America in the World

Obama promises end to torture and closure of Guantanomo Bay

In his first TV interview since being elected President, Barack Obama confirms that he'll end one of the most prominent recent sources of anti-Americanism; detention of terrorist suspects at Guantanomo Bay.  The President-Elect also vowed to end waterboarding and other techniques of aggressive interrogation.  He promised that principled opposition to all torture would be "part and parcel of an effort to regain America's moral stature in the world."  See video below:

The Daily Telegraph's Con Coughlin warns, however, that the closure of Guantanomo will not be uncomplicated:

"The Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba... holds about 250 die-hard al-Qaeda supporters... The reason that the hard-core al-Qaeda supporters - including Khaled Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks - continue to be held at Gitmo is that, as most of them were picked up on the battlefield in Afghanistan and other war zones, it is not possible to prosecute them the same way you would civilian criminals. The police are hardly likely to be able to scour the mountains of Tora Bora assembling evidence for the prosecution case... There have already been suggestions that former Gitmo detainees have carried out terror attacks against coalition forces in Afghanistan and Iraq after being released from Gitmo. What if one of those released by President Obama then masterminded a repeat of the 9/11 attacks? Let's not forget that al-Qaeda emerged as a global terror threat when Bill Clinton was president, and Obama should take care that the return of a Democrat to the White House does not result in the U.S. taking the soft options in fighting the war on terror."

Justin Webb to deliver AmericaInTheWorld's first annual address

Today marks the formal launch of AmericaInTheWorld.  David Cameron, UK Conservative leader, will address a reception at a Westminster hotel.  Over 150 guests are expected including MPs from all UK parties, supporters of the Democrats and Republicans and CEOs of some major businesses.  We'll report much more on the event tomorrow - with photographs and video to follow.

We are also delighted to announce that Justin Webb, the BBC's North America Editor, has agreed to deliver AITW's First Annual Address.  The Address will take place later this month - in London - and will be chaired by Labour MP David Cairns.  The event will be held jointly with the New Culture Forum.

AITW recently featured extracts from Justin Webb's new book - an invitation to fair-minded people to take another look at America and, perhaps, give it another chance.  One of those extracts focused on Justin's contention that America is still the best hope for the world's oppressed - even for those it lets down.

On BBC Radio 4 on Saturday, Justin Webb reflected on this year's presidential race.  He celebrated the changes in America that have seen a nation segregated by race come to the point where its Commander-in-Chief is likely to be a black American.  Here he remembers the Obama family pass in their motorcade:

"As the SUVs pass - including several with the doors and back windows open, men with large automatic weapons looking out with keen hard glares - I catch just a glimpse of the children, of 10-year-old Malia and seven-year-old Sasha peering out. I think their mother was sitting in the middle.

This is the true revolution.  There have been, after all, prominent black politicians for decades now, men and women afforded the full protection and respect that the nation can muster.  But seeing little black children gathered up into the arms of the secret service, surrounded by people who would die rather than let them die, is to see something that must truly make the racists of Americas past revolve in their graves.

I do not think Barack Obama will win or lose because of his race, but if he does win, the real moment you will know that America has changed is not when he takes the oath, but when we see pictures of tiny people padding along the White House corridors - a black First Family - representing America and American-ness.

True, Americans tire of their presidents, but in their early years they hold huge sway, they set the style.  Americans will look in the mirror, metaphorically speaking, and black faces will look back.

I wonder if the Obama children have ever asked the question: "Are we nearly there?"  The answer, at last, is: Yes, we are nearly there."

We greatly look forward to Mr Webb's address.