Media

"Guantanamo closure 'uncertain.'" Sarah Mendelson is quoted calling the process of finding countries willing to take releasable Guantánamo detainees “a huge diplomatic issue” in this AFP story.  November 15, 2009.

Sarah Mendelson is quoted in this German language story on the Obama administration and closing Guantánamo that played on multiple German radio stations including NDR, HR Info, RBB Info, and Deutschlandfunk.  November 14, 2009. 

“President’s Top Lawyer Is Leaving White House.”  Sarah Mendelson is quoted discussing the resignation of Greg Craig, White House counsel, and what it means for closing Guantánamo in this article in the New York Times. November 14, 2009.

“Obama's minefield: Guantánamo.” Sarah Mendelson is quoted in this NRC Handelsblad piece.  November 14, 2009.

“Death penalty will be sought for 9/11 defendants.”  Sarah Mendelson is described as applauding the Holder decision to try the 9/11 detainees in New York but voicing disappointment that the Obama administration will continue to use military commissions in other cases in this article in USA Today.  November 13, 2009.

“What's behind Greg Craig's resignation?” Sarah Mendelson is quoted saying that Greg Craig seems to have been made the fall guy in the context of closing Guantánamo in this post from The Cable, a blog of Foreign Policy. November 13, 2009.

“What Constitutes Justice For Guantanamo Detainees?” Sarah Mendelson argues for criminal prosecution in federal courts for those Guantánamo detainees brought to trial in this NPR story.  October 29, 2009.

“Analysts Weigh Obama's Global Human Rights Policies.”  Sarah Mendelson relates the human rights violations perpetuated by the Guantánamo Bay detention facility to challenges faced by the Obama administration in pushing Russia on human rights in this interview on CNN with Christian Amanpour. October 14, 2009.

“Examining Delays in Closing Guantánamo.”  Sarah Mendelson is interviewed on NPR’s All Things Considered about the future of the detention facility and the significance of its closure.  October 14, 2009.

“Guantanamo : la fermeture du centre de détention sera sans doute retardée.”  Sarah Mendelson is quoted in this article in Le Monde. September 29, 2009.

“Greg Craig, Gitmo fall guy.”  Sarah Mendelson is quoted commenting on the blame placed on Greg Craig for troubles meeting the Guantánamo closure deadline in this post from The Cable, a blog of Foreign Policy. September 25, 2009.

“Obama to Use Current Law to Support Detentions.” Sarah Mendelson is quoted discussing the Obama administration’s decision not to seek legislation that would support detention without charge. New York Times. September 23, 2009.

“The underside of war: Who should be held accountable for anti-terrorism’s dirtiest business?” Sarah Mendelson is quoted discussing the release of government documents in this story in the Economist. August 27, 2009.

“Detainee questions hinder Obama's plan to shut Guantánamo.” Sarah Mendelson criticizes the prospect of the continued use of military commission for Guantánamo detainees in this AFP article. August 10, 2009.

“Re-thinking the U.S. ‘war on terror.’” Sarah Mendelson discusses the speech given by John Brennan, President Obama’s Assistant for Homeland Security and Counter-terrorism, at CSIS on the new administration’s counterterrorism strategy going forward in this interview on PRI’s The World. August 6, 2009.

“New Gitmo Proposal Draws Wide Range of Critics.” Sarah Mendelson is quoted saying, "the system works, there's no need for a hybrid," in regards to plans to move Guantánamo detainees to a special detention center and trial facility on U.S. soil. Time. August 4, 2009.

“Different U.S. Locations Weighed for Gitmo Trials.” Sarah Mendelson is quoted in this earlier version of the August 4 AP story on trying Guantánamo detainees in the United States. August 3, 2009.

“The World Still Awaits a New U.S. Face.” Sarah Mendelson is quoted arguing that President Obama has not undertaken the kind of intelligence agency “house-cleaning” needed to “to grow a new cohort of intelligence officers” in this article in The Nation. August 3, 2009.

“Administration weighs US sites for Gitmo trials.” Sarah Mendelson is quoted in this AP story, explaining that the U.S. court districts in which Guantánamo detainees may be tried already have experience trying international terrorist cases.  August 3, 2009.

