Guantanamo Open After January 2010?

By GottaLaff

There seems to be news breaking today about various torture-and/or-detainee-related items. Now here's one more. But please remember, it's not only about torture, it's about our so-called legal system (read: military commissions).

Via Spencer Ackerman:

[...] I’m surprised it hasn’t gotten more attention, so here goes again. Pentagon General Counsel Jeh Johnson suggested to the Senate Armed Services Committee today that the difficulties inherent in bringing legal charges against (or deciding on preventive detention for) about 220 detainees at Guantanamo Bay means that some continued detention past President Obama’s January 2010 deadline for closing the detention facility was likely, “whether at Guantanamo or somewhere else.” That sounded like the first concession from a senior administration official that Guantanamo Bay wouldn’t definitely be shuttered by the deadline.

[...] I’m still seeking clarification for whether Johnson is speaking for the administration here [...]

Meanwhile, Lara Jakes of the Associated Press reports — I hope I can blog this — that after today’s hearing, Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), the chairman of the committee, remarked, “What we’re focusing on is the procedures that would be used wherever they’re tried, whether they keep Gitmo open or closed.”

Bear with me. I've only just begun to fight, as they say, for those who badly need support. I may even show up with Lt. Col. Wingard on a major progressive radio station in L.A. soon. Stay tuned...