The problem with the "Gitmo Causes Terrorism" Argument

[Ziggurat]

Of course it does.

Not around here, that's for damned sure.

Why do you think all those middle eastern countries have secret police and the like? Because their citizens love them so much?

One of the tasks of secret police is making sure that such things don't get much attention.

 

[Ziggurat]

Talk about stating the bleeding obvious...
Aside from that, what do you think?

I think parky is talking nonsense. The UN is by design an ineffective organization. Creating a UN-run prison won't accomplish anything (least of all any improvement in anyone's safety), and I don't see any rationale for the UN member states to agree to such a thing either.

We are able to think, and based on our thoughts, take appropriate action.

I don't see how any action we could take would lead to the creation of a UN-run prison.

 

[GreNME]

The problem with the "Gitmo Causes Terrorism" Argument

 

[geni]

Not around here, that's for damned sure.

And your local muslim population is how big?

Eh of course in the west we leave such matters to the bleeding heart liberals:

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-...abia-must-not-flog-75-year-old-woman-20091215
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE25/005/2009/en
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE17/002/2009/en
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE12/033/2009/en
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE19/006/2009/en
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE30/022/2009/en
http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media...ia-government-guilty-routine-torture-20081203

One of the tasks of secret police is making sure that such things don't get much attention.

Indeed. Which is another reason why Guantanamo Bay detention camp was bad idea. Creates a focus for resentment. Harder to do if prisoners are scattered in supermaxes across the US.

 

[Ziggurat]

And your local muslim population is how big?

By 'here' I mean this message board.

 

[marksman]

Everything the USA would do to fight terrorism would provoke the enemy and could be used as propaganda.

While true, not all things the USA would do to fight terrorism will be equally effective terrorism. Guantanamo has been a remarkably effective piece of propaganda, and thus is it makes sense to remove it, even on the grounds of counter-propaganda.

Perhaps Obama's decision vis-a-vis indefinite detention for the (soon-to-be-former) Gitmo detainees will continue to be used as an effective propaganda tool. Maybe it will be less effective for propaganda as Gitmo itself. Maybe, the new prison Obama wants the government to open will become just as or more reviled than Gitmo.

But we certainly should consider the counter-propaganda value of closing Gitmo as an effective strategy in diminishing recruitment efforts of terror groups who seek to attack the United States.