Obama Calls Out Iran and GITMO Will Still Be Open Come January
EmailWH officials are convinced that intelligence proving that Iran has concealed a second nuclear enrichment site will galvanize the international sanctions effort. As first reported by the indefatigable David Sanger, the President will call out Iran and demand an immediate inspection of the site this morning at a press conference with Gordon Brown and Nikolas Sarkozy.
The Administration presented its evidence to the IAEA in Vienna yesterday, after President Obama briefed Chinese President Hu and Russian President Medvedev at the UN. Administration officials believe Russia was surprised by the intelligence and were pleased by Medvedev’s public reaction: his acknowledgement that sanctions against Iran may now be “inevitable.” President Hu was less forthcoming.
Following on Anne Kornblut and Dafna Linzer’s excellent reporting in the Washington Post, a White House official tells me that “not every” detainee will be out of Guantanamo by the President’s January 22nd deadline for closing the prison.
Obama is still committed to closing the facility and hopes the population will “dwindle substantially” by the January, but the official said “the President’s not going to sacrifice national security for the sake of the deadline.” WH officials add that Counsel Greg Craig has not been asked by Obama to resign, but it’s likely that he would take an attractive diplomatic post if one were to come open.
Watch my two-way on GMA this morning HERE.
- George Stephanopoulos
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
CHANGE!!
Posted by: Chuck | September 25, 2009, 7:11 am 7:11 am
Sooooo, what promise has Obama kept? Honestly.
Posted by: Ryan | September 25, 2009, 7:11 am 7:11 am
I liken it to the “If you like your health insurance you can keep it…..”
Posted by: Kay | September 25, 2009, 7:28 am 7:28 am
Not sacrificing national security for a deadline? Hmmmm-where have I heard that before? Why wasn’t that a good idea two years ago?
Posted by: marie | September 25, 2009, 7:38 am 7:38 am
Gitmo is still open? What the hell happened to that promise? Oh well, we all know politicians lie.
Posted by: LongT | September 25, 2009, 7:41 am 7:41 am
“Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it”. Gee, didn’t the Democrats practically hang Bush for his “intelligence on WMDs” in Iraq? I think this president better make triple-sure about Iran and have ironclad proof that he is willing to share publically with the world before taking any action. I would hate to see us drawn into Iran while we are still bogged down in Afganistan and Iraq. If President Obama gets us involved in Iran, he’d better have excellent intelligence and proof that he shares with the public and world. If he doesn’t do this, he’d better be ready for the same thrashing that the Democrats gave Bush!
Posted by: Terrence ODay | September 25, 2009, 8:09 am 8:09 am
No more wars, no more Gitmo, no more nuclear weapons,no more racism,no more corruption,bipartisanship,transparency in governement ….. has Obama achieved any… the man is a socialist, a liberal and a total failure … the worst President since 1960 …
Posted by: Wizcat | September 25, 2009, 8:10 am 8:10 am
You mean Obama thinks Iran may have WMDs? Welcome to planet Earth, Mr President.
Posted by: Extremophil | September 25, 2009, 8:14 am 8:14 am
bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran; bomb bomb bomb bomb Iran.
Posted by: LongT | September 25, 2009, 8:17 am 8:17 am
Obama recklessly calls for the closing of Gitmo when it is working fine. Too many aquaint Gitmo with Abu Ghraib by mistake. We have a leader like Obama who is clearly in over his head versus leaders like Sarkozy and Netanyahu. The USA is in a world of hurt.
Posted by: Kevin from Wisconsin | September 25, 2009, 8:24 am 8:24 am
Another Lie,One wonders does this President and his administrations know the truth and how to pay their Taxes? It seems they LIE,CHEAT,and STEAL at will. We as Tax Payers need to stand together and stop all the false promises and wasteful spending. And They want to run our health care? I would not let them run a slot car.
Posted by: marion | September 25, 2009, 8:32 am 8:32 am
Geez, there’s hope for this administration yet.
Posted by: John Steffee | September 25, 2009, 9:27 am 9:27 am
Obama needs to find a way to keep his plan to close Gitmo. Not getting healthcare through, still no real strategy for Afghanistan, and extremely mild economic improvements means a year with little to show.
Gitmo, while not easy, is do-able.
Posted by: allen@governmentality | September 25, 2009, 10:08 am 10:08 am
NOT ON AMERICAN SOIL!!!!!
Posted by: Kettle 2 | September 25, 2009, 10:23 am 10:23 am
You can be sure Obama will make damn sure there is actually something there before making a move AND he will get consensous from our Allies. He’s no cowboy going off half cocked.
Posted by: Cindy | September 25, 2009, 11:39 am 11:39 am
The President has been in office how long? But it seems that all of a sudden theres a “rush” for “everything”, while America sat silently for 8 years and demanded “nothing” of the last administration, not even the truth. When someone tells me WHAT the President has lied about, don’t follow the “wagon” that an unintelligent, anger man from the poorest State in our union is “pulling”. There are still “real” patriots in this nation that are of sound mind with rational thoughts based on facts. It’s the hate that has driven this country in the ground in the past, and continues today……look at the “American Terrorist” that are in your face, living next door, and somehow, we call them “Americans”. And to all the rational thinkers, my mom told me at a young age…..there’s a process to everything, and truth Will prevail. Always.
Posted by: sara | September 25, 2009, 12:00 pm 12:00 pm
You are right Cindy he is no Cowboy,He is more like a Muslem,at every turn.Something there,Foolish girl the Iranians said there was a second enrichment facility there. You still want proof go ahead and put your hand on a hot stove.
Posted by: marion | September 25, 2009, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm
Are we still looking for WMD’s? That LIE cause DEATH to thousands of Americans…Please tell us “what lie” the current President has told?
Posted by: sara | September 25, 2009, 12:04 pm 12:04 pm
Thank God we have a strategically, intelligent smart and level-headed President in charge, that doesn’t have to “stupidly” act as if he’s tough….but is. Quiet Strength is Real Strength.
Posted by: sara | September 25, 2009, 12:07 pm 12:07 pm
He doesn’t Think Iran has WMD’S….his intelligence tells him so, AND the Iranians has SAID it.
Posted by: sara | September 25, 2009, 12:10 pm 12:10 pm
Yep, Obama’s a tough one, can’t even throw a baseball! LOL That had to be the funniest thing I’ve ever seen! Tough he’s not……he’s a joke!!
Posted by: lyineyes1956 | September 25, 2009, 12:32 pm 12:32 pm
What’s funny is how right wingers THINK it’s important for them to point out that “everyone thinks so”. They are biggest followers I’ve ever seen. No independent brain function what so ever. They want everything to go back to what they THINK it was? Well, no one like them could have even been close to someone who wrote our constitution. Going along with what “everyone else” thinks is sooooo middle school. Grow up!
Posted by: Cindy | September 25, 2009, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm
LOL, so yet again, this brilliant administration has ‘mis-read’ the situation.
Perhaps, just maybe this groupshould read first, think & evaluate second and THEN speak!
Posted by: Mike_C | September 25, 2009, 1:06 pm 1:06 pm
the fact that this administration is continually suprised, flat out wrong, or has somehow “misjudged” several issues since taking office in january proves to me that they are not qualified to run this country. i guess the job looked easy after a few days in the Senate. welcome to the real world. now, is it possible for us to get some real leadership in washington? anybody?
Posted by: robin | September 25, 2009, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm
Cindy, it appears it is the democrats that go along with everything! We repubs are not falling for anything this pres has to say, he hasn’t told the truth yet, and I’m not holding my breath. 2010 he will lost some power, and 2012 he will be voted out! Now that’s progress!
Posted by: lyineyes1956 | September 25, 2009, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm
Sara, please tell us what “truth” Obama has told us… don’t worry, I’ll wait……LOL
Posted by: lyineyes1956 | September 25, 2009, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
Did I miss something. It’s pretty clear there’s been a “deal” to keep Gitmo open in exchange for Republican votes on health care. I have no doubt the 3 “terrorist” arrests were bogus…serving the effective purpose of creating a rationale to keep Gitmo open longer. Fox actually reported that one of the recent terrorist arrests was someone (a good american kid) who got influenced to become a terrorist by associating with Islamic Radicals in the general prison population. Therefore…we can’t put the hardcore Gitmo terrorists in the general prison population. This is a scam…or some might say, good politics on Obama’s part. Gitmo for Health Care.
Posted by: bob | September 26, 2009, 12:33 am 12:33 am
Jeepers! You mean the intelligence we had about Iran didn’t mention a Second fissile material enrichment site? Is that possible? Was this the same intelligence that was quoted by Obama when he said Iran was “Years Away” from having a deliverable atomic bomb? Was that the rationale for Obama to stab the Poles and Czechs in the back for standing up to Putin’s new Soviet Union? Just like Neville Chamberlin threw Czechoslovakia to the Nazi wolves for “Peace in our Time”? Yes, I suppose that is “Change”. But not really
“Hope”.
Posted by: justunclejoe | September 27, 2009, 1:01 am 1:01 am
“You can be sure Obama will make damn sure there is actually something there before making a move AND he will get consensous from our Allies. He’s no cowboy going off half cocked.” Did he ask consensous from the Poles & Czechs before he threw them to the Russian wolves?
No, he is an empty suit in over his head. That somehow that doesn’t make me feel better than a half-cocked coyboy.
Posted by: justunclejoe | September 27, 2009, 1:05 am 1:05 am
“The President’s not going to sacrifice national security for the sake of the deadline.”
So, now that he’s in office, Obama finds out the Gitmo terrorist are not all innocent lambs put there by the evil half cocked coyboy Bush? Demagoguery gives way to the “Audacity of Reality”.
Posted by: justunclejoe | September 27, 2009, 1:19 am 1:19 am
I remember when John Kennedy was elected the first Catholic president. We were proud, but even the nuns didn’t indoctrinate us.
Posted by: LongT | September 27, 2009, 10:12 am 10:12 am