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So President Obama has failed to close Guantanamo within one year.

It looks like he may never close it. Up to 50 prisoners remain designated too dangerous to release.

I think Gitmo is and has become a signal to the outside world that America is no better than other governments in terms of the rule of law and human rights.

So on that level I favor closing it........ Because actually the US is generally a shining example of democracy human rights, compared to most for the rule of law, freedom of the Press,....... blah blah.

So for PR purposes it would be good to close it.

Of course there is the slight problem that the guys contained there now probably are terrorists and might be a threat to innocent lives.

The Brits that were released appear to be at least be fellow travelers with terror but have never been charged or convicted of anything ...... they are probably taking up a pile of MI5 time...... it would be slightly lapse to allow one of those guys to be involved in actual terrorism and embarrassing after petitioning for their release.

It's a tricky one.

I would hate innocent people to be killed as a result of public relations.

I myself would have liked to see the place closed........ and some kind of due process for the people contained........... after all it is wrong for their containment to go on forever without any legal redress no matter who they are .........

It was a long time ago when I was there........ Some of the people are still incarcerated from back then......... and still have had no trial....... that can't be right.......

I notice the UK has gone to increased threat level............. As if they are expecting another attack....... On an airport or subway train......... or another bus packed with innocent Londoners.

Terrorism is vile. Terrorism is a genuine problem for free societies........

It's tricky.........Clearly Obama would like to shut the place........ but genuinely thinks he cannot risk it ....... or cannot risk it at the moment at least.

I shot the picture above on the boat back to the main base from Camp Delta the original holding facilitiy at Gitmo........ the US flag does not seem so clearly defined here....... even though the camp motto was "Duty Bound to Defend Freedom"

Cheers Jez XXXXXXXXXXXX

PS......... Here is a link to a new think piece on the missed closure anniversary by the BBC's Jon Manel........ I was with him at Guantanamo......... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8460183.stm

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