“Prison de Guantanamo: Les partisans de procès de droit commun restent nombreux.”  Sarah Mendelson is quoted in this article in l’Expression. August 2, 2009.

“Closing Guantanamo.”  Sarah Mendelson is quoted calling for more senior guidance for the task force on closing Guantánamo in this story on PRI’s The World. July 21, 2009.

“Shift Possible on Terror Suspects’ Detention.”  Sarah Mendelson is quoted describing the possibility that Obama will use an executive order to authorize indefinite detention as “a continuation of the kind of super power within the executive branch that you saw with the Bush administration” in this article in the New York Times. June 26, 2009.

“Obama Bows on Settling Detainees.”  Sarah Mendelson  is quoted in the Washington Post  saying, in response to the release of Uighur detainees to other countries, "Once it becomes clear no detainees will be settled in the U.S., potentially you could hear doors slamming all over Europe." June 12, 2009.

“More Prisoners Transported Out of Guantanamo Bay.” Sarah  Mendelson describes how the decision to release the Uighur detainees to other countries, rather than into the United States, complicates efforts to convince European countries to take detainees in this article by ABC news. June12, 2009.

“6 Detainees Are Freed as Questions Linger.” Sarah Mendelson is quoted describing the Uighur detainees, four of whom were released to Bermuda on June 11, as the least controversial Guantánamo detainees that could be brought into the United States for potential release in this article in the New York Times. June 11, 2009.

“Fate of Guantanamo's Uighurs is Still Unclear.” Sarah Mendelson is quoted discussing the release of Uighur detainees, saying, “…the fact that they're sending the — quote — 'easy ones' to Bermuda and maybe Palau suggests that the U.S. is not going to be accepting any [of the other Guantanamo inmates],” in this NPR story. June 11, 2009.

“Obama Faces Pitfalls With ‘Surgical’ Tack on Detainees.” Sarah Mendelson is quoted responding to President Obama’s national security speech on Guantánamo in this article in the New York Times. May 21, 2009.

“Obama defends Guantanamo plan,” Sarah Mendelson appears on PRI’s The World, emphasizing the judicial and security implications for the prospect of preventative detention or detention without charge.  May 21, 2009.

“Obama klem door kwestie Guantánamo.” Sarah Mendelson is quoted in this article in NRC Handelsblad.  May 21, 2009.

“Prisão ilimitada é opção 'arriscada' para Obama, dizem especialistas.” Sarah Mendelson is quoted in this AFP story, translated into Portuguese.  May 21, 2009.

“Obama to Argue for Guantanamo Closure After Lawmakers Object,” Sarah Mendelson  is quoted in this Bloomberg article on President Obama’s executive order task force on detention policy. May 21, 2009.

"Prospect of Gitmo Uighurs in US stokes fears, but defenders say men pose no threat.” Sarah Mendelson criticizes legislation blocking the resettlement of Uighur detainees in this AP article. May 19, 2009.

Sarah Mendelson appeared on BBC TV to discuss the future of Guantánamo and its detainees. May 15, 2009.

"Obama Set to Revive Military Commissions." Sarah Mendelson is quoted discussing the implications of a return to military tribunals for Guantánamo detainees in this article in the Washington Post.  May 9, 2009.

"Obama Nominee Touches Nerve in Conservatives."  Sarah Mendelson is quoted discussing the value of international law in this article the Boston Globe, April 21, 2009.

"Obama Policy on Torture Has Two Sides." Sarah Mendelson is quoted in this article by the Associated Press. April 18, 2009.

"Can Europe's Love Affair with Obama Last?"  Sarah Mendelson discusses the challenge Obama will face in pushing for European cooperation in this Reuters story. March 26, 2009.

"Calls to Probe Bush Officials."  Sarah Mendelson is quoted discussing a leaked Red Cross report on CIA torture in this story by Agence France Press. March 17, 2009.

"Five Guantanamo Detainees Claim Responsibility for September 11 Attacks." Sarah Mendelson is quoted discussing Guantánamo’s closure and al Qaeda’s desire to keep it open in this Guardian story. March 10, 2009.

