Written by Andrew Morris
Biden announced last Friday he would seek to move prisoners from the terrorist detention facility in Guantanamo Bay.
This follows a decade-long debate regarding the facility and its merit in holding terrorists securely outside US soil. Both Obama and George W. Bush had stated their support for closing the detention center, yet both failed to close it down completely.
The director of the Security With Human Rights program at Amnesty International USA, Daphne Eviatar stated, “Nine people are currently cleared for release at Guantanamo and some have been cleared for more than a decade, yet they are still stuck.” She adds, “This is an outrageous and shameful violation of human rights. President Biden cannot have true credibility advocating for other countries to respect human rights if he does not prioritize closing Guantanamo.”
While the legality of the operation is questionable at best, the release of highly important terrorists to their home countries who are sympathetic to their cause. Specifically, Saifullah Paracha age 73 of Pakistan, who is considered the financial coordinator for the 9/11 attacks; Abdul Rabbani age 54 also of Pakistan, who housed and moved key members of Al Qaeda; and Uthman Abdul al-Rahim Uthman age 40, of Yemen, a former bodyguard to Usama Bin Laden.
These men have been held for 20 years without a trial, yet US Intelligence would undoubtedly reveal evidence convicting them of their atrocious crimes against the American people.
Currently, several Republicans have spoken out against moving the terrorists, including Texan Senator Ted Cruz, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and Jerry Moran of Kansas. All of whom joined in writing a letter to the President seeking an alternative solution.
The answer may not be as simple as it seems, however as there is no good alternative to Guantanamo. Americans do not want terrorists on US soil, but the potential for the men to get off easy at their local courts is appalling.
Currently, there are only 40 prisoners residing in the detention center. This being a massive decrease from the 680 prisoners held at the height of its use in 2003.
Several other terrorists who planned the 9/11 attacks still reside in Guantanamo, including five members whose cases have been stuck in the pre-trial proceedings since their capture.
As of yet, the White House has not released a statement regarding their final decision.
Photo via Department of Defense
