The Wall Street Journal Hearts Obama
You know something’s fundamentally changed when The Wall Street Journal’s William McGurn -- a former Bush speechwriter, now chief editorial writer for the paper
Jul 31, 20209K Shares3M Views
You know something’s fundamentally changed when The Wall Street Journal’s William McGurn — a former Bush speechwriter, now chief editorial writer for the paper — is callingthe Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan where the United States is holding some 600 prisoners indefinitely without charge “Obama’s Gitmo.”
Sure, critics have been calling it thatfor a while, pointing out that the prison there offers even fewer rights than Guantanamo Bay detainees enjoyed and it was created as a legal black hole to avoid the requirements of the U.S. Constitution. But a senior Wall Street Journal editorial writer?
Then again, McGurn means this as praise for President Obama. Despite his lofty rhetoric excoriating the Bush administration for denying rights to prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, McGurn writes, Obama has finally come around to seeing the world as it really is. As president, Obama is finding out that “this very much is a new world, that we do face a new enemy, and that the problems posed by Guantanamo have less to do with the place than the people we detain there.”
Put simply, “the U.S. needs the ability to detain people we know to be dangerous without the evidence that might stand up in a federal criminal court” and to do so indefinitely because “we can’t say when the war will end.” (But how can “we know” them to be dangerous if the evidence isn’t even reliable enough to stand up in court.)
President Obama is “smart enough to know that the relative obscurity of Bagram” enables him to hold people there without “worrying too much that he will be called to account for a substantive about-face,” McGurn writes.
But is that true?
McGurn opens his editorial with a quote from the venerable White House reporter Helen Thomas asking Obama’s press secretary Robert Gibbs why the president is “blocking habeas corpus from prisoners at Bagram” after so staunchly defending the Gitmo prisoners’ rights to challenge their detentions when Obama was a U.S. Senator. As McGurn points out, citing Salon blogger Glenn Greenwald, Obama doesn’t have a principled reason for the distinction.
While McGurn is pleased by this contradiction, I’m not convinced that Obama’s supporters — not to mention human rights advocates — in the United States and around the world will be so willing to let it go.
Camilo Wood
Reviewer
Camilo Wood has over two decades of experience as a writer and journalist, specializing in finance and economics. With a degree in Economics and a background in financial research and analysis, Camilo brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his writing.
Throughout his career, Camilo has contributed to numerous publications, covering a wide range of topics such as global economic trends, investment strategies, and market analysis. His articles are recognized for their insightful analysis and clear explanations, making complex financial concepts accessible to readers.
Camilo's experience includes working in roles related to financial reporting, analysis, and commentary, allowing him to provide readers with accurate and trustworthy information. His dedication to journalistic integrity and commitment to delivering high-quality content make him a trusted voice in the fields of finance and journalism.
Latest Articles
Popular Articles