"Closing Guantánamo." The CSIS report Closing Guantánamo: From Bumper Sticker to Blueprint, is featured in this story in the Congressional Quarterly Researcher.  February 27, 2009.

"Analysis: Where to Hold Guantánamo Prisoners Raises Complex Legal and Political Questions." Sarah Mendelson and the CSIS report on closing Guantánamo are quoted in this article by McClatchy Newspapers. February 22, 2009.

"Republicans Try to Block Guantánamo Detainees from Prisons in Their Districts." Sarah Mendelson describes Republican objections to relocating Guantánamo detainees to their districts as "a red herring" in this story by the Guardian. February 17, 2009.

"4 Cases Illustrate Guantánamo Quandaries." Sarah Mendelson is quoted arguing that the process of reviewing files, marshaling evidence, and finding countries willing to take Guantánamo detainees who can be released should start now, in this story for the Washington Post.  February 16, 2009.

“Guantánamo closing author assails 'bloody mess.'”   Sarah Mendelson and her work on closing Guantánamo are featured in this story in the Cornell Chronicle.  February 12, 2009.

"Leavenworth, Kansas Eyes Guantánamo Warily." Sarah Mendelson argues against relocating Guantánamo detainees to prisons and proposes that they instead be held in pretrial detention facilities previously used for terrorist suspects, on NPR's All Things Considered. February 10, 2009.

"Lawmakers: Guantánamo Detainees Should 'Keep Out.'" Sarah Mendelson says Guantánamo detainees should be sent to pretrial detention facilities, not prisons, in this article by the Associated Press. February 2, 2009.

"Promises to Keep." Closing Guantanamo: From Bumper Sticker to Blueprint is cited in this story in the Economist.  January 29, 2009.

"Closing Guantánamo was Easy Compared to What Comes Next." Sarah Mendelson is quoted by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, arguing for either the release/transfer or prosecution of all Guantánamo detainees. January 25, 2009.

"Guantánamo Detainees in Limbo." Closing Guantánamo: From Bumper Sticker to Blueprint is cited in this story on CBSnews.com. January 25, 2009.

"Where Will Detainees From Guantánamo Go?" Sarah Mendelson is quoted discussing the possibility of trying Guantánamo detainees in U.S. courts in this story in the New York Times. January 23, 2009.

"The Risks of Releasing Detainees." Closing Guantánamo: From Bumper Sticker to Blueprint is cited in this discussion on the New York Times'  blog "Room for Debate." January 23, 2009.

"The Start of Gitmo Closure." Sarah Mendelson discusses closing Guantánamo and the fate of its detainees on Minnesota Public Radio's Midmorning. January 23, 2009.

“President Obama Orders Guantánamo Prison Closed.” Sarah Mendelson calls President Obama’s executive order to close Guantánamo "a great first step" in this interview with PBS’s World Focus. January 22, 2009.

“Obama Uses Executive Power To Alter Bush Policies.” Sarah Mendelson discusses President Obama’s executive order to close Guantánamo in this story on NPR.org. January 22, 2009.

“Problems with Closing Gitmo.” Sarah Mendelson warns against simply relocating Guantánamo following President Obama’s executive order to close down the detention facility on CNN’s The Situation Room. January 22, 2009.

“Obama Signs Executive Order To Close Guantánamo Bay.” Sarah Mendelson discusses the remaining detainees in this Huffington Post story. January 22, 2009.

“Obama’s Third Way on Gitmo.” Sarah Mendelson is quoted in this MSNBC.com story on President Obama’s executive order to close Guantánamo. January 22, 2009.

Sarah Mendelson was interviewed on CBS Radio (mp3) to discuss the effectiveness of the U.S. criminal justice system in trying international terrorists. January 22, 2009.

“Obama's Guantánamo Challenge.” Sarah Mendelson argues that the risks involved in keeping Guantánamo open far outweigh those run by its closure on this episode of BBC’s The World January 21, 2009.

“Gitmo’s Future.” Sarah Mendelson appeared on CNN’s NewsRoom to discuss closing Guantánamo. January 21, 2009.

