Flip Flop

It wasn't too long ago that the White House indicated a desire to shut the prison at Guantanamo Bay down because it was such a lightning rod for international and national condemnation. The inmate population at the prison was gradually being reduced as some of the "less dangerous" detainees were being released to their home countries. Now, however, the closure of that prison seems far less likely as the 2008 elections approach. The President doesn't want the Democratic-led 110th Congress to "micromanage" detainee policy and the GOP presidential candidates are trying to out-macho each other on the campaign trail using the issue. From today's Los Angeles Times:

A lightning rod for international criticism, the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, not long ago appeared headed for closure. President Bush and his top advisors said they wanted to shutter the controversial lockup.

But the latest attempt to shut it down is facing collapse: The detention facility has been embraced by many Republicans as a potent political symbol in their quest to seize the terrorism issue ahead of next year's elections.

GOP presidential candidates have jockeyed to demonstrate their support for the prison. One candidate has called for doubling its use. Another praised the menu and health plan offered to detainees.

The Senate Republican leader has accused Democrats of wanting to move terrorists "into American communities."

And the president, who last year told German television that he "would like to end Guantanamo," is now threatening to veto any move to "micromanage the detention of enemy combatants."

"It's a Republican litmus test this year," complained Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, one of the few GOP lawmakers calling for the swift closure of Guantanamo.

"The Republican Party has won two elections on the issue of fear and terrorism," Hagel said. "[It's] going to try again." [Emphasis added]

Indeed, Sen. Hagel, that does seem to be the plan. Just how much terra! terra! terra! figures into the election seems clear from the candidates' speeches.

At the GOP presidential debate in South Carolina in May, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney called for doubling the size of Guantanamo and continuing the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" on detainees.

"I want them in Guantanamo, where they don't get the access to lawyers they get when they're on our soil," Romney said.

In September, former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani won applause at a GOP presidential debate in New Hampshire when he derided calls to close Guantanamo. He compared those urging such a move to judges who "would release criminals into the street."

At the same debate, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-El Cajon), the former chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, mocked the suggestion that detainees were being mistreated at Guantanamo.

"Those guys get taxpayer-paid-for prayer rugs," Hunter said. "They have prayer five times a day. They've all gained weight. The last time I looked at the menu, they had honey-glazed chicken and rice pilaf on Friday."

Yep, those are some real good reasons for keeping that facility open and functioning. God forbid the detainees actually have access to lawyers in their defense, and, hey, they probably also get a fruit cup to top off their Friday's dinners.

Frankly, I think the American people are now beginning to see there's more to be afraid of than another terrorist attack, at least I certainly hope so.