Public Comment

Almost 14 years have elapsed since President George W. Bush opened the United States camp at Guantánamo Bay in a hasty response to the September 11 attacks. Most of those interned had nothing to do with terrorism but were swept up on orders from the White House to demonstrate that progress was being made in the nebulous ‘war on terror’. The writ of Habeas Corpus and the Geneva Conventions were suspended and our government engaged in hideous acts of brutality (renditions, torture, assassinations, . .). No effort was made to exercise due process. Afghan tribal disputes were settled by persuading American military that their enemies were Taliban fighters in exchange for bundles of money. 

Many prisoners were force fed when they went on hunger strike, with the help of health professions who oversaw much of the abuse, but chose to remain silent. There is little doubt that the prison has radicalized many of the Afghan people and has severely tarnished our country’s claim to be a nation of laws, squandering more than $5.2 billion. 

President Obama made closing Guantánamo a major commitment during his first term in office but his promise remains unfilled. 

It is time to discharge the 53 men cleared for release and bring charges on the remaining 52 who have never been charged with a recognizable crime failing which they should be released immediately. Finally, the prison should be closed and Guantánamo Bay returned to its rightful owner - Cuba.