by Ted Sherman

Created on: May 13, 2008   Last Updated: September 09, 2008

Of course, the U.S. prison at Gitmo is a wrong operation, but not because of political reasons. It is wrong because it is just one more financial drain on American taxpayers in a war and gas-gouging economy that is already threatening to send the U.S. into a depression. And this one, in comparison, could make the 1929 crash look like a picnic.

Of course, except for Halliburton, weapons makers and Pentagon brass hat generals, just about every American wants the wasteful and useless war in Iraq and Afghanistan to stop. Who cares if it is set up so that the President lands on an aircraft carrier again and declares a mighty victory, or if he calls it something like a stalemate, negotiated peace or the Mad Hatter's Tea Party. Whatever the excuse, there's no reason why American troops are in those countries, where religious warfare has been ongoing for a thousand years, and is sure to continue for at least another thousand. The only difference after an American pull-out is that the religious freaks will be once again shooting at each other, instead of at GIs.

As for the so-called enemy combatants at Gitmo, each should have an immediate trial. Those who are declared guilty of killing GIs or innocent civilians should be sentenced to have necktie parties similar to the one that featured Saddam Hussein. If charges are not proved against them, they should be returned to their native countries. Some angry Americans would prefer that those guys be dropped from an aircraft at about 10,000 feet without a parachute.

However, that is a teeny bit drastic, though even more effective than waterboarding. However, isn't it way past time to cut those guys loose after, courtesy of the American taxpayer, they've enjoyed the best medical treatment, housing and food ever in their miserable lives? I wouldn't be surprised if some of them ask to stay and, if they still have suicidal tendencies, become New York taxi drivers.

Some of prisoners who have been released in the past five years have gone back to their gangs, resumed their terrorist ways or became suicide bombers. That doesn't mean we have to keep endlessly feeding their pals who are still in Gitmo. What else did the Pentagon expect? That they'd become model citizens and never jaywalk again? They're a worry, of course, but so are the five-year-old Palestinians and other children in Iran and Syria, who are being brainwashed now to become the next generation of terrorists and suicide bombers.

Learn more about this author, Ted Sherman.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.