"Closing Guantánamo." Sarah Mendelson participates in an extended interview on the future of Guantánamo on Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Sunday Edition.  January 18, 2009.

“Risk Worth Taking.” Sarah Mendelson is quoted in this Guardian editorial that argues against indefinite detention. January 15, 2009.

"Expert Urges U.S. Trials for Guantánamo Suspects." Sarah Mendelson advocates for the trial of Guantánamo detainees in U.S. courts in this edition of National Public Radio's All Things Considered. January 15, 2009.

"Tortured 9/11 Suspect May Never Be Prosecuted: Pentagon Official." Sarah Mendelson is quoted in this AFP article on terror suspect Mohammed al-Qahtani. January 15, 2009.

“Guantánamo, 7 años de escándalo” ("Guantánamo, Seven Years of Scandal"). Sarah Mendelson is quoted in this Spanish language article by EEF. January 14, 2009.

Sarah Mendelson appeared on CBS Radio (mp3) to discuss her report Closing Guantánamo: From Bumper Sticker to Blueprint. January 13, 2009.

“Obama’s Plan to Close Prison at Guantánamo May Take Year.” Sarah Mendelson is quoted in this article on President-elect Barack Obama’s plan to issue an executive order closing Guantánamo on his first day in office and his assessment that the closure process will be long and challenging. New York Times. January 12, 2009.

“Dutch Keep Doors Closed to Guantánamo Detainees.” Sarah Mendelson discusses the need for European assistance in dealing with the release of Guantánamo detainees in this article in NRC Handelsblad (Netherlands).  January 9, 2009.

“European Countries May Take Detainees.” Sarah Mendelson discusses the Obama administration and its need for future European cooperation in order to effectively close Guantánamo in this Washington Post article. December 23, 2008.

“Obama's Role in Prosecuting Guantánamo's Prisoners.” Sarah Mendelson addresses the likelihood that Europe will resettle Guantánamo detainees and the role the Obama administration will play in this interview with PBS’s World Focus.  December 23, 2008.

“A Toxic Legacy.”  Sarah Mendelson discusses Barack Obama and the need for his administration to opt back into the international system in this Guardian story. December 4, 2008.

“Sun Yet to Set on Guantánamo.” Sarah Mendelson is quoted in this AFP story that appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald. November 24, 2008.

“Close Guantánamo Prison? Sure. But That's The Easy Part.” USA Today cites the CSIS report “Closing Guantánamo: From Bumper Sticker to Blueprint” in this editorial arguing for the closure of the Guantánamo detention facility.  November 20, 2008.

"Closing Guantánamo Prison May Force New Rules for Trying Terrorists."  Sarah Mendelson and her CSIS report “Closing Guantánamo: From Bumper Sticker to Blueprint” are quoted in the Christian Science Monitor.  November 18, 2008.

“Post-Guantánamo Planning Under Way.” Sarah Mendelson was quoted in this article by United Press International. November 18, 2008.

“Obama’s 250 Tough Calls.”  Sarah Mendelson discussed “Closing Guantánamo: From Bumper Sticker to Blueprint” with author Stuart Taylor for this Newsweek piece on Guantánamo and its detainees.  November 15, 2008.

Sarah Mendelson discusses closing Guantánamo on Radio Times (mp3) on WHYY radio.  November 12, 2008.

“Les deux candidats à la Maison Blanche d'accord pour fermer Guantanamo” (“The two White House candidates agree over the need to close Guantanamo”).  “Closing Guantánamo: From Bumper Sticker to Blueprint” is discussed in this Le Monde story (archived). October 7, 2008.

"Guantánamo Bay."(mov) Sarah Mendelson discusses the prospects for closing Guantánamo on BBC's World News Today.  July 17, 2008.

"Experts: Harsh Interrogation Methods Strain US Image, Endanger Soldiers." Sarah Mendelson is quoted by Agence France-Presse in this article on detention and interrogation. June 18, 2008.

"After Guantánamo: Next U.S. President to Face Tough Decisions." Sarah Mendelson discusses the challenge facing the next administration in creating a new detainment policy in this Agence France-Presse article. June 15, 2008.