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Much was made last week about the Obama administration’s reversal on trying accused terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, using military commissions. Of course, the 2008 presidential election — which Mr. Obama won handily — had, in effect, been a referendum on the presidency of George W Bush. During that campaign, closing Gitmo and disbanding the military tribunals had been one of Barack Obama’s greatest symbolic promises, so the climb-down was highly significant.