by Carol Gioia

Created on: June 13, 2007   Last Updated: May 09, 2012

The debate over whether the military prison on Guantanamo Bay should be closed is moot.  On March 7, 2011 President Obama formally created an indefinite detention system at Guantanamo Bay.

Fifty of the 196 prisoners detained there have been deemed threats to national security and are apt to be incarcerated permanently.  Other prisoners continue to be tried, prosecuted or exonerated. 

Some of the prisoners incarcerated there have never been formally charged with a crime and have no hope of legal representation and the opportunity to prove their innocence This is not the American way.

Those in favor of closing the prison do not  necessarily advocate all prisoners being released. Individuals who are a perceived threat to our country could be imprisoned elsewhere, preferably on American soil, where rules of the Geneva Convention can be clarified, monitored and enforced.

Determining which prisoners are actually guilty of some infraction against the United States could be achieved by formally charging, bringing to trial, and thoroughly investigating each case in order to prove or disprove alleged crimes.

Detaining huge groups of people indefinitely, a mixture of guilty and innocent, is neither morally conscientious nor cost effective for our nation.  At the very least, it is hypocritical to have a prison controlled by our country where torture tactics are alledgedly practiced. A philosophy of interrogation by torture goes against our American moral code of ethics and is barbaric and unacceptable in the minds of most Americans.

Millions of dollars are spent to maintain a prison where detainees are deprived of legal representation and have no opportunity to debate their innocence or guilt in a court of law. This methodology is directly opposed to the American justice system.  While one could argue that the prisoners are not American and therefore not entitled to the benefits afforded by our justice system, the fact remains that our country is in charge of a place which potentially betrays our own moral values and codes of ethical behavior.

As Americans, we believe no individual should ever be denied their human rights under the constitution. Neither should we deny the human rights of others.

Since 9/11 certain facets of our government and military have enjoyed free reign to act in a questionable manner with regard to foreign prisoners under the guise of keeping us safe.  We might be much safer if we scupulously adhered to the rules of the Geneva convention, maintaining integrity in our interaction with other peoples of the world.

Perhaps with the abolishment of the prison at Guantanamo Bay we could dispell some of the doubt and suspicion the United States experiences from other nations.  Are we spending billions of dollars to reinforce these suspicions and doubts?

The prison at Guantanamo Bay has so much negative overtones and publicity connected with it, Keeping it operating is apt to be detrimental to our country's reputation as a humane nation with an agenda of justice for all.

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