By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

May 21, 2009 – President Obama laid out the reasoning and approach he deems necessary to close Guantanamo Bay prison while safeguarding America against terrorist threats and adhering to the fundamental values of our country. 

President Barack Obama addresses national security, terrorism, and closing of Guantanamo Bay prison.

“For the first time since 2002, we are providing the necessary resources and strategic direction to take the fight to the extremists who attacked us on 9/11 in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” Obama said. 

During his speech at the National Archives Museum, the president said, “I believe with every fiber of my being that in the long run we also cannot keep this country safe unless we enlist the power of our most fundamental values;” values he said the Bush administration overlooked. 

Since taking office, the president pointed to three steps he has already taken: banning so-called enhanced interrogation techniques, ordering the closing of the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay and ordering the review of all pending cases at Guantanamo.

Obama said, “I want to be honest: this is the toughest issue we will face. We are going to exhaust every avenue that we have to prosecute those at Guantanamo who pose a danger to our country. But even when this process is complete, there may be a number of people who cannot be prosecuted for past crimes, but who nonetheless pose a threat to the security of the United States.” 

He continued, “I am not going to release individuals who endanger the American people. Al Qaeda terrorists and their affiliates are at war with the United States, and those that we capture – like other prisoners of war – must be prevented from attacking us again.”

The president said, he wanted “clear defensible and lawful standards” to any suspected enemy insuring “fair procedures so that we don’t make mistakes.” Mistakes he identified as being made the last eight years.  

With the Constitution in the foreground, Obama’s speech reflected frequently on the document’s core values of the intent of our founders in his remarks.  “The decisions that were made over the last eight years established an ad hoc legal approach for fighting terrorism that was neither effective nor sustainable — a framework that failed to trust in our institutions and that failed to use our values as a compass, “ he said. 

 ”That is why we lost our way. That is why we were alienated from our allies.”

The president directed his message to the American people, Congress, our allies and our enemies.  Now we’ll have to see if he got his message across and will be able to move forward with closing Gitmo.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Anaylst

Jan. 22, 2008 – President Barack Obama takes on his second full day in the White House with a flurry of Executive orders that will re-define and re-direct policies addressing terrorist threats. 

The orders signed in the Oval Office today will close the Guantanamo Bay detention center, re-examine military war crimes trials and eliminate some of the harshest methods of interrogation. .

“We intend to win this fight. We’re going to win it on our terms,” Obama said. 

“Our terms” is in keeping with his campaign promise of closing one of the most hotly debated issues during the 2008 presidential campaign.  

The detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba has an estimated 245 men being held there.  The controversy surrounding the detainees is the length of time they have been held without being charged with a crime.

“The message that we are sending the world is that the United States intends to prosecute the ongoing struggle against violence and terrorism and we are going to do so vigilantly and we are going to do so effectively and we are going to do so in a manner that is consistent with our values and our ideals,” the president said.

This could be one of the first positive steps the president makes toward improving America’s international image and reaffirming Obama’s objections to the constant accusations America is engaging in torture at the prison.

The order calls for the detention center to be closed in one year.  Obama also created a task force to recommend polices on how to handle detainees in the future and requiring all U.S. personnel follow the U.S. Army Field Manual while interrogating detainees.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst  

Jan. 21, 2009 – “Day No. 1” has arrived for President Barack Obama and he’s not waiting around to get started.  On Tuesday night as Americans watched the first couple navigate 10 Inaugural Balls, a dozen or more members of Obama’s White House staff filed into Pennsylvania Avenue to get ready for what’s in store. 

Today will be the president’s first full day in office and will begin the count of his first 100 days.  However, Obama managed to add official business to the ceremonial day as well. He announced the White House would halt the Guantanamo Bay war crimes trials; his chief of staff Rahm Emanuel signed an order halting President George Bush’s last-minute regulations; and he formally nominated seven Cabinet secretaries who were approved by the Senate by acclimation. 

 Later today Obama will meet with advisors while staff concentrates on setting up computers, phones lines and e-mail for everyone.  The first press briefing hasn’t been firmly scheduled, but should take place mid-day on Wednesday according press secretary Robert Gibbs.

I’ll be at the White House all afternoon and will update you on the happening on day one.  The White House Webpage is already up and running.