Obama

President Obama Presents Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award

SamSam — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:47:35 +0000

Can Obama deliver on nuclear vision?

fionamc — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:34:07 +0100

It was the first time that a US president had presided over a United Nations Security Council meeting at summit level.

Source: Can Obama deliver on nuclear vision?

The Ashes

Tai Mahmud — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:23:29 +0100

Obama, Cheney Deliver Dueling Speeches on National Security

Niluccio — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:09:55 +0100

In a speech at the National Archives, Obama said the Bush administration's endorsement of harsh interrogation techniques and its use of Guantanamo to detain terrorist suspects indefinitely had helped swell the ranks of America's enemies.

Source: Obama, Cheney Deliver Dueling Speeches on National Security

Barack Obama changes his mind over the release of prisoner abuse photographs

Niluccio — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:34:58 +0100

President Obama yesterday changed his mind over the release of thousands of photographs of the abuse of detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan after military commanders warned that the publication of such images would fuel anti-American sentiment and endanger US troops.

Source: Barack Obama changes his mind over the release of prisoner abuse photographs

How The Times and Churchill shaped Obama's torture policy

Niluccio — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:39:10 +0100

When Barack Obama recruited Winston Churchill into the debate over CIA interrogation techniques, recalling that he never stooped to torture even in Britain’s darkest hour, something about his remarks struck me as oddly familiar.

Source: How The Times and Churchill shaped Obama's torture policy

Mixed messages

fionamc — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:55:51 +0100

Mixed messages

fionamc — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:43:49 +0100

Obama's first 100 days has sent 'mixed messages' on human rights

fionamc — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:18:14 +0100

Amnesty International has today (29 April) described US President Barack Obama's first 100 days on counter-terrorism policies as 'promises for change with only limited action'.

The assessment comes as the human rights organisation issued a new 31-page report analysing the US Administration's actions on security and counter-terrorism.

Source: Obama's first 100 days has sent 'mixed messages' on human rights

Exclusive: Lawyer says Guantanamo abuse worse since Obama

Niluccio — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 11:57:02 +0000

Abuse of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay has worsened sharply since President Barack Obama took office as prison guards "get their kicks in" before the camp is closed, according to a lawyer who represents detainees.

Source: Exclusive: Lawyer says Guantanamo abuse worse since Obama

Obama's Prisoner Dilemma: Reject Torture, Defend Torturers

fionamc — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:10:38 +0000

President Barack Obama finds himself in a quandary of sorts over his public position opposing torture and secret detentions.

The new U.S. president has renounced those Bush administration practices, but government lawyers continue to defend the previous administration's top officials accused of authorizing and carrying out those policies.

Source: Obama's Prisoner Dilemma: Reject Torture, Defend Torturers

Barack Obama to allow anti-terror rendition to continue

Niluccio — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:14:42 +0000

Despite ordering the closure of Guantanamo and an end to harsh interrogation techniques, the new president has failed to call an end to secret abductions and questioning.

In his first few days in office, Mr Obama was lauded for rejecting policies of the George W Bush era, but it has emerged the CIA still has the authority to carry out renditions in which suspects are picked up and often sent to a third country for questioning.

Source: Barack Obama to allow anti-terror rendition to continue

100 ways to help widget « Protect The Human

vero — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:35:13 +0000

We’ve got a great widget for you. it will update you daily with some new simple actions you can take to help spread the word about our 100 Days campaign.

Source: 100 ways to help widget « Protect The Human

The "Move On" Defense Of George W. Bush

fionamc — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:43:23 +0000

John Barry has written what I will call the "move on" defense of the Bush administration in this week's Newsweek. The idea is that it is fairly clear that the Bush administration violated the law in several instances, but since we already know this and his party has already lost an election, let's just move on already.

Source: The "Move On" Defense Of George W. Bush

You are powerful

fionamc — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:20:42 +0000

Obama shuts network of CIA 'ghost prisons'

fionamc — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 10:46:22 +0000

Barack Obama embarked on the wholesale deconstruction of George Bush's war on terror, shutting down the CIA's secret prison network, banning torture and rendition, and calling for a new set of rules for detainees.

