McCain and Obama reacts to Guantanamo ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court 5-4 ruling rebuked the Bush’s administration for the third time for its treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. The court ruled that the 270 foreign suspects have the right under the US Constitution to challenge their detention in civilian courts on the American mainland.

The ruling did not order the military tribunal process to be halted. It however gives the detainees held without charge for more than six years the right to be heard by a federal judge. This could trigger a rush to civilian courts that could leave questions such as what to do with men such as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of 9/11.

The presidential candidates reacted to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision today.
John McCain told reporters in Boston that he had not yet read the opinion, but expressed concerns about the rights it might impart to the people being held there.

“These are unlawful combatants, they are not American citizens and I think we should pay attention to Justice Roberts’ opinion in this decision,” McCain said, referring to the chief justice’s dissent. “But it is a decision that the Supreme Court has made. Now we need to move forward. As you know I always favored closing Guantanamo Bay and I still think we ought to do that.”

Barack Obama issued a statement expressing support for the decision, saying that it strikes the proper balance between fighting terrorism and “protecting our core values.”

“The Court’s decision is a rejection of the Bush Administration’s attempt to create a legal black hole at Guantanamo — yet another failed policy supported by John McCain,” Obama said. “This is an important step toward reestablishing our credibility as a nation committed to the rule of law, and rejecting a false choice between fighting terrorism and respecting habeas corpus.”

Obama said he voted against the Military Commissions Act, which created the extra-judicial system of hearings for detainees at Guantanamo, because of “sloppiness” that would lead to the kind of decision the court announced yesterday.

“The fact is, this Administration’s position is not tough on terrorism, and it undermines the very values that we are fighting to defend,” he said. “Bringing these detainees to justice is too important for us to rely on a flawed system that has failed to convict anyone of a terrorist act since the 9-11 attacks, and compromised our core values.”

The Supreme Court has ruled that Guantanamo detainees have the right to be heard in civilian courts

John McCain told reporters in Boston that he had not yet read the opinion, but expressed concerns about the rights it might impart to the people being held there.

Barack Obama issued a statement expressing support for the decision, saying that it strikes the proper balance between fighting terrorism and “protecting our core values.”