Spring Break
The end of detention
It's time to clean up our prison system
Jason M. Wallace
Issue date: 1/29/09 Section: Opinion
Within his first week in office, President Barack Obama has ordered the CIA to start shutting down the detention center at Guantanamo Bay and secret prisons -- a good first step in undoing the effects of former President George Bush's administration's handling of terrorism. Within a year, the detainees at Guantanamo will either be released or prosecuted.
The decision to close the prisons is a smart first move for two reasons: First, many of the men in the prison are still awaiting their release. Others are past due for their prosecution. Second, the longer detainees wait for release or prosecution, the more America looks like an unrelenting combatant in the phased out war on terror.
Of the 245 detainees in Guantanamo, 60 are awaiting their release that was already approved by Bush. For the rest of the men, a quick review is needed for their possible prosecutions.
Although it isn't clear yet where the detainees will go once Guantanamo and the other prisons are closed, Obama is looking to other countries like Ireland, Portugal, France, Germany and Switzerland for support. A transfer to other countries would place the detainees in facilities that will take more responsibility in review and prosecution.
If there are 60 men awaiting release, then why haven't they been freed yet? Secondly, why were these 60 men sent to Gitmo in the first place? There should have been a better review committee before sending prisoners across the ocean -- where they would have to wait for a presidential approval for release.
Bush has tried to reassure the country that we shouldn't stoop to the terrorists' level of unethical treatment in order to prevail triumphantly. However, reports of torture have shown that those in charge are no better than the terrorists they are fighting. Along with the four suicides and hundreds of suicide attempts, the prison isn't suitable for American prisoners to serve time, much less detainees.
Hopefully, Obama's plan to shut down these prisons will extend some kind of notion that he is trying to redirect actions in order to find the real terrorists. Worldwide peace will probably never be established, but acts of peace will be the next best thing.
This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.
The decision to close the prisons is a smart first move for two reasons: First, many of the men in the prison are still awaiting their release. Others are past due for their prosecution. Second, the longer detainees wait for release or prosecution, the more America looks like an unrelenting combatant in the phased out war on terror.
Of the 245 detainees in Guantanamo, 60 are awaiting their release that was already approved by Bush. For the rest of the men, a quick review is needed for their possible prosecutions.
Although it isn't clear yet where the detainees will go once Guantanamo and the other prisons are closed, Obama is looking to other countries like Ireland, Portugal, France, Germany and Switzerland for support. A transfer to other countries would place the detainees in facilities that will take more responsibility in review and prosecution.
If there are 60 men awaiting release, then why haven't they been freed yet? Secondly, why were these 60 men sent to Gitmo in the first place? There should have been a better review committee before sending prisoners across the ocean -- where they would have to wait for a presidential approval for release.
Bush has tried to reassure the country that we shouldn't stoop to the terrorists' level of unethical treatment in order to prevail triumphantly. However, reports of torture have shown that those in charge are no better than the terrorists they are fighting. Along with the four suicides and hundreds of suicide attempts, the prison isn't suitable for American prisoners to serve time, much less detainees.
Hopefully, Obama's plan to shut down these prisons will extend some kind of notion that he is trying to redirect actions in order to find the real terrorists. Worldwide peace will probably never be established, but acts of peace will be the next best thing.
This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Shereen
posted 1/29/09 @ 1:12 PM EST
So you support the release of terrorists that killed over 3,000 of your fellow Americans and other men who did other crimes? What about those who will mourn the loss of a loved one because of them; don't they have a voice? I am glad that Judge Pohl declined Obama's request to halt the USS Cole's bomber today. (Continued…)
jimbo327
posted 1/29/09 @ 1:24 PM EST
Let them all go what harm could come from it?
The deputy leader of al-Qaida's branch in Yemen is a former Guantanamo detainee, according to a story in Friday's New York Times. (Continued…)
seriously??!
posted 1/30/09 @ 2:58 AM EST
Yeah, let's release the terrorists. Awesome idea!
Nice one, bamster.
stupid...
posted 1/31/09 @ 8:29 PM EST
if you think that it was a good idea for Obama to release terrorists that should have all been killed a long time ago, I say maybe you should spend a week in the shoes of a soldier in Iraq, and see how you feel about then. (Continued…)
Hmm
posted 2/01/09 @ 5:05 PM EST
I'm still wondering who turned up the volume on the College Republicans.
There are days I wish they, and their little Fuhrer Spalding, would just jump off a fucking bridge somewhere. (Continued…)
Heather
posted 2/02/09 @ 1:54 PM EST
If you read the article, it says:
Of the 245 detainees in Guantanamo, 60 are awaiting their release that was already approved by Bush.
Bush was the one that approved the release he just left it so Obama would look like the bad guy. (Continued…)
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