Obama's Gitmo Order Isn't What It Seems

Experts see potential loopholes, gray areas in revised policies
By Gabriel Winant,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 23, 2009 11:36 AM CST

With a stroke of the pen, President Obama rewrote American detention and interrogation policy yesterday. Or not, writes Josh Gerstein for Politico. He offers reasons not to overstate Obama’s policy changes:

  • "Everyone has to follow the Army Field Manual—for now…": Obama is convening a group to study writing additional policies; a rights group calls this an “escape hatch” from his no-torture policy.

  • "Obama ordered a 30-day review of Guantanamo conditions—by the man currently responsible for Guantanamo": Defense Secretary Robert Gates is “not exactly impartial,” says a lawyer representing prisoners.
  • "The vast majority of detainees in American custody may see no benefit from Obama’s orders": Most prisoners are in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  • "The orders downplay the possibility that some prisoners might be set free in America": “I don’t expect this problem to go away,” says a law professor.
To read the full list, click the link below.
(Read more Obama administration stories.)

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