by Daniel G. O'Leary

Created on: January 22, 2009   Last Updated: April 26, 2010

The question being asked by many is; "Should the U.S. close the military prison on Guantanamo Bay?" The quick answer; "yes"! There are numerous reasons why it should be closed, but before we go into those, something needs to be laid on the table; "transparency".

It's a new day in the U.S. of A. since Jan. 20, 2009, and President Obama was sworn into Office. He has pledged to make "transparency" a fact of life in government, and will "urge" those in the private sector to do likewise. Many of our countrymen applaud "the pledge" and "the appeal" (I am one), some do not. There are "some instances" (emphasis on "some"), like certain matters related to National Security that "should not" be "transparent".

As Americans, "we" generally have access to huge amounts of information on a daily basis. When "we" hear and read about many different topics, sometimes "we" as a group or as "individuals" get a "weird" or "awkward feeling" within us about what "we" just heard or read. It's at those moments, that "our" internal alarm system goes off, signalling to "our" minds and "our" hearts that "something is not right". Guess what? Most of the times "we" feel that way, it's true, something is "not" right. With that in mind, we can continue!

Guantanamo Bay Naval Station, located in Cuba, has been used by the United States Armed Forces for many, many years in many different ways. Its primary purpose has been to provide logistical support to the U.S. Armed Forces operating in the area; refueling planes and ships, resupplying "all" necessary supplies and equipment to naval ships, and "providing a refuge" for those found out on the seas by "our" ships and "asking for asylum". Depending upon the political climate of the time, the number of people found "out at sea and seeking asylum" was sometimes "great". Hence, why the facilities at Guantanamo were pretty large.

From the Naval Station, during the cold war, intelligence gathering was vital to the defense of America. When the cold war ended, that necessity was greatly diminished. As a matter of fact, when the cold war ended, the volume of logistical support required was also greatly diminished. As a result, by 2001, the base was pretty quiet. Of course "we" all know what happened next, 9-11-2001.

Of course "our" (America's) reaction was understandable and quite predictable; "we" wanted those responsible to be found, and brought to justice. While at the same time, "we" wanted everything that could possibly be done to prevent "another attack"

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