The Guantanamo Problem

Recently U.S. District Judge John Bates ruled that the Obama Administration can continue to hold 'some' prisoners indefinitely without charges at the U.S. prison facility in Guantanamo Bay. This comes even as the U.S. Senate blocked the funds necessary to both fund the closure of Guantanamo (as President Obama has promised), and prevent the relocation of those unfortunates in the prison onto mainland United States.

As the Senate felt it necessary to specifically block the importation of 'detainees' to the United States, it would appear that the move of closing Guantanamo Bay is intended largely as a symbolic move to placate the American citizenry. The closure of the prison obviously doesn't mean that the indefinite, charge-less imprisonment of the inmates of Guantanamo will find reprieve.

However, if the Senate capitulates on funding and importing the 'detainees,' or if the Administration finds a loophole to exploit, then Guantanamo can be officially closed without effecting the release of those individuals presently held within its walls. The release of the 'detainees' is unlikely, we feel, as it would present a very uncomfortable situation for the U.S. Government:

Whether or not the inmates were actually part of any terrorist plot is immaterial, as they have gone through too much horrific treatment in the prison. Any testimony they might give, if they were released from prison, would be immensely damaging to the Government, as it would likely reveal the unlawful lengths to which anti-terrorism is taken by both the Bush and Obama Administrations.

These are all bad signs for the quality of leadership the United States has at present. Mr. Obama was elected to the presidency on a promise of change and transparency, two things which are desperately needed in this Depression. Closure of Guantanamo - and the release of its inmates - would be an excellent step in both saving the increasingly-unemployed American citizenry money, and repairing greatly-needed friendships across the globe.

In a broader analysis, the "war on terror" which spawned the Guantanamo prison is an even greater problem in the 2007 Depression. This "war" has become a monster; whatever benefit it may have once had has long since been eradicated. Instead, the "war" merely serves to sap the little remaining economic vitality in the United States, as well as undermining the morale of the citizenry, who increasingly appear to feel isolated and disempowered. These trends seem destined only to worsen the effect of the Depression on the U.S.