Obama's GITMO Disaster: From Theory to Reality

Earlier in the week, I applauded the president's move in transferring some of the Uighers to Palau. I referred to the move as "shrewd". Well, it might appear that I was patting the president on the back a little bit too early. It appears that the transfer is being met overwhelmingly negatively in the country.

Palau President Johnson Toribiong explained his decision to grant the Uighurs entry as traditional hospitality, but public opinion has appeared overwhelmingly negative. Some complained Friday that the government failed to consult the people.

“I totally disagree” with allowing the Uighurs onto Palau, Natalia Baulis, a 30-year-old mother of two, told The Associated Press by telephone.

“It’s good to be humanitarian and all, but still these people … to me are scary,” she said. …

The newspaper quoted islander Debedebk Mongami as saying, “I’m also afraid this news is going to scare the tourists who plan to come to Palau.”

Meanwhile in Bermuda, where four other Uighers were transferred, that transfer will likely cause its leader their job.

The United Bermuda Party today moved for a motion of no confidence against the Government led by Premier Ewart Brown.

Opposition leader Kim Swan proposed the motion in the House of Assembly this morning.He said it was necessary as the Island is “increasingly subject to the politics of one man rule”.

Said Mr. Swan: “Why have we moved a motion of no confidence? The public affairs of Bermuda are increasingly subject to the politics of one man rule under the Premier, Dr. Ewart Brown. We consider this unhealthy and not in Bermuda’s best interest.

So, the transfer of the seventeen most mild prisoners at GITMO has turned into two separate international incidents. One government is about to fall, and I wouldn't put the reelection prospects of the leader of Palau as too great.

As a result of the blow up of these two transfers, we can all safely say that no more prisoners will be released anywhere unless they are incarcerated. So, if the president is going to move them anywhere, it will have to have a prison waiting for them.

This should put some context on the ludicrous assertion that some of the folks there are innocent and victims. It appears that characterization is only made as long as they don't wind up in anyone's backyard.

Worse yet for the Obama administration is that the detainees I have been talking about are the mild ones of the overall population of GITMO. If two international incidents are caused by the Uighers, how many incidents will be caused once we get to the really bad guys.