Obama to Revive Military Trials for Gitmo Detainees

RAY SUAREZ:

President Obama today revived the use of military trials for detainees held at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba. The decision to modify, but maintain the military commissions stands in stark contrast to the president's prior statements about the process.

U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:

As a democracy, we are going to pay attention, we are going to hold folks accountable…

RAY SUAREZ:

During the campaign, Mr. Obama called the Bush administration's approach to trying alleged terrorists and enemy combatants "an enormous failure."

But in a statement today, the president said he had supported the tribunals in some cases and he sought to "restore the commissions as a legitimate forum for prosecution while bringing them in line with the rule of law."

ROBERT GIBBS, White House press secretary: The president of the United States is going to do what he believes is in the best security interests of the people of the United States.

RAY SUAREZ:

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was asked to reconcile the president's decision with his oft-stated desire that the whole process be brought within the established military or federal court system.

ROBERT GIBBS:

I think if you look back at all these statements, Jake, the president has been consistent in his views on this issue and been consistent on what was lacking in order to ensure justice, in order to ensure protection, and, most of all, to ensure that this process goes forward with — and doesn't see repeated legal stalls in going through the court system.

I don't think this is a system that works in any way, shape or form for the American people.

JOURNALIST:

Is he saying we're going to live with this law with tweaks?

ROBERT GIBBS:

The notion that this is the same vehicle is simply — it's simply not true.