Poll of the Day > Amnesty asked the US to close Guantanamo Bay? What do you mean it is still open?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I am a bit startled right now. Honestly thought it was closed years ago, what is it doing still being open?

Also, had to substitute an with an a in the title since GF was not allowing me to post it otherwise...

No of course they're not going to close

They are however building courtrooms so the people that have been detained there for 20 years might strand trial one day!

"Detained" is really underselling it...

Obama made an attempt and did drastically reduce the number of prisoners, but he faced opposition that made closing it difficult. Trump signed an executive order to keep the camp open, but Biden can pretty much just reverse that and he has already said he intends to close it before the end of his term, although he'll likely face some of the same opposition Obama did.

America loves committing human rights atrocities and saying they're the "good guys"

rjsilverthorn posted...

Obama made an attempt and did drastically reduce the number of prisoners, but he faced opposition that made closing it difficult. Trump signed an executive order to keep the camp open, but Biden can pretty much just reverse that and he has already said he intends to close it before the end of his term, although he'll likely face some of the same opposition Obama did.

What the hell is he waiting for?

Or, like, America could withdraw from Cuba

actually... it's kinda weird that sanctions and occupation of Cuba are still going on when the Soviet Union doesn't EXIST any more

Does Amnesty actually hold the power to force America to do that?

I'm not saying it shouldn't be closed (it should). I just didn't think that they had the power to actually DO that.

Nichtcrawler X posted...

Honestly thought it was closed years ago, what is it doing still being open?

Obama tried to close it and was thwarted by congress. Trump wanted it open and actually wanted to send *more* people there. Most of the people who are still there are stuck in this American catch-22 - there's not enough evidence to prosecute or convict them of any crime, but they're still considered too dangerous by the American military to be released. They're kept in Guantanamo because it's not on US soil and is therefore not subject to US laws about fair and speedy trials and bans on indefinite incarcerations.

Unbridled9 posted...

Does Amnesty actually hold the power to force America to do that?

"Force"? No, no body or group in the world has the power to "force" America to do anything. But they're not forcing, they're asking.

darkknight109 posted...

Trump wanted it open and actually wanted to send *more* people there. Most of the people who are still there are stuck in this American catch-22 - there's not enough evidence to prosecute or convict them of any crime, but they're still considered too dangerous by the American military to be released. They're kept in Guantanamo because it's not on US soil and is therefore not subject to US laws about fair and speedy trials and bans on indefinite incarcerations.

Almost makes it sound like the US is playing a game of chicken with the UN and I know who would lose that one...

Lynyrd_Skynyrd posted...

What the hell is he waiting for?

Congress blocked Obama. They'll probably block Biden too.

Nichtcrawler X posted...

Almost makes it sound like the US is playing a game of chicken with the UN and I know who would lose that one...

The United Nations are that incompetent?

Revelation34 posted...

The United Nations are that incompetent?

The UN are the type that would win the game of chicken by powersliding next to the cliff edge... and then casually get out of their car and off the cliff