August 03, 2007

Guantanamo, The Day After

Faced with a number of judicial setbacks and increasing calls for its closure, the U.S. military's detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, faces an uncertain fate. The possibility of closing the facility has been batted around during presidential debates and, despite Vice President Dick Cheney's recent assurance that it would remain open, even President Bush has said he'd be open to abandoning Gitmo if a better alternative for holding terrorism suspects were presented.

But what would happen if some officials, from the Democratic leadership in Congress to former Secretary of State Colin Powell, had their way, and the detention center were closed today? What would happen to the terrorism suspects being held there, and the ones authorities might capture in the days, months and years to come?

National Journal's Corine Hegland explores the fascinating (and frightening) possibilities in the magazine's cover story this week. And in a related column (subscription), Jonathan Rauch sizes up where the 2008 presidential candidates stand on the issue.

(Photo: PH1 Shane T. McCoy, U.S. Navy)

Posted at 3:08 PM
Posted to: Guantanamo Bay
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