USA: President Obama defends Guantánamo closure, but endorses ‘war’ paradigm and indefinite preventive detention

USA: President Obama defends Guantánamo closure, but endorses ‘war’ paradigm and indefinite preventive detention

In a recent major speech on national security, President Barack Obama restated his commitment to closing the Guantánamo detention facility and to ending the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques”. However, President Obama restated his support for military commissions and confirmed his opposition to an independent commission of inquiry. Amnesty International remains concerned that this administration continues to invoke the laws and means of war without recognizing its international legal obligations to ensure and respect the human rights of every individual.