President Obama to State Department Employees

George Mitchell announced as new peace envoy to Middle East, as well as closing of Guantanamo.

clipped from www.washingtonpost.com The inheritance of our young century demands a new era of American leadership. We must recognize that America's strength comes not just from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from our enduring values. And for the sake of our national security and the common aspirations of people around the globe, this era has to begin now. This morning, I signed three executive orders. First, I can say without exception or equivocation that the United States will not torture.