Source: Obama shuts network of CIA 'ghost prisons'

Obama orders Guantanamo closure

fionamc — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:44:31 +0000

US President Barack Obama has ordered the closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison camp within one year.

Source: Obama orders Guantanamo closure

Obama orders Guantanamo closure

Wabeywoo — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:31:34 +0000

US President Barack Obama has ordered the closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison camp within one year.

Source: Obama orders Guantanamo closure

Obama to Close Guantánamo Bay

fionamc — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 08:38:28 +0000

President Obama is expected to sign executive orders Thursday directing the Central Intelligence Agency to shut what remains of its network of secret prisons and ordering the closing of the Guantánamo detention camp within a year, government officials said.

Source: Obama to Close Guantánamo Bay

Draft order calls for closing Guantanamo Bay

fionamc — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:29:15 +0000

The Obama administration is circulating a draft executive order that calls for closing the detention center at Guantanamo Bay within a year.

Source: Draft order calls for closing Guantanamo Bay

Obama speech censored in China

fionamc — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:38:34 +0000

China has censored parts of the new US president's inauguration speech that have appeared on a number of websites.

Source: Obama speech censored in China

Obama acts on Guantanamo trials

SamSam — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:57:56 +0000

Barack Obama has requested the suspension of all military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay, in his first major act as the new US president.

The request would halt proceedings in 21 pending cases, including one against five men accused of plotting the 11 September 2001 attacks.

Source: Obama acts on Guantanamo trials

Amnesty Blogs: ObamaBlog09

fionamc — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:51:37 +0000

A Brit heads to Washington DC to witness the Inauguration of Barack Obama

Source: Amnesty Blogs: ObamaBlog09

Talks on Iran, a delay on Guantánamo: Barack Obama's agenda for his first 100 days

fionamc — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:40:04 +0000

Barack Obama signalled a new era in relations with Iran yesterday but conceded that he would not be able to close Guantánamo Bay prison camp early in his presidency.

Source: Talks on Iran, a delay on Guantánamo: Barack Obama's agenda for his first 100 days

Obama - 100 Days

fionamc — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:06:31 +0000

We don’t expect the impossible from US President Barack Obama. But we are asking him to take concrete steps to counter terror with justice.

Source: Obama - 100 Days

A letter to Barack

Niluccio — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:51:33 +0000

Dear Mr Obama,

Over the next few weeks, lots of people will be asking what you intend to do about the Middle East. Please don't rush to give them an answer, and don't assume that you really must do something – at least not until you're sure it won't make matters worse. That's one obvious lesson from the Bush years.

Source: A letter to Barack

Mind your language, Mr President-elect

Niluccio — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:13:01 +0000

I have sent out a request that Barack Obama, or Michelle Obama, get in touch with me. While waiting for a response (and imagining how busy they must be), I decided to write down my thoughts. After watching the debates between Mr Obama and John McCain, something has leapt out at me. It has now leapt out twice, and I would like to avoid having it appear a third time. It is Mr Obama's statement that, when he is President, he (the US) will pursue al-Qaeda in the hills of Pakistan, find Osama bin Laden and “kill” him. Though I understand that Mr Obama wishes to show himself as “strong”, even “tough”, this is problematic on ethical, moral, and practical levels.

Source: Mind your language, Mr President-elect

President Obama: A champion for human rights?

Niluccio — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:48:11 +0000

Never mind Sleepless in Seattle, it’s been sleepless in Stratford, Stoke and Stornoway. I for one am a bit bleary with the intensity of it all. Having grabbed about three hours sleep, I’ve been back on the internet this morning searching for fresh morsels. Why did Florida turn blue? How did the demographics break down?

Historians will obviously pore over this election race for decades to come, but to my mind one area that’s received much less attention than it should is the significance of the presidential contest on key human rights issues.

Source: President Obama: A champion for human rights?

A pro-gay president

Niluccio — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:05:36 +0000

I woke up this morning holding my breath, and 1 minute and 5 seconds into the next President's acceptance speech, the nightmare ended. Three sentences in, he said: "It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American…" By now my boyfriend and I were clutching onto each other's arms. "… Gay, straight, disabled and not disabled." We both let out our breath and gave a little jump. We were almost punching the air like, well, Americans.

Source: A pro-gay president