Democracy Now
Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters Launches “Campaign to Close Guantánamo” for Obama’s Last Year in Office
Today marks seven years since President Obama signed an executive order calling for the closure of Guantánamo Bay within one year. But Guantánamo remains open, and now Obama only has one year left to fulfill his pledge. We are joined by the world famous musician Roger Waters, who has helped launch the “Countdown to Close Guantánamo” campaign, which asks people to take photos of themselves with signs calling for Guantánamo’s closure before Obama leaves office in 2017. Waters is a founding member, bassist, singer, songwriter for the iconic rock band Pink Floyd, perhaps best known for their record The Wall. For three years between 2010 and 2013, Waters toured the world with a dazzling concert of the same name. We are also joined by Andy Worthington, a British activist and investigative journalist who co-founded the “Countdown to Close Guantánamo” campaign. READ & WATCH VIDEO HERE
Learn more about “Countdown to Close Guantánamo” campaign HERE
The following statement was endorsed by the individuals and
organizations listed below in January 2012, when this campaign and
website was launched. It has been amended since then only to reflect
changes in the numbers of prisoners held, and those cleared for release,
and the number of years since the prison opened.
January 11, 2016 marked the 14th anniversary of the opening of the
Bush Administration’s “war on terror” prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
On his second day in office, President Obama pledged to close
Guantánamo within a year. Yet it remains open, undermining America’s
values and national security.
Of the remaining 91 prisoners, 34 men in total were either cleared
for release in January 2010 by an interagency Task Force established by
President Obama, which was made up of the top intelligence and law
enforcement officials in the nation (24 in total) or by Periodic Review
Boards established in 2013 (an additional ten prisoners). Some of these
men were previously cleared by the Bush Administration – some as long
ago as 2004.
It is unacceptable that the U.S. government continues to hold men
that its own national security experts have recommended for release or
transfer, and that Congress has intervened to maintain this deplorable
state of affairs.
We call for the immediate closure of Guantánamo.
Guantánamo harms our nation every day it stays open, and it continues
to serve as a potent symbol for terrorist recruitment. As President
Obama explained in a speech in early 2009, “instead of serving as a tool
to counter terrorism, Guantánamo became a symbol that helped al-Qaeda
recruit terrorists to its cause. Indeed, the existence of Guantánamo
likely created more terrorists around the world than it ever detained.”
That remains true today.
Guantánamo also undermines our bedrock commitment to the rule of law,
making that fundamental principle less secure for all Americans.
We call on the President to honor the principled and pragmatic
commitment he made on taking office, and we insist that Congress stop
making Guantánamo – and the fate of the men imprisoned there – into a
cynical game of political maneuvering.
– See more at: http://www.closeguantanamo.org/Our-Mission#sthash.zGt1s5fy.dpuf
The following statement was endorsed by the individuals and
organizations listed below in January 2012, when this campaign and
website was launched. It has been amended since then only to reflect
changes in the numbers of prisoners held, and those cleared for release,
and the number of years since the prison opened.
January 11, 2016 marked the 14th anniversary of the opening of the
Bush Administration’s “war on terror” prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
On his second day in office, President Obama pledged to close
Guantánamo within a year. Yet it remains open, undermining America’s
values and national security.
Of the remaining 91 prisoners, 34 men in total were either cleared
for release in January 2010 by an interagency Task Force established by
President Obama, which was made up of the top intelligence and law
enforcement officials in the nation (24 in total) or by Periodic Review
Boards established in 2013 (an additional ten prisoners). Some of these
men were previously cleared by the Bush Administration – some as long
ago as 2004.
It is unacceptable that the U.S. government continues to hold men
that its own national security experts have recommended for release or
transfer, and that Congress has intervened to maintain this deplorable
state of affairs.
We call for the immediate closure of Guantánamo.
Guantánamo harms our nation every day it stays open, and it continues
to serve as a potent symbol for terrorist recruitment. As President
Obama explained in a speech in early 2009, “instead of serving as a tool
to counter terrorism, Guantánamo became a symbol that helped al-Qaeda
recruit terrorists to its cause. Indeed, the existence of Guantánamo
likely created more terrorists around the world than it ever detained.”
