Competing Views on Combating Terrorism

{
  "authors": [],
  "type": "legacyinthemedia",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "",
  "programs": [],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "North America",
    "United States",
    "Middle East"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Political Reform",
    "Security",
    "Military"
  ]
}

In The Media

Competing Views on Combating Terrorism

Guantanamo remains the most powerful recruiting tool terrorists have, and though closing the facility poses numerous challenges, it is vital for U.S. national security.

Published on May 24, 2009

Source: VOA Encounter

As the Obama administration formulates a step-by-step plan to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, religiously-based rehabilitation programs used by Singapore and other countries could offer a solution for detainees who can be neither charged nor tried and will thus have to be released. In his May 21 national security speech, President Obama outlined the rationale for closing Guantanamo and preliminary steps toward that goal, responding to criticism from former Vice President Cheney and others that his decision to ban enhanced interrogation techniques and close Guantanamo within a year endanger American security.

In an interview with Voice of America's Carol Castiel, Will Dobson cautions that Guantanamo remains the most powerful recruiting tool terrorists have, and though closing the facility poses numerous challenges, it is vital for U.S. national security. The president’s speech also highlighted the difficulties of translating broad policy shifts into concrete action; each detainee’s case poses unique legal and logistical questions, and despite Congressional opposition, some detainees will have to be transferred to U.S. prisons.

Political Reform Security Military North America United States Middle East

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center

Commentary
Diwan
Lebanon Should Try to Place Hezbollah on the U.S.-Iran Table
As talks begin between Washington and Tehran, Beirut has an opening to advance a regional plan for the party’s disarmament.
Michael Young
Commentary
Diwan
Board Up Donald Trump’s Failed Board of Peace
What is behind Marco Rubio’s announcement that the body is now an international nongovernmental organization?
Zaha Hassan
Commentary
Diwan
Looking Past the Wall on Palestine-Israel
Policy discussion is ignoring that the Palestinian national project is hollowed out and apartheid is a present danger.
Nathan J. Brown
Commentary
Diwan
Israel’s Security Means Insecurity in the Middle East
As negotiations with Iran and Lebanon continue, chaos is at the heart of the Netanyahu government’s calculations.
Michael Young
Commentary
Diwan
Pushing Beirut into an Armed Conflict With Hezbollah Is Insane
The party’s domestic and regional roles have changed, so Lebanon should devise a disarmament strategy that encompasses this.
Michael Young

More Work from Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center