2.23.09 @ 7:21PM|#

"Won't Get Fooled Again" is my nomination for official song of the Obama administration.

Seer|2.23.09 @ 7:24PM|#

Oh wait, that should have been:

What is it?
I'll take it.
Who is she?
I'll rape it.
Got a bet there?
I'll meet it.
Getting high?
Ya can't beat it.

Doctor Jimmy and Mister Jim
When I'm pilled you don't notice him.
He only comes out when I drink my gin.


You say she's a virgin?
Well I'm gonna be the first in.
Her fella's going to kill me?
Oh fucking will he?
I'm seeing d-double, don't miss me if you can't.
There's going to be trouble, when she chooses here man.

|2.23.09 @ 7:29PM|#

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!

Michael P.|2.23.09 @ 7:31PM|#

Hey voters have you heard the news?
Jihadis in Guantanamo are being misused.
I heard it all in a speech last night,
Gotta empty the camp cos we don't treat 'em right.

Imperialist stooges better change your ways,
Or you'll be hearing from lawyers in a matter of days.
Illegal combatants better change your tune,
Cos North African prisons are a lot more crude.

You'll take a train...
Fly by plane...
You'll be gettin' tired...
When your balls are wired...

|2.23.09 @ 7:32PM|#

I thought this was a Balko thread.

Nah, the cops didn't shoot the chimp because they were looking for pot. They really did have a good reason for this one.

-jcr

|2.23.09 @ 7:33PM|#

Your mother left me here to mind you
Now I'm doing what I want to
Fiddling about
Fiddling about
Fiddle about

Down with the bedclothes
Up with the nightshirt
Fiddle about
Fiddle about
Fiddle about

You won't shout as I fiddle about
Fiddle about
Fiddle abou
Fiddle about

|2.23.09 @ 7:43PM|#

Warty-

I have noticed that you have made some mighty fine politically incorect statements today, some of which could subject you to criminal hate speech liability in the EU and, I fear, in short order, here. Just lookin' out for ya.

Just think, coming from a guy that sometimes uses too much vinegar in atttempting to catch some big, nasty bolshevik bumble bees.

Kolohe|2.23.09 @ 8:21PM|#

"Please allow me to introduce myself.."

Wait, what?

BPC|2.23.09 @ 8:23PM|#

"Nah, the cops didn't shoot the chimp because they were looking for pot. They really did have a good reason for this one."

I read that the cop that shot the chimpanzee was "traumatized". WTF? A cop gets a chance to shoot a rampaging ape that just ripped a woman's face off and he feels bad about it? For once I almost feel bad for the cop.

Daniam|2.23.09 @ 8:26PM|#

Duuude, you've got it all wrong. When President Hopey McChange does it it's ok!

|2.23.09 @ 8:32PM|#

This one seems appropriate.

♫I can do anything, right or wrong
I can talk anyhow, and get along
Don't care anyway, I never lose
Anyway, anyhow, anywhere I choose♫

Obama Gargoyle|2.23.09 @ 8:40PM|#

No one knows what it's like
To be hated
To be fated
To telling only lies

But my dreams
They aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be

Obama Gargoyle|2.23.09 @ 8:45PM|#

sorry, i forgot to link to the origin of my name.

Luke Johnson|2.23.09 @ 9:09PM|#

I read that the cop that shot the chimpanzee was "traumatized". WTF? A cop gets a chance to shoot a rampaging ape that just ripped a woman's face off and he feels bad about it?

It's like my grandpa Chester always said, "Don't shoot an ape, they look just like men when they die."

|2.23.09 @ 9:18PM|#

Every year is the same and I feel it again, I am a loser no chance to win... Oops, that was the last guy.

|2.23.09 @ 9:34PM|#

Substitute your lies for fact
I can see right through your plastic mac
I look all white, but my dad was black
My fine looking suit is really made out of sack

Mike Laursen|2.23.09 @ 9:38PM|#

Now I'm a farmer, and I'm digging, digging, digging, digging, digging
Now I'm a farmer, and I'm digging, digging, digging, digging, digging
It's alarming how charming it is to be a-farming
How calming and balming the effect of the air

|2.23.09 @ 10:14PM|#

McCain would've been worse.

SamB|2.23.09 @ 10:39PM|#

Uhh, how about "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss"?
Was I really the first one to think of that?

|2.23.09 @ 10:44PM|#

Was I really the first one to think of that?

Yes. Yes, you were.

(Awwwww... I don't have the heart...)

Warty|2.23.09 @ 10:46PM|#

I'm back to liking you, libertymike. Just lay off the trutherism for a while.

|2.23.09 @ 10:48PM|#

Joe? Joe??

I know you are still lurking.

Come on Joe, I know you've got a ration argument defending Obama.

|2.23.09 @ 11:03PM|#

joe is really gone huh?...just came back for the first time in a couple weeks...I knew he wouldn't be able to take it when obamafacism dropped it's robe and we all got a full frontal view of the destruction of the republic.

JB|2.23.09 @ 11:27PM|#

I still say ship the detainees to the Whitehouse.

That's change I can believe in.

|2.24.09 @ 4:16AM|#

ed|2.24.09 @ 8:13AM|#

Obama will close Guantanamo sometime in the next year

What, the whole base? That's news indeed.

Kreel Sarloo|2.24.09 @ 8:26AM|#

I read that the cop that shot the chimpanzee was "traumatized". WTF?

Interesting.

There's never any remorse when a cop shoots some poor inner city resident in a raid on the wrong house, is there?

Kind of puts the lie to the old black man are like chimps thing doesn't it?

We now know which one the average american cop thinks is better.

|2.24.09 @ 12:32PM|#

The Obama administration has told a federal judge that military detainees in Afghanistan have no legal right to challenge their imprisonment there, embracing a key argument of former President Bush's legal team.

Cuing up Boumediene II, in which the Supreme Court realizes, too late, that their Boumediene ruling contained not perceptible limiting principle, which now must be crafted on the fly to avoid requiring the Marine Corp to have a warrant before engaging in house-clearing operations.

|2.24.09 @ 1:30PM|#

...the crowd went crazy, as Obama hit the stage...