AMERICANS GETTING TOUGH

564 Words2 Pages

In a time that Americans are feeling very unsure about our safety, I fully agree with the

Patriot act, which was passed only six weeks after September eleventh. It is time we start

protecting America. The patriot act is crucial to national security.

I do not feel that the war on terror has opened the doors to abuse of civil rights of the

prisoners being held at Guantanamo Bay Naval base in Cuba. I feel that we need to be more

cautious of who we let walk our streets. We have to remember the visions of September

eleventh, they were not pretty and many innocent people died. Had we been more

cautious then on who we let into our country, we would not have been as vulnerable and the

incident of September eleventh might not have happened. If we detained some of these prisoners

for a long period of time, until we can be completely sure that they are not a threat to us

Americans, than so be it.

According to CNN.com prisoners at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base which is referred to as

“Camp x-ray” are provided with an eight-by-eight foot outdoor cell with a concrete floor, roof

and surrounded by a chain linked fence. On arrival they are given a mat to sleep on, a towel for

showers and a towel for praying . They are given soap, toothpaste, a toothbrush and they are

able to take a shower each day. They get served three meals a day with water. Two meals are

hot and one meal meets the Muslim religious requirements. On entry they are provided with

medical care. According to US Attorney General John Ashcroft, “They have the right food,

shelter and the right environment to avoid injury”.

I think we are providing these prisoners more comfort than the many homeless people

living in the United States. It is sad that we worry more about the prisoners who are a potential

threat to all Americans than we do for our own people who have been American citizens all of

their life. We need to get a grip on reality... this is war!

According to Eugene Fidell, these detainees who are labeled enemy combatants will be

able to have what is called a revue tribunal. The purpose of this will decide whether the

detainees qualify for this label. The board who will decide this is made up of three military

officers, people who had no prior involvement in the decision to label enemy combatants.

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