GOP senator says U.S. should consider closing Guantanamo prison

[maddezmom]

By Marc Caputo, Carol Rosenberg and Frank Davies, Knight Ridder Newspapers
1 hour, 53 minutes ago


KEY WEST, Fla. - Sen. Mel Martinez, who served in President Bush's first Cabinet, on Friday became the first high-profile Republican to say that the Bush administration should consider closing the Guantanamo Bay prison camp for suspected terrorists.

Speaking to a meeting of the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors in Key West, Martinez called the camp "an icon for bad news."

"At some point you wonder the cost-benefit ratio: How much do you get out of having that facility there?" Martinez said. "Is it serving all the purposes you thought it would serve when initially you began it? Or can this be done some other way a little better?"

~snip~

It's unclear whether the administration is seriously considering closing the prison camp or what impact Martinez's comments would have on the debate, but his comments give a rare bipartisan push to an issue that until now has been mired in partisan rancor.

~snip~
more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/krwashbureau/20050610/ts_krwashbureau/_bc_congress_detainees_wa

[IChing]

1. Not until a real international tribunal investigates it as it is

then close this gulag..........

[havocmom]

2. Wanna bet where they will open up a new, secret base to carry on

there traditions at? Ya know they aren't about to suddenly clean up their act and rejoin lawful society.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. Exactly, Misunderestimator and I were discussing this the other day

If Martinez is now promoting this it is because those Gulfstream jets are already in place and ready to transport prisoners to places where they can torture with impunity.

[funflower]

6. Let's see, Bagram or somewhere near Cairo?

:shrug:

[rexcat]

3. If they close Gitmo they will...

transfer them to some secret detention facility and the detainees will be off the radar screen. This is a no win situation. What needs to happen is an international tribunal to bring the real criminals to justice (aka Bush*, et el).

[Jade Fox]

5. "An icon for bad news". Gee, can you smell the compassion....

eminating from this statement? Hey, its bad publicity, so let's cut and run!

Oh well, at least one rat is jumping ship, regardless of the reason.

[AlCzervik]

7. I think Mel is advocating the outsourcing of it rather then showing actual

concern .
"At some point you wonder the cost-benefit ratio: How much do you get out of having that facility there?" Martinez said. "Is it serving all the purposes you thought it would serve when initially you began it? Or can this be done some other way a little better?"

I think that quote pretty much covers it.

[Al-CIAda]

12. Yes it does. n/t

[jazzjunkysue]

8. Proof we've got them on the defensive. It's about friggin time!

:toast:

[wakeme2008]

9. (Sen)Martinez joins call for examination of Gitmo(Fri news dump- sup Biden

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/06/11/State/Martinez_joins_call_f.shtml

Martinez joins call for examination of Gitmo

In remarks Friday the Florida senator also calls for more focus on Latin America and laments Iraq progress.

By wire services
Published June 11, 2005

KEY WEST - U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez said Friday that the Bush administration should consider Sen. Joseph Biden's suggestion to shut down the U.S. military's prison camp on Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

He also criticized the administration and Congress for paying little attention to growing Latin American problems and lamented the slow progress in Iraq.

Biden, D-Del., made his remarks this week in the wake of a Pentagon report detailing incidents in which U.S. guards desecrated the Koran.

....more at link


Wonder if Bill O will cover this...

[DRoseDARs]

10. Probably will, by saying both senators got the idea from him. n/t

:puke:

[struggle4progress]

11. kick

[krystine]

13. Senator suggests shutting down Guantanamo Bay prison

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) — Sen. Mel Martinez said the Bush administration should consider closing the Guantanamo Bay prison for terrorism suspects — the first high-profile Republican to make the suggestion.

Sen. Mel Martinez, who strongly supported Bush's efforts in Iraq during his campaign last year, expressed concerns about progress in the war.

"It's become an icon for bad stories and at some point you wonder the cost-benefit ratio," Martinez said Friday. "How much do you get out of having that facility there? Is it serving all the purposes you thought it would serve when initially you began it, or can this be done some other way a little better?"



http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-06-11-mel-martinez-gitmo_x.htm