Offering a defense of President Obama’s decision to close Guantanamo Bay within the year, on Thursday’s CBS Evening News, correspondent David Martin argued: "During his final years in office, President Bush said repeatedly he wanted to close the prison at Guantanamo, where suspected terrorists were being held indefinitely without trial. Turns out it was his own vice president who stood in the way."
Martin worked to discredit Dick Cheney’s concerns about closing the detention facility: "According to Cheney, 61 of the 530 prisoners released from Guantanamo during the Bush administration have already gone back to terrorism. According to the Defense Intelligence Agency, there are 61 suspected cases of former detainees rejoining the fight, but so far only 18 have been confirmed." Martin then admitted: "Most have subsequently been killed or captured; but some, like this suicide bomber in Iraq, lived long enough to kill again."
Martin concluded his report: "...many in the Bush administration believe Guantanamo was doing more harm than good. One senior counterterrorism official at the time called it a strategic defeat." However, Martin ignored a recent Gallup poll that showed that only 35 percent of Americans supported Obama’s decision to close the facility.
Here is the full transcript of the segment:
6:51PM SEGMENT:
KATIE COURIC: One of the enduring controversies in the war on terror involves the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. President Obama has ordered it closed, a decision criticized by Former Vice President Dick Cheney. But as David Martin has learned, there were some in the Bush-Cheney administration who wanted to do just that.
DAVID MARTIN: During his final years in office, President Bush said repeatedly he wanted to close the prison at Guantanamo, where suspected terrorists were being held indefinitely without trial. Turns out it was his own vice president who stood in the way.
MATTHEW WAXMAN: The vice president was among those who were generally determined to stick to the status quo.
MARTIN: In 2005, then Pentagon official, Matthew Waxman was part of an unsuccessful attempt to close Guantanamo. Now that President Obama has ordered it closed, Cheney has denounced the decision as naive.
DICK CHENEY: When we get people who are more concerned about reading the rights to an al-Qaeda terrorist than they are with protecting the United States against people who are absolutely committed to do everything they can to kill Americans, then I worry.
MARTIN: According to Cheney, 61 of the 530 prisoners released from Guantanamo during the Bush administration have already gone back to terrorism. According to the Defense Intelligence Agency, there are 61 suspected cases of former detainees rejoining the fight, but so far only 18 have been confirmed. Most have subsequently been killed or captured; but some, like this suicide bomber in Iraq, lived long enough to kill again. Still, many in the Bush administration believe Guantanamo was doing more harm than good. One senior counterterrorism official at the time called it a strategic defeat. David Martin, CBS News, the Pentagon.
—Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.
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Comments Policy
Oh! Bama
February 6, 2009 - 15:35 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsObama's policy of "Hugs Not Slugs" will certainly keep all those who embrace evil at bay. If Bush had just given Bin Laden a smooch on the cheek, 9/11 would have never happened. I bet Obama will travel to Iran and Palestine (where the heck is that?) and have a pillow fight and a game of Twister with their leaders and all will be well with the world.
Does this assessment qualify me as a journalist?
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
OH!
February 6, 2009 - 20:20 ET by UpNorthDFTT, love it, "hugs,not slugs" is certainly what it appears is the new policy of the US. And I'm still trying to get the image of Michelle O,the Zero and Achmedhandjob playing Twister out of my mind.
Liberal bias as usual
February 6, 2009 - 15:47 ET by KC MulvilleTypical case: In a conflict between opposing points of view, the media mentioned the other side's arguments only to deny them.
Cheney has (at least) two points in his argument.
You have to wonder why they bothered to issue this as a news report. The piece is only a couple minutes long. It doesn't attempt to prove anything, and it offers no new analysis. Instead, it's simply a reinforcement of the subliminal message to the public: don't listen to Cheney.
"they aren't bystanders"
February 6, 2009 - 16:29 ET by Smoking HotThen what are they doing in Gitmo?
That's the trick here. When you spirit someone away to a legal black site and deny them any kind of fair trial, you better be darn sure you got the right guy. One slip up and you call into question the legitimacy of the whole operation. That happened with Gitmo a long time ago. It's time to clean up this mess, regardless of what the former vice president thinks.
With regard to this reporting, that 61 figure is pretty ridiculous and deserved some clarification. Would that more journalists call into question unsupported figures from the government we'd all be better off.
That's the trick here No
February 6, 2009 - 17:09 ET by Dan The Man 2That's the trick here
No the trick is leading you to think. They were detained because they were suspected of killing or trying to kill us on a battlefield. I say shoot the ones who are left, that is our right under the Geneva Convention. Heck we can ebven throw you in there to sweeten the deal.
