Joint Chiefs Chairman Wants Gitmo Closed
Via Outside the Beltway comes the news that “[t]he chief of the US military said he favors closing the prison here as soon as possible because he believes negative publicity worldwide about treatment of terrorist suspects has been ‘pretty damaging’ to the image of the United States.”
Admiral Mike Mullen said in an interview with three reporters yesterday: “I’d like to see it shut down.” Asked why he wants it closed down he explained: “More than anything else it’s been the image — how Gitmo has become around the world, in terms of representing the United States.”
“I believe that from the standpoint of how it reflects on us that it’s been pretty damaging,” he added.
I’m in complete agreement with the Admiral. Guantanamo Bay has hurt the American image more than most Americans realize. Even many liberals don’t truly, don’t fully, understand the damage it has done. If you’d talk to the average Europe about US policy, wait 2 minutes, and after that he or she will bring it up. Even someone like me, who’s fervently pro-American, will mention it in a very negative manner.
Of course Mullen’s words beg the question, as James Joyner notes: “Why, oh why, does the military hate America and want to see the terrorists win?”
