What to do about the Guantanamo detainees?
One of the most publicized decisions President Obama has made since taking office has been his order to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. It was a decision that was heralded by most of the world, as the prison is very unpopular, and by the liberals in this country. Many saw it as the first step in removing the stigma of George W. Bush and letting the rest of the world know that things were going to be different. As it turns out, the deadline for closing Guantanamo is almost certainly going to be missed and President Obama acknowledged that fact yesterday.
President Obama is faced with a very tricky political decision. His far left base wants Guantanamo shut down, but he faces opposition, even from the Democratic majority in Congress. They have resisted moving prisoners to the United States, even under maximum security conditions. A lot of people seem to agree that closing Guantanamo Bay is the right thing to do but they can’t seem to agree on how to get it done. The first order of business surely has to be the fate of those who are detained there and it has been that decision that has been the major sticking point in closing the prison.
Much of the delay if closing the prison has to do with one question. What to do with those being held who are deemed to be no threat? I wrote about this earlier, concerning the detention of prisoners from China who from all accounts, were in the wrong place at the wrong time and were detained through no fault of their own. The Obama administration has been negotiating with other countries to accept some of the prisoners, but very few have been placed so far. The Uighurs from China have been released to Bermuda and Palau, but most others are still at Guantanamo.
There has to be a reason other countries will not accept these prisoners, even though they seem to pose no threat and I have to wonder if it is not the failure of our country to accept even the Uighurs. In the article I linked to above, I questioned the wisdom of allowing those men into our country to start new lives, especially if the American taxpayer was going to carry the tab, but I wonder if I was correct. If we were not willing to step up to the plate on this issue, how can we expect the rest of the world to do anything but follow our lead.
I find it quite unbelievable that any of these prisoners “cause no threat.” I don’t for one second believe that the military would hold on to them for no reason. It’s not how the military works. The military’s purpose and motivation is to protect Americans from any further threats, so if these men are still there, they pose some sort of threat.
I find it interesting to watch Obama’s rhetoric constantly butting heads with his actions. He repeatedly takes a “strong” stance on a position only to later be unable to fulfill that promise for some odd reason. As our President and Commander-in-Chief, I find that disconcerting.
Dominique´s last blog ..more than 5.5 MILLION "we the people" PINK SLIP CONGRESS!
Little doubt about it GITMO will be closed sometime in the future and some detainees will be moved to various places in the U.S. Of course I appose such a move as I believe it will bring some danger to the homeland. No the prisoners will not escape from those Max. Prisons, but the cities where they are located could eventually suffer some kind of attack from a lone radical muslim or some radical Islamic group. The odds of such an event happening at GITMO are slim to none. And as Sen. Graham said yesterday we have never, never given battlefield detainees full constitutional rights—bringing them here will almost guarantee that.
Ron Russell´s last blog ..Muslims in Prison
I agree with Dominque on this one, I don’t believe that anyone held in GITMO poses no threat. They were picked up on the battlefield fighting against us. I would just assume keep GITMO open, I think that is the best place for them.
I agree with you that this offers Obama a tricky political decision, I think that he signed the executive order to close GITMO to appease the far left without properly coming up with a plan, he is now paying for that decision.
Mr Pink Eyes´s last blog ..Climate change will turn women into prostitutes