Obama's Speech - NOTES Only Live - Part One

some quotes, some paraphrases...from Obama

my single most important responsibility...to keep American people safe...

less than 8 years removed from the deadliest attack on our soil...

we've taken several steps...

for first time since 2002, taking the (fight) to ... afghan/pakistan

24th century intelligence capabilities

new partnerships around the world...new american diplomacy...

but i believe with every fiber of our being..enlist (our) principles

declaration of independence, constitution, bill of rights

...i stand here today...my mother made me rise before dawn to learn these truths..

"to

taught it -

lawyer & legislator

we must never ever turn our back on it's principles for expedience sake...time & again our values have been our best security asset...fidelity to our values...the reason why enemy

better treatment from America's armed forces then from their (own countries)

enlist free peoples everywhere...common (values)

(we've shut down torture chambers...that's who we are...

after 911...our government needed new tools...our gov. made a series of hasty decisions...(some with good motives, others from fear)...during this season of fear, too many of us, dems/repubs/journalists/american people went along with this)

we must (p
abiding confidence in the RULE OF LAW -

failed to use our values as COMPASS

I've banned the use of (former) interrogation techniques...some have argued that waterboarding were necessary - I categorically reject that these are the (most valuable) means of interrogation...

they undermine the rule of law

while decreasing the will of others to work with America

they did not advance our war on terrorism

as sen. mccain once said, torture serves as a great propaganda tool ...

even people in bush administration (argued against these)

they are not who we are, they are not america....

for over 7 years we have detained hundreds of people at

grand total of THREE TERRORIST --THREE were convicted

instead of bringing terrors to justice...cases have lingered on...

525 2/3rds of the detainees were released under previous administration...

our gov was defending positions that undermined the rule of law...

the existence of GTMO likely CREATED MORE terrorism...has weakened national security

the complications of keeping GTMO open are (greater) than closing it

there are 240 people there waiting in limbo

we are cleaning up something which is...a mess......the Supreme Court...the problem...was caused by the decision to open GTMO in the first place...

(we can't) pretend that this problem will go away if we (simply) maintain the status quo...our (capabilities? won't allow it) and neither will our conscience

i want to solve these problems (together)... (we are not served by) words calculated to scare...rather than educate

Security & Transparency...we are not going to release anyone if they will endanger our national security...(same with within our borders) no one has ever escaped from one of (super secure federal prisons)...

(we need to )doing away with poorly planned (releases)

Categories for dealing with detainees...

FIRST: whenever feasible will try by federal courts (they are tough enough)

We are preparing to place another (high profile) detainee in New York

SECOND: those who violate the (laws) of war - tribunals - i did oppose before (when there was a failure to abide by certain

instead of flawed commissions- my commissions (will) abide by rule of law, example, no use of evidence obtained under torture, based on hearsay...i will work with Congress and authorities across the (legal) spectrum...

THIRD: those who's rulings i've inherited, about which i can do nothing...(19 out of 21?)