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On the recordJune 6, 2007
on Monday, military judges dismissed the cases against the only two men to have been charged with a crime still being held at Guantanamo Bay. This legal impasse creates an imperative for Congress to address the legal black hole that we have created at Guantanamo. There have been almost 800 people sent to Guantanamo. There are 385 left; and, of those 385, only 80 will be charged and tried with a crime. Now, that means that 90 percent will not even be charged and tried, but it will take more than a decade even to try those 80 people, given the island's remote location. In fact, there's only one courtroom there. Mr. Speaker, every day that we keep Guantanamo open, we damage our credibility and we lose ground in the global war on terror. Congress has an opportunity to change this wrong-headed policy, and we can do so by shutting the facility down and transferring the detainees to the U.S. military brig system. There they will still be under lock and key but also have the right to a fair and speedy trial. The United States is a country that should stand for justice and be governed by the rule of law. Our policy should reflect our values. Guantanamo does not.
Said by
James Moran
Virginia

Editor's note · Context

Addressing the legal issues surrounding detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

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