The holding of detainees at Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba by the United States remains one of the most talked about political issues of the day. Our American political expert Lauren Rollheiser talks about the latest vote by the United States Senate on the controversial prison…
As part of his election in November 2008, President Obama campaigned heavily on the promise to close Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba, the US military prison built to hold terrorist suspects. Obama, along with a chorus of Democrats and some Republicans, have argued that the prison has left a black mark on the image of the US and stands in direct opposition to American ideals.
On Obama’s second day as President, he promised to close the prison by January 2010, with widespread support from liberals and moderates. Conservatives have remained in opposition to the policy.
Even with such widespread support within his own party, the senate voted Wednesday in an overwhelming 90-6 vote to deny funding needed to close the prison. Many opposing democrats sited fears for where terrorist suspects would be transferred to as the reason for their nay vote.
One senator, Dianne Feinstein of California, says of the prison “Guantanamo is used by al-Qaida as a symbol of American abuse of Muslims and is fanning the flames of anti-Americanism around the world”. Feinstein voted against the legislation.
President Obama has yet to establish a plan for where suspects would be transferred or which ones, if any, could be released.
The vote has resulted in a delay, but not an end to the policy. Congress will rework the legislation and will vote on it again as early as next month. Meanwhile, a presidential commission is responsible for drafting a plan for detainees.
Even among widespread support domestically and abroad for closing the prison, the specifics about where these detainees will be sent is fraught with controversy and is proving to be a huge stumbling block for the administration. The president has asked senators and foreign leaders alike to consider accepting some of the detainees. Nicolas Sarkozy of France remains the only foreign leader to officially commit to one detainee.
The debate over the the legitimicy of Guantanamo Bay has been renewed with this senate vote. Political commentators in favour of Guantanamo’s closing argue that those opposed are simply taking a “not in my backyard” approach and blame the opposition of fear baiting while commentators opposed to the closing argue the legitimacy of the concern. While many are in favour of closing the controversial site as a means to restore the United States in the eyes of the world, few are willing to accept the consequences.
President Obama addressed the United States last week in an attempt to settle fears about the transfer of terrorist suspects. It seems the American people have been operating on the defensive. After almost 8 years wrapped in feelings of imminent danger it is now time for the American people to think ratoionally about the very real threat of terrorism in the US and around the world. Hopefully Obama will be successful at calming our visceral response and allowing some reason and common sense to join the argument, without undermining or belittling the universal desire to put a stop to terrorist agenda. However, it is reasonable to expect some rational plan from the President before he is given the all clear and there seems to be world wide agreement that this is far from an open and shut case.
