MB Civic

go to story – a sampling from today’s headlines…

Obama: Military Power “Doesn’t Entitle Us to Do As We Please”

Moments later, Obama delivered his inaugural address. The speech contained what appeared to be several subtle criticisms of the Bush administration. In an apparent reference to torture and civil liberties violations in the so-called war on terror, Obama spoke of ending what he called a “false choice between our safety and our ideals.” And he also said, “Our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please.”

Obama Orders Halt to Gitmo Trials

In one his first moves as President, Obama ordered a four-month suspension of all military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay. The request would stop cases against twenty-one prisoners. Guantanamo judges are expected to issue a ruling later today. Obama made closure of the Guantanamo prison a key promise in his campaign.
Bush Regulations Suspended Pending Review

Obama has also ordered all federal agencies to suspend unfinished Bush administration federal regulations, pending review by the new White House. In its waning days, the Bush administration said it issued 100 new regulations since November.

Bush Booed at Ceremony, Returns to Texas

The inauguration of President Obama also meant a farewell for the now former President George W. Bush. Bush was greeted with boos as he took the stage at Obama’s inauguration. After the ceremony, Bush left the White House in a helicopter to Andrews Air Force Base. He was then flown to Texas for his first night as a private citizen. Nature intervened to deny Bush the red carpet treatment. A red carpet laid out for Bush to board his flight was removed after heavy wind kept dislodging it, forcing Bush to walk on the bare tarmac.

UN Rapporteur on Torture Calls for Prosecuting Bush, Rumsfeld

A top UN official is urging the US to prosecute former President Bush and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Manfred Nowak, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, told a German television network Bush and Cheney should be pursued for the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. Nowak says prosecution is legally required, because the US has ratified the UN convention on torture. Last month, a bipartisan Senate report accused Rumsfeld and other top Bush administration officials of direct responsibility for abuse and torture at Guantanamo and other US prisons.