Troll I apologize for the rough handling but I dont feel like being charitable today.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
Troll yourself, big guy
February 6, 2009 - 17:54 ET by Smoking HotIf you think every one in Gitmo "deserves" to be there, or deserves to be shot, I would invite you to depart from your cave. Click on that link I posted above and step into the light.
Oh, the
February 6, 2009 - 18:57 ET by UpNorthWaPo? Well that solves everything. Let em all go, they didn't do anything other than jaywalk. Read KC's post on what kind of protections they're entitled to, he hit it on the head. So did Dan the Man, as partisans they're entitled to NO protections. Especially a "fair trial". They are entitled to a quick, summary execution.
Smoking (something) Hot
February 7, 2009 - 15:10 ET by R D HelmWhen what is left of the civilized world finally loses out to the 7th Century illiterate, turban-sporting, camel-washing barbarians (and make no mistake, they are ultimately going to prevail in this 1400 year-long conflict) it will be because of people like you.
-Dave
Our clueless political leaders are about to drive us all over a cliff. The time to HITM is now-before we go over.
Get real RD
February 7, 2009 - 15:35 ET by cocodrieSome of those prisoners at Gitmo were unjustly detained while on their after supper stroll. They were only holding those RPG launchers and AK47s for a friend.
You should be making arrangements for them to move into the vacant house next door. They will make good neighbors with their gov provided housing, food, health care, transportation, etc. They will introduce you to a new peaceful religion that has been working to solve the overpopulation of the earth for hundreds of years.
Jesus Loves You
coco, LOL
February 8, 2009 - 02:19 ET by R D HelmYeah, and an elephant will fly by my window, and I will win the lottery, too.
(Which I don't even play, BTW)
-Dave
Our clueless political leaders are about to drive us all over a cliff. The time to HITM is now-before we go over.
That's the trick here.
February 7, 2009 - 14:21 ET by BDThat's the trick here. When you spirit someone away to a legal black site and deny them any kind of fair trial,
you better be darn sure you got the right guy.
One slip up and you call into question the legitimacy of the whole operation.
It's time to clean up this mess, regardless of what the former vice president thinks.
With regard to this reporting, that 61 figure is pretty ridiculous and deserved some clarification. Would that more journalists call into question unsupported figures from the government we'd all be better off.
Smoking idiot.
February 7, 2009 - 15:00 ET by JWFWhen you talk out your butt, you better be sure you are right.
When you spirit someone away to a legal black site and deny them any kind of fair trial, you better be darn sure you got the right guy
Black site? Only the most visited by Congressmen & Press Black site on the planet, huh, pinhead?
Fair trial? Yea, they were getting a fair trial until Uncle Dummy suspended fair trials last week. Remember that, Cousin Dummy?
Be sure we have the right guy? NO! You scoop up everyone on the battlefield and hold them until the war is over. Good luck finding someone that will actually surrender, other than dummies like you and Democrats. Someone actually needs to step up and sign the surrender documents, maybe your buddy Bin Laden will do that now that Uncle Dummy no longer has the will to win.
And what slip up would that be Cousin Dummy?
Oh look, Cousin Dummy thinks we need to question every little thing from the government. What figures should we question Cousin Dummy? Census statistics? Labor totals? Postal patronage? Money Suppy? Social Security recipient totals? Department of Agriculture farm totals? Highway fund? Bridge repair needs? Port Authorities? Navy enlisted? Air force officers? FBI top ten wanted? EPA new endangered species listings? Welfare averages? How much we owe the IRS? Off limit dirty words for broadcasters? SEC short selling rules? Hurricane path predictions from NOAA? Number of unemployed? GPS positioning? Food safety regulations? Flag standards? NAFTA treaty enforcements? National speed limits? IQ standards for cousins of dummies?
The number is 61. You say it is a LIE? Back it up Cousin Dummy. Unless you are lying by saying it is a lie.
Sincerely,
a Veteran of a 1000 psychic wars.
reality
February 7, 2009 - 20:05 ET by KC MulvilleThat's the point, SHot, there is no governing body who has any authority to try them. The Geneva Conventions offer no authority because the combatants don't fall under any existing legal category. American domestic law doesn't count because they were foreigners on foreign soil; how could American domestic law cover a foreigner onforeign soil?The fact is, SHot, these people fall under no legal category. But you can't force military people to risk their own lives and ignore these people, simply because there's a hole in international law. If a soldier thinks he's in danger, you can't expect him to stand idly while lawyers haggle. Even though they were under no legal requirement to do so, the military, appreciating the need for some kind of due process, tried to manage the mess through these military tribunals. It isn't that the military is denying these detainees due process; it's whether these tribunals suffice.
Not long after the
February 6, 2009 - 15:47 ET by bigtimerNot long after the reelection of President Bush I was always wishing VP Cheney was President, I did somewhat before, by then though I was yearning for this.
Just my thoughts.
