Calls to action for President Obama

President Obama needs to admit that the idea of holding the trial of Khalid Shiek Muhammid in Manhattan was a bad idea and change the venue to a military base, but still have it as a civilian trial with civilian jurists, and follow all the rules of our judicial system.

President Obama needs to defend the idea of FBI interrogations of all terrorists captured in the United States and give examples, of which we have plenty, the vast amounts of actionable intelligence we have gleaned from FBI interrogations, including the infamous Christmas Day underwear bomber, which we won't have, had we shipped him to Gitmo.

President Obama needs to remind the American people how quickly the Marine reinforcements that he sent to Afghanistan have won the all important Helmand valley including the ongoing assault on the Taliban bastion in Marjah. His administration has done more for Afghan security in one year than the previous administration did in eight years.

President Obama needs to remind the American people that his administration is on track to have all U.S. combat forces out of Iraq by August.

President Obama needs to make a major push for the federal government to buy the maximum security prison from the state of Illinois to transfer 100 or so inmates from Gitmo. Gitmo will be permanently closed as soon as these inmates are transferred to the facility in western Illinois to serve their life sentences.

Col. William Peterson

USMC, Retired

North Liberty