In “Why hasn’t the Guantanamo Bay prison closed?” PBS Anchor Megan Thompson has a conversation with two correspondents which focuses on the political turmoil that has prevented the Guantanamo Bay prison from closing. The highlights of the conversation are about how the Republican controlled Congress likes the message the prison sends to the world, but the Democratic controlled White House wants to close the prison. In “Closing Guantanamo?” by Jonathan Masters, he discusses two possibilities for inmates at Guantanamo Bay: either charging and trying them for their terrorist acts or releasing them if they are no longer deemed dangerous to the nation. The author says Congress has currently categorized the inmates into three groups which include
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It seems that the government labels the prisoners as detainees to circumvent laws set forth by the United Nations. These laws say prisoners cannot be kept after a conflict has ended. I was also surprised to learn only ten detainees are actually on trial; therefore, the prison seems to be a waste of American taxpayer’s money because it is simply holding people. I am confused why Congress would like the image the prison sends to the world if that image does not align with American values of justice. In her article, “Let Them Go” the author, Rosa Brooks, suggests the prisoners should be released because they can no longer provide intelligence after ten years of incarceration. To me, it makes sense that the ten detainees on trial should come onto American soil to be put on trial in federal courts where there is a proven higher conviction rate. Congress is reluctant to move the prisoners onto American soil because this would give the prisoners rights guaranteed in the United States …show more content…
The government will not release the prisoners due to possible violations of the UN Convention against Torture, but it will willingly spend millions of dollars detaining prisoners without trial. The growth of abuse by the White House follows a trend of growing power in the executive branch since the introduction of the New Deal by President Roosevelt in the 1930’s. I think the Bush Administration took advantage of the fear that was prevalent among Americans after the 9/11 attacks; they used the fear as a means to create a prison outside the reach of our nation’s laws. Even if the prison was once effective, as pointed out in “Let Them Go” the inmates no longer have the connections they once did. Many of the plans they possibly knew of are now likely outdated, and their former contacts may not even trust them because they have spent the last decade detained by the American government. I do not understand Congress’ motives in keeping inmates who are not the threat they were ten years
It seems that the government labels the prisoners as detainees to circumvent laws set forth by the United Nations. These laws say prisoners cannot be kept after a conflict has ended. I was also surprised to learn only ten detainees are actually on trial; therefore, the prison seems to be a waste of American taxpayer’s money because it is simply holding people. I am confused why Congress would like the image the prison sends to the world if that image does not align with American values of justice. In her article, “Let Them Go” the author, Rosa Brooks, suggests the prisoners should be released because they can no longer provide intelligence after ten years of incarceration. To me, it makes sense that the ten detainees on trial should come onto American soil to be put on trial in federal courts where there is a proven higher conviction rate. Congress is reluctant to move the prisoners onto American soil because this would give the prisoners rights guaranteed in the United States …show more content…
The government will not release the prisoners due to possible violations of the UN Convention against Torture, but it will willingly spend millions of dollars detaining prisoners without trial. The growth of abuse by the White House follows a trend of growing power in the executive branch since the introduction of the New Deal by President Roosevelt in the 1930’s. I think the Bush Administration took advantage of the fear that was prevalent among Americans after the 9/11 attacks; they used the fear as a means to create a prison outside the reach of our nation’s laws. Even if the prison was once effective, as pointed out in “Let Them Go” the inmates no longer have the connections they once did. Many of the plans they possibly knew of are now likely outdated, and their former contacts may not even trust them because they have spent the last decade detained by the American government. I do not understand Congress’ motives in keeping inmates who are not the threat they were ten years