We know how the msm has always held nothing but pure disdain for VP Cheney...and he doesn't give a flying fig....his great wife either...too bad President Bush didn't have the same attitude towards them in my opinion.
For me, Cheney is right.
"correspondent David Martin
February 6, 2009 - 17:26 ET by ckc1227"correspondent David Martin argued: "During his final years in office, President Bush said repeatedly he wanted to close the prison at Guantanamo, where suspected terrorists were being held indefinitely without trial. Turns out it was his own vice president who stood in the way."
Could you be any more misleading? It wasn't Cheney "standing in the way", it was reality. We'd all love for Gitmo to be closed, and every soldier brought home yesterday, but reality prevents that from happening, not Cheney. HeLLOOO....War on Terror? Remember that? That's the context in which Bush was speaking, not "I want to close Gitmo, but evil Cheney won't let me".
Free the terrorists. They have feelings too! *Sniff*
February 6, 2009 - 17:43 ET by MotherNothing like a muslim extremist terrorist apologist for president.
Here we go loopty loo...here we go loopty lieeeeeeeeee.
Good times. Good times.
NOT
DICK CHENEY: When we get
February 6, 2009 - 22:57 ET by TN MomDICK CHENEY: When we get people who are more concerned about reading the rights to an al-Qaeda terrorist than they are with protecting the United States against people who are absolutely committed to do everything they can to kill Americans, then I worry.
I worry too. The rookie president has made so many mistakes in his first 2 weeks. This mistake will be huge, and will costs American lives. I am very worried.
CBS can say anything.
February 6, 2009 - 23:14 ET by pbthinkerCBS can say anything they want. They can criticize Bush/Cheney and praise Obama every day of the week, if they so chose. The President can do anything he wants, he's the president. The proof is in the pudding, as they say, and if we don't get hit while this is going on everything is fine and dandy, Obama is prescient, and Cheney is a fear monger. However, if we do get hit, Cheney becomes prescient, Obama becomes a 1 term president, and CBS news is still considered an unreliable source for the news. Either way, I wouldn't be too quick to condemn the person that's seen all the intelligence reports, for the past 7 years, and latch on to the guy that just got there.
Election 2008-God's way of showing us that elections count.
I hate to be dismissive of other opinions but...
February 7, 2009 - 00:49 ET by MightyMouthCheney is right! (correct for u Obama voters)
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
A very special brand of stupid
February 7, 2009 - 11:46 ET by JWFwhere suspected terrorists were being held indefinitely without trial
Um, no. We WERE holding trials. We WERE until uncle dummy suspended them. NOW we are not holding trials.
there are 61 suspected cases of former detainees rejoining the fight, but so far only 18 have been confirmed
Now why on earth would 43 cases be NOT confirmed? Hmmmm. Is it because they have dropped off the face of the planet in order to REJOIN THE FIGHT!
Still, many in the Bush administration believe Guantanamo was doing more harm than good.
That quote was not finished. Still, many in the Bush administration believe Guantanamo was doing more harm than good to the INMATES INCARCERATED THERE. "Not happy campers" said JWF the former Bush administration smarty.
Sincerely,
a Veteran of a 1000 psychic wars.
What will it take?
February 7, 2009 - 10:29 ET by pbthinkerHow long before the war on terror becomes America's war and not Bush's war? President Bush took the steps he did to keep the country safe. Along the way, he fought Democrats and the press to do what he felt was necessary. It worked.
We have a new president who seems bent on starting over again in this war. Will he throw everything out? It seems we have an ideologue in office. Two things we know, tax cuts stimulate the economy, if they didn't we'd have been down the tubes for years, after 9/11. Secondly, we know that we were safe during the Bush administration, so they must have done something right. How many embassies were bombed during the Bush Administration? How many ships were attacked during the Bush Administration? We had one day when we were attacked, then we went on the attack, we actually did something about it. Now the Democrats want to finish tearing down what they couldn't tear apart when Bush was in office.
Election 2008-God's way of showing us that elections count.
Who will take
February 7, 2009 - 13:07 ET by rbosqueWho will take responsibility if one of those ex-prisoners kills Americans? You know the MSM won't. You know that they'll cover the Obamessiah's butt. Who?
These Democrats and the MSM are just as dangerous as the prisoners there, the potential for the loss of American lives is too great.
Blame Bush, of course!
February 7, 2009 - 13:08 ET by Sergeant ROCKHe shouldn't have imprisoned them in the first place! The meanie!
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
Bolton/KEYES 2012
Of course the Crescent Broadcasting Service supports closing...
February 7, 2009 - 15:05 ET by R D Helm...GITMO.
They have been working to aid our enemies in the GWOT since the day it started.
-Dave
Our clueless political leaders are about to drive us all over a cliff. The time to HITM is now-before we go over.