Bush to close Guantanamo Bay?

Last Modified: 22 Jun 2007
By: Sarah Smith

George Bush contemplates the once unthinkable: closing Guantanamo altogether.

"Guantanamo Bay is an international disgrace that every day sullies America's reputation" - that's not the view of any pressure group, that's what a US congressman said yesterday about the US detention facility in Cuba.

Even the state department itself says the camp is a lightening rod for international criticism. As more and more senior figures are publicly demanding its closure. Even President Bush has said he would like to shut it down

It was to be considered at the highest level - a meeting including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the Defence Secretary, Homeland Security Chief and the Vice President.

Once the story leaked that the closures of Guantanamo Bay would be considered at today's meeting the issue was promptly take off the agenda. That's how sensitive the matter has become within the administration - because there is a major split round the table

The State Department is extremely sensitive about damage it does to America's reputation abroad, defense secretary Robert Gates is much more keen to see it closed than his predecessor Donald Rumsfeld - but the vice president Dick Cheney is still vehemently opposed.

If the prisoners were brought to America they could end up with the legal right to be tried or released. They could come Fort Levanworth - but won't necessarily be welcome

That's why the Deparment of Homeland Security doesn't want to bring into the country suspects they think pose a great threat to America

Dangerous or not - many can't be prosecuted after years in detention because there is little or no evidence against them

Others who are innocent can't be released because they have no where to go - and so far neither Britain nor any other European country will agree take them

America is still sending people to Guantanamo - an al-Qaida suspect arrived this week. They have tried to improve the regime - closing the notorious Camp X-Ray for instance.

But four suicides already this year will keep up the international pressure to close it entirely