A reversal of positions

Friday afternoon, the Obama administration announced they would restart military tribunals for the detainees from Guantanamo Bay. This is a move away from earlier rhetoric by the President, and may extend the time the prison remains open. He has made a change, these trials will not include anything that was obtained while inmates were under duress. Yet, the fact remains that military tribunals, once shunned by the administration, will go on for 13 suspected terrorists, and it is very likely Guantanamo Bay will continue to be open after January 1. 

241 detainees will be released, tried in US courts, set to other nations (France has agreed to take 1), or held indefinitely as prisoners of war. 

There are quite a few questions that arise from these developments:

- What nations are going to take some of the 241 detainees? While the French have agreed to take 1, other nations seemed to walk away from the idea recently. 

- If we try some in US courts, and they are found guilty, where do they go? If they are found not guilty because of the new evidence rules (I'm assuming they will be put in place with the military tribunals as well as American courts) are they going to be released in the United States? Sent back to their homelands?

- Where are those who end up being held indefinitely going to actually be held? 

- While the evidence rules have changed, how different is this policy from what we saw under the Bush administration? 

The question of what to do with over 250 detainees who have expressed hatred of America and stated their desire to hurt citizens is no easy one to answer. This is not a case that has a quick fix. The President, who the media told us transcended politics, must make tough decisions on the matter. We must hope he makes the correct choices.

This is not the time to be swayed by polls, supporters, or media reports that have sensationalized some of the details of Guantanamo Bay. This situation is too important to consider anything above the safety and security of the United States, and the impact this decision will have on future cases of suspected terrorists.