Guantanamo Bay: The Thorn in America’s Side

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They came for him at midnight. While in Pakistan, Abdule Salam Zaeef was arrested by Pakistani government officials and taken away from his wife and children, whom he was not able to see for approximately five years. Zaeef was a known member of the Taliban, but he had no leadership responsibilities, and had not taken part in any terrorist activity, having joined only for religious reasons. He was taken illegally with no evidence to support his arrest, and was handed over to the custody of the United States. After being transferred several times and enduring abuse and humiliation at the hands of his captors, he finally ending up in Guantanamo Bay. There he was held without trial, prosecution, or evidence for four years (Zaeef 1-25). These circumstances have become commonplace at Guantanamo in recent years. Despite claims, by the United States government, that Guantanamo enforces the security of both America and the world, the detention center should be shut down. Guantanamo should be shut down because it highlights America’s negative side, poses several risks against U.S. security, and creates stressed relations between the United States and its allies. Only one of the ways to prove these points is to take a look at Guantanamo’s rich history. Guantanamo Bay detention center, the result of America’s War on Terror, has sparked several international outcries over the years. Opened January 2002 by the Bush administration, it is used to hold those suspected of being a terrorist or those with connections to al-Queda or the Taliban (Fetini 1). It is located in Cuba on land that was leased to the U.S. for coaling and naval stations in 1903 (Agreement 1), and remains the only U.S. naval base in a communist country. Barack Obama campaigned... ... middle of paper ... ...ter-obama-vowed-to-shut-it-down-guantanamo-bay-remains-open-20140122>. Masters, Jonathan. "Closing Guantanamo?." Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, 09 Nov. 2011. Web. 8 Mar 2014. . O'Brien, Michael. "Obama: Guantanamo 'needs to be closed'." NBC News. NBC News, 30 Apr. 2013. Web. 8 Mar 2014. . Sweig, Julia E.. "The United States Should Give Guantánamo Bay Back to Cuba." Trans. ArrayCuba: Opposing Viewpoints. Farmington Hills: Greenhaven Press, 2013. 169-175. Print. United States. Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives . NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014. 2013. Web. .

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