Key U.S. Policy Priorities
President Obama issued orders closing the detention center at the Guantánamo
Bay U.S. naval base in Cuba within a year and placing new restrictions on
interrogation of terrorism suspects.
“The message we are sending around the world is that the United States intends
to prosecute the ongoing struggle against violence and terrorism and we are
going to do so vigilantly,” Obama said at a January 22 White House signing
ceremony. “We are going to do so effectively and we are going to do so in a
manner that is consistent with our ideals.”
The new president’s executive order to close Guantánamo calls for an immediate
case-by-case review of each of the remaining 245 detainees.
In a separate order, Obama called for the end to harsh interrogation methods for
terrorism suspects, requiring that all counterterrorism and intelligence
officials abide by the U.S. Army Field Manual on human interrogation methods.
Major US Government Statements
A select list of major statements On the United States and Iraq with policy value.
- Ambassador Rice on 60th Anniversary of Geneva Conventions (2009-12-04)
- Obama Creates New Unit to Handle High-Level Interrogations (2009-08-24)
- Speech by President Obama on Protecting U.S. Security, Values (2009-05-21)
- Remarks by Attorney General Holder at American Academy of Berlin (2009-04-29)
- New Guantánamo Detainee Policy Rooted in International Law (2009-03-16)
Latest US Government Statements
The five most recent statements in reverse chronological order.
- Sudan Tops Foreign Policy Concerns in Obama YouTube Appearance (2010-02-02)
- Illinois Prison Will Hold Some Guantánamo Detainees (2009-12-15)
- Ambassador Rice on 60th Anniversary of Geneva Conventions (2009-12-04)
- Clinton’s Interview with George Stephanopoulos of ABC (2009-11-16)
- Clinton’s Interview with David Gregory of NBC (2009-11-16)
US Government Fact Sheets
The five most recent fact sheets.





-07/20/09

