Writer Agrees With Keeping Gitmo Open

Much has been made by the Obama Administration of the alleged mistreatment of terrorists being held at the U.S. Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. President Obama wants to close the detention facility, and he has asked Congress for $80 million to pay the bill, but Congress, so far, has refused the funding – a sensible decision. So why does President Obama wish to close the facility? Politics. Mr. Obama is trying to make good on one of his ill-thought out campaign promises, although the closure, from an economic and national security perspective, would make no sense.

If there are problems at the facility, correct them. But don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. Closing the facility would waste millions of dollars by incarcerating terrorists in the U.S., while probably creating more security problems for America. We don’t need to move terrorists onto U.S. soil when we already have a facility at Guantanamo.

While Democratic Rep. Rick Boucher should understand the fallacy of Obama’s proposal, he continues to insist on supporting the political party line.

Republican Rep. Phil Roe has it exactly right: “Gitmo should remain open.” That’s elementary logic. But politics and logic are, far too often, poles apart.

Sam Lester
Tazewell, Va.