Actual Good News

It feels unbelievably good to write this: Defense Secretary Robert Gates just told members of the House that he advocates closing the Guantanamo prison.

Gates believes that "because of things that happened earlier at Guantanamo there is a taint about it" and because "no matter how transparent, no matter how open the trials, if they took place in Guantanamo, in the international community they would lack credibility." He takes the very sensible stance that, while some of the prisoners are far too dangerous ever to be released, most of them aren't and that they should all get fair trials.

At this moment, Justice staffers are probably having to explain to Alberto Gonzales that he's not empowered to fire Gates.