Obama vs.. Cheney: Guantanamo Bay

These two speeches should be watched back to back. Two different ideologies spoken with conviction. Isn’t this what America is all about? The ability to peacefully speak out against the government…even when you once were the government. Isn’t this what makes us different than the rest of the world? If you are going to argue for or against these view points then it is your duty to know what you are talking about.

I this corner… President Obama 5-21-2009
President Obama, speaking at the National Archives, defended and reaffirmed his pledge to close the Guantanamo Bay detainee facility, saying that the prison "has weakened American national security." The president argued that harsh interrogation methods such as water boarding hindered rather than aided anti-terrorism efforts. He stated that detainees can be securely held in U.S. maximum security prisons and that no detainees who would endanger Americans will be released. He outlined a five-category classification system for dealing with remaining detainees. The president also defended his decisions to declassify Bush administration interrogation memos and to withhold photographs of detainees’ abuse by members of the U.S. military.

Full text of speech located here!

In This Corner…Vice President Cheney 5-21-2009

Former Vice President Dick Cheney defended Bush Administration interrogation methods of terrorist suspects and prisoner treatment at the Guantanamo Bay detainee facility. He maintained that Bush administration actions prevented terrorist attacks subsequent to September 11, 2001. He criticized recent Obama administration moves to change Bush administration interrogation policies.

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Full Text of speech located here!