Line of Reasoning

Line of Reasoning

In wake of the current terrorist attack in Orlando there has been much controversy regarding ISIS and the terror within the U.S.  One important controversial subject has been the release of terrorists from Guantanamo bay.  When President Obama took office one of his campaigns promises was to close Gitmo.  The White house has tried to entice lawmakers by portraying the cost savings of closing Gitmo, they have calculated that it would cost $65 million to $85 million less per year to detain prisoners in U.S. facilities. (politico.com/gitmoclosure) An article on the CNN website projected the number of detainees in 2013 at approx. 166 current detainees with an average cost of 150 million a year or 900 thousand per prisoner, this cost is partially due because of the ratio of personal to detainee at a rate of 1 detainee from every 13 staff members.  The average cost of an inmate in a Federal Jail for the year of 2014 was $30,619.85 per inmate. (federalregistarannualcost.gov) The cost difference is clear and the numbers explain the thought process behind the closure as well as the cost savings to the tax payers.  However the major concern is the release of known terrorists back into society.  Among some of the terrorists released by the administration was Muhammad Salih Husayn al-Shaykh whom was an al-Qaeda member and openly threatened to kill Americans while detained.  Many of the detainees have been thought to return back to al-Qaeda since being released from federal custody.  Federal data has shown that the number of terrorists suspected of reengaging in terrorism has gone from 6 to 12.(www.dni.gov/files/documents/Newsroom/Reports%20and%20Pubs/Summary_of_the_Reengagement_of_Detainees_Formerly_Held_at_GTMO_Ma%204_2016.pdf) The number of terrorists that have been confirmed to have rejoined terrorist groups is 7.  A total of 118 of 676 former prisoners under president Obama and Bush are confirmed to be reengaging in terrorism, while another 86 are suspected. (washingtontimes/gitmoreleased)  “Based on trends identified during the past eleven years, we assess that some detainees currently at GTMO will seek to reengage in terrorist or insurgent activities after they are transferred,” the intelligence report said. “Transfers to countries with ongoing conflicts and internal instability, as well as recruitment by insurgent and terrorist organizations, could pose problems.”(Howell, 2016) 

Both sides of the argument contain valid and factual points both from government released information, however it does pose the questions at what cost do we release terror threats to save money.  Does the cost outweigh the consequence? This quote was from President Obama on February 23, 2016 “For many years, it’s been clear that the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay does not advance our national security -- it undermines it.  This is not just my opinion.  This is the opinion of experts, this is the opinion of many in our military.  It’s counterproductive to our fight against terrorists, because they use it as propaganda in their efforts to recruit.  It drains military resources, with nearly $450 million spent last year alone to keep it running, and more than $200 million in additional costs needed to keep it open going forward for less than 100 detainees.” Is President Obama fallacious on his belief that Guantanamo does not insure safety for the country?  The answers are never clear in politics, but one does pose the question of would the U.S. be a safer nation with Gitmo opened? Howee

Nick, G., & Austin, W. (2016, February 23). Obama announces plan for closing Guantanamo Bay prison. Retrieved June 16, 2016, from http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/obama-congress-guantanamo-bay-closure-plan-219663

What it costs to keep Guantanamo Bay open. (n.d.). Retrieved June 16, 2016, from http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/17/us/infographic-guantanamo-bay/

Dodd-Frank Wall Steet Reform 306 in the last year. (n.d.). Retrieved June 16, 2016, from https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/03/09/2015-05437/annual-determination-of-average-cost-of-incarceration

Howell, Kellan. "Number of Obama-released Gitmo Detainees Suspected of Returning to Terrorism Doubles: Report." Washington Times. The Washington Times, 8 Mar. 2016. Web. 16 June 2016.