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US Military (Other)

Should the US close the military prison on Guantanamo Bay?

Results so far:

Yes
52% 185 votes Total: 359 votes
No
48% 174 votes

We pride ourselves about our free liberal and democratic country and strongly stand up for our own human rights. Our legal system is based on the premise that you are innocent before you are guilty. If you just happened to in the wrong place at the wrong time, and were wrongfully accused of a crime you didn't commit, you will be presumed innocent and for serious offences a jury must unanimously find you guilty. However, throw the word "terrorist" in, and this whole concept is thrown out the window, and in comes Guantanamo Bay.

Many terror suspects in Guantanamo Bay, have been suspects for over 5 years, and have had no formal trial. Is there a possibility that some of the inmates could have merely been in the wrong place at the wrong time? The military tribunal processes, is not what you call democratic. In a normal court, the judge and jury must be convinced to the standard of "beyond reasonable doubt" that you are guilty before convicting. The judge must have no connection to the case, to give an unbiased hearing. In Guantanamo the military is the judge and the jury that must be convinced. I'll let you decide how objective this is, and how likely it would be from them to release a suspect and admit to a wrongful arrest.

What Guantanamo Bay has set up, could only be best described as a complete sham, as the process complete denies the due process that would be expected. Guantanamo Bay is notorious globally for torture and other breaches of basic human rights. The world is looking down on America, who is one minute preaching the need of democracy, and the next condoning torture, and arresting in a way contrary to the rights given to citizens of the country. Guantanamo Bay seriously weakens the credibility of George Bush's "War on Terror", and America itself, and should be closed before it does any more damage.

Learn more about this author, Matt McCormack.
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Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Should the US close the military prison on Guantanamo Bay?

Yes
  • 1 of 22

    by Jonathan Young

    Much like virtually every other Bush administration creation, Guantanamo Bay is an American embarassment, a symbol of...read more

  • 2 of 22

    by Les Jacobs

    Yes, because Guantanamo Bay is almost certainly holding innocent civilians behind bars. We know this because some, po...read more

No
  • 1 of 18

    by Ian Essling

    Guantanamo Bay is vital for the survival of our country. Each captured terrorist imprisoned there is one less threat...read more

  • 2 of 18

    by Lamont Webb

    I vote neither yes or no, on the subject of closing down Getmo. However, I would like to present one problem that I s...read more

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