That remains true today.
Guantánamo also undermines our bedrock commitment to the rule of law,
making that fundamental principle less secure for all Americans.
We call on the President to honor the principled and pragmatic
commitment he made on taking office, and we insist that Congress stop
making Guantánamo – and the fate of the men imprisoned there – into a
cynical game of political maneuvering.
– See more at: http://www.closeguantanamo.org/Our-Mission#sthash.zGt1s5fy.dpuf
The following statement was endorsed by the individuals and
organizations listed below in January 2012, when this campaign and
website was launched. It has been amended since then only to reflect
changes in the numbers of prisoners held, and those cleared for release,
and the number of years since the prison opened.
January 11, 2016 marked the 14th anniversary of the opening of the
Bush Administration’s “war on terror” prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
On his second day in office, President Obama pledged to close
Guantánamo within a year. Yet it remains open, undermining America’s
values and national security.
Of the remaining 91 prisoners, 34 men in total were either cleared
for release in January 2010 by an interagency Task Force established by
President Obama, which was made up of the top intelligence and law
enforcement officials in the nation (24 in total) or by Periodic Review
Boards established in 2013 (an additional ten prisoners). Some of these
men were previously cleared by the Bush Administration – some as long
ago as 2004.
It is unacceptable that the U.S. government continues to hold men
that its own national security experts have recommended for release or
transfer, and that Congress has intervened to maintain this deplorable
state of affairs.
We call for the immediate closure of Guantánamo.
Guantánamo harms our nation every day it stays open, and it continues
to serve as a potent symbol for terrorist recruitment. As President
Obama explained in a speech in early 2009, “instead of serving as a tool
to counter terrorism, Guantánamo became a symbol that helped al-Qaeda
recruit terrorists to its cause. Indeed, the existence of Guantánamo
likely created more terrorists around the world than it ever detained.”
That remains true today.
Guantánamo also undermines our bedrock commitment to the rule of law,
making that fundamental principle less secure for all Americans.
We call on the President to honor the principled and pragmatic
commitment he made on taking office, and we insist that Congress stop
making Guantánamo – and the fate of the men imprisoned there – into a
cynical game of political maneuvering.
– See more at: http://www.closeguantanamo.org/Our-Mission#sthash.zGt1s5fy.dpuf
CLOSE GUANTÁNAMO NOW!
The following statement was endorsed by the individuals and organizations listed below in January 2012, when this campaign and website was launched. It has been amended since then only to reflect changes in the numbers of prisoners held, and those cleared for release, and the number of years since the prison opened.
January 11, 2016 marked the 14th anniversary of the opening of the Bush Administration’s “war on terror” prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
On his second day in office, President Obama pledged to close Guantánamo within a year. Yet it remains open, undermining America’s values and national security.
Of the remaining 91 prisoners, 34 men in total were either cleared for release in January 2010 by an interagency Task Force established by President Obama, which was made up of the top intelligence and law enforcement officials in the nation (24 in total) or by Periodic Review Boards established in 2013 (an additional ten prisoners). Some of these men were previously cleared by the Bush Administration – some as long ago as 2004.
It is unacceptable that the U.S. government continues to hold men that its own national security experts have recommended for release or transfer, and that Congress has intervened to maintain this deplorable state of affairs.
We call for the immediate closure of Guantánamo.
Guantánamo harms our nation every day it stays open, and it continues to serve as a potent symbol for terrorist recruitment. As President Obama explained in a speech in early 2009, “instead of serving as a tool to counter terrorism, Guantánamo became a symbol that helped al-Qaeda recruit terrorists to its cause. Indeed, the existence of Guantánamo likely created more terrorists around the world than it ever detained.” That remains true today.
Guantánamo also undermines our bedrock commitment to the rule of law, making that fundamental principle less secure for all Americans.
We call on the President to honor the principled and pragmatic commitment he made on taking office, and we insist that Congress stop making Guantánamo – and the fate of the men imprisoned there – into a cynical game of political maneuvering…