Can anyone make a strong case for Gitmo?

[Utah]

I supported Gitmo at the start of the Afghan war and it made sense to me during a war. However, I am pretty appalled that it has turned into a permanent station. I guess I was pretty naive as to the Bush team's intentions.

Additionally, I am shocked at how many prisoners have died in U.S. custody. I support torture is certain situations but the senseless death of prisoners and the rampant abuse of prisoners is intolerable. A few deaths can be attributed to rouge soldiers. However, the level of deaths and abuse have risen to a point that it points to the highest levels of the Bush Administration for not putting in place proper controls or for supporting the abusing.

Friedman wrote this week that Gitmo should be closed. While I found his arguments weak, I found the defenses of Gitmo even weaker.

Can anyone make a good case for gitmo or can anyone point to a good article is support of Gitmo?

[benfranklin]

[ QUOTE ]
I supported Gitmo at the start of the Afghan war and it made sense to me during a war. However, I am pretty appalled that it has turned into a permanent station. I guess I was pretty naive as to the Bush team's intentions.



[/ QUOTE ]

As in any administration, and any bureaucracy, the intentions are soon lost in the execution.

While I agree in principle with the Gitmo tactic, it's present usefulness has to be close to zero. Most of the guys they have locked up there were low level to begin with, and whatever information they have is unlikely to be true anymore. Throw them over the fence into Cuba put the troops to work doing something useful.

[RR12]

Do you feel safe releasing the detainees? I'm really not sure what the answer to do is, but the press would turn around and hammer the administration if they released one of the guys and they turned out to be involved in a future terror incident.

[vulturesrow]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm really not sure what the answer to do is, but the press would turn around and hammer the administration if they released one of the guys and they turned out to be involved in a future terror incident.

[/ QUOTE ]

which has already happened.

[whiskeytown]

being wrongly imprisoned for 3 yrs. wouldn't make someone mad at us, would it? -

we're the assholes creating terrorists - in Iraq and everywhere....jesus -

RB

[vulturesrow]

[ QUOTE ]
being wrongly imprisoned for 3 yrs. wouldn't make someone mad at us, would it? -

we're the assholes creating terrorists - in Iraq and everywhere....jesus -

RB

[/ QUOTE ]

Ahhhh, the old "we are creating terrorists" canard, one of my favorites. Can you provide any statistical or empirical basis for that statement or anything that brings that assertion above the level of theory?

[jaxmike]

[ QUOTE ]
being wrongly imprisoned for 3 yrs. wouldn't make someone mad at us, would it? -

we're the assholes creating terrorists - in Iraq and everywhere....jesus -

RB

[/ QUOTE ]

Because the people that attacked us on 9/11 and the first WTC bombing were really pissed about the Abu Gharib (sp) "scandal", the "abuses" at Gitmo, and our "illegal" war against Iraq.

[Utah]

I dont think it is a gitmo vs. release them equation. Why cant we prosecute them? Why cant they have access to lawyers? etc.

I am VERY uncomfortable with our government imprisoning people indefintely without any trial. That is a very bad precedent and I believe they are also doing that to american citizens - which is an awful violation of a constitutional rights.

[Cyrus]

The point is "getting used to it".

I'll let others elaborate.

[Utah]

I guess I would make an exception - anyone using the phrase, "I'll let others elaborate" should be thrown in gitmo.