Guantanamo Conditions 'Deteriorate' on Obama's Watch

[Orwellian_Ghost]

Guantanamo Conditions 'Deteriorate'

by Andrew Wander

On the night that Barack Obama won the 2008 presidential election, 21-year-old Mohammed el Gharani was sitting in a segregation cell in Guantanamo Bay's high security Echo Block.


A year after Obama's election win, Al Jazeera has learnt that despite the new president's pledge to close the prison and improve the conditions of detainees held by the US military, prisoners believe that their treatment has deteriorated on his watch.(AFP/Getty Images/File/John Moore)

He remembers the excitement among his fellow prisoners at the prospect of an Obama presidency. "Everyone was very hopeful; people were saying he was going to change things, that he would close the prison," Gharani, who was released in June, says.

"Even the guards were telling us that if he won, things would improve for us."

They were to be disappointed. A year after Obama's election win, Al Jazeera has learnt that despite the new president's pledge to close the prison and improve the conditions of detainees held by the US military, prisoners believe that their treatment has deteriorated on his watch.

...

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/11/10-0

[Howardx]

1. its hard work poisoning the well all day

this is what, your third anti obama/anti democrats post of the day?

dont bother responding.

[AllentownJake]

3. If it is true what is the problem?

You stop advocating for human rights when a democrat comes into power?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. GITMO SHOULD BE CLOSED why isn't it?

when is it to be closed?

[AllentownJake]

5. Democrats in congress are cowards

This really isn't Obama's fault.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

7. what is the point of keeping it open?

Cuba does not belong to the US

[AllentownJake]

9. I agree

however that base was secured during the revolution. It is kind of like Hong Kong or the Panama canal.

That being said, the President in all fairness tried to close the prison and the Democrats in congress said no.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

11. we don't need Hong Kongs and it needs to be closed

Which congressmen want it open?

[bdamomma]

4. they need to close that place!! and do they have any charges

on those men there? what after 8 years???

[NYC_SKP]

6. Not for those who've been released... n/t

[derby378]

8. Whatever happened to Obama saying that he "banned" torture?

I guess it was all just talk. :mad:

[blindpig]

10. k&r n/t