Guantanamo Bay Prison - Closing Gitmo

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The debate over whether to close Guantanamo Bay Prison (Gitmo) or not has gained the attention of our entire nation. The reason the subject has become such a hot button issue is due to fear and misunderstanding more than substantial concern. We hope this article helps to clear things up.

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Guantanamo Bay Prison - Closing Gitmo

President Obama made a campaign promise to stop torture and to close the Guantanamo Bay Prison Camp (Gitmo). The two issues are not one in the same though. Our nation is no longer waterboarding detainees for information. The closing of the prison camp is more for the purpose of putting to bed the errors of another era than anything else. As Obama states, Gitmo now serves as a powerful marketing tool for al-Qaeda's recruitment efforts.

If Guantanamo closes, prisoners will be transferred either to "Supermax Prisons" within the United States or to a new facility. These supermax detention centers have never seen a successful escape attempt, so you can sleep safely. Because of concerns that terrorists could influence other prisoners, and maybe serve to recruit an increasing number of home grown terrorists, the country may create a new special location here in the US for this purpose. Otherwise, we expect (and hope) these prisoners of war will be isolated from the general prison population.

The moving of these enemies of the state to US territory will likely help in their progress from a state of legal limbo to one more befitting of our Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and Constitution. Though the men in question are foreign born citizens, if we truly hold those truths to be self-evident, then we will try them fairly in a court of law. Human rights, after all, should always trump national interests. Otherwise, we have no right to dictate righteous cause to foreign nations while we live a lie.

There is some concern that fair trial might lead to the freedom of some of these men. In a court of law, some detainees may be found innocent or deemed to have served due time. A new question then arises as to where to set these potential threats free. After all, many already released Gitmo prisoners have proven themselves to be long-lasting threats to our nation. Besides, simply spending time in Gitmo could create a hardened terrorist where one never previously existed.

If we ask other nations to accept these hardened men, must we also accept them into our own country? I believe that since we represent the greatest target of terror, we should not be held up to the same repatriation standard.

If the detainees are released back to their homelands, they may be placed into situations where refusal to participate in the old life puts their own lives in danger. In any event, the detainees may be more likely to reenter (or enter) into a life of terror if sent home.

The US Senate voted to kill funding meant for the closure of Guantanamo at first pass. Feeling the concern of constituents, the Congressmen could not pass such legislation in good conscience without a more detailed plan regarding what the Administration will do with the detainees thereafter.

In another country and perhaps another time, these men may not have had lives for us to debate what to do with now. So, despite our failures, it seems we have found some wisdom with age. Men who have sought to do our great nation great harm may even eventually realize what a fair shake they received in the end. We owe it to ourselves to give them that. In cases where it is deserved, justice will still be served.


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