Ethical Issues In Guantanamo Bay
Because Guantanamo Bay is completely controlled by the U.S. but not actually a part of the United States, laws including any regarding human rights ceased to apply there (Friedman 82). According to Ardiente, this may be what justified military personnel or others working there to interrogate the way they did. Military doctors have admitted to giving information about detainees’ mental health in order to use it for cooperation of manipulation; the Pentagon has denied such claims (Ardiente 2). Due to the climate-controlled isolationist environment in Guantanamo Bay, the camp has been labeled as a breeding ground for madness (Glaberson 1). In 2008, Salem Ahmed Hamden became the first prisoner from Guantanamo Bay to ever be tried for war crimes;
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In 2005, the Pentagon approved a law stating that physical or mental torture is prohibited for any prisoners in military custody (Herman 114). In 2013, there were approximately 160 prisoners left in Guantanamo Bay; from February to May there arose a hunger strike among them (Stockdale 2). According to Stockdale, President Obama received this news on May 23, and renewed his efforts in closing the prison (2). He attempted to close Guantanamo Bay since the beginning go his election, but failