There are hundreds less prisoners in Gitmo. 600 to 140 is the decrease I've heard about.
"Since October 7, 2001, when the current war in Afghanistan began, 775 detainees have been brought to Guantanamo. Of these, approximately 420 have been released without charge, with only one prisoner, David Hicks, being convicted of a crime.[9] As of May 2008, approximately 270 detainees remain.[10] More than a fifth are cleared for release but may have to wait months or years because U.S. officials are finding it increasingly difficult to persuade countries to accept them, according to officials and defense lawyers."--from Wikipedia.
Panic--Why we don't need to panic. What we need is reasonable, planned moves. Not throwing up our hands and moving to Canada or the EU. Even with a third Bush term, you and I are not going to be seized and thrown in jail. Marching on the Lakefront is reasonable, arson on police headquarters is not.
I would be more panicked by a second incident. I was more panicked by the discovery of A.Q. Khan. Either way this election would go would be an improvement over the current and would be subject to the checks and balances of the Congress and the next election.
But political panic breeds helplessness. You are less likely to write to your Congressman if you believe the president is not responsive to Congress. You are less likely to vote if you believe that the "right-wing nutjobs" are a shoe-in no matter what.
I don't know if pretend panic (which is what I believe I am seeing) decreases voter turnout. But real panic does!!!
Re: It's a matter of scale.
"Since October 7, 2001, when the current war in Afghanistan began, 775 detainees have been brought to Guantanamo. Of these, approximately 420 have been released without charge, with only one prisoner, David Hicks, being convicted of a crime.[9] As of May 2008, approximately 270 detainees remain.[10] More than a fifth are cleared for release but may have to wait months or years because U.S. officials are finding it increasingly difficult to persuade countries to accept them, according to officials and defense lawyers."--from Wikipedia.
Panic--Why we don't need to panic.
What we need is reasonable, planned moves. Not throwing up our hands and moving to Canada or the EU. Even with a third Bush term, you and I are not going to be seized and thrown in jail. Marching on the Lakefront is reasonable, arson on police headquarters is not.
I would be more panicked by a second incident. I was more panicked by the discovery of A.Q. Khan. Either way this election would go would be an improvement over the current and would be subject to the checks and balances of the Congress and the next election.
But political panic breeds helplessness. You are less likely to write to your Congressman if you believe the president is not responsive to Congress. You are less likely to vote if you believe that the "right-wing nutjobs" are a shoe-in no matter what.
I don't know if pretend panic (which is what I believe I am seeing) decreases voter turnout. But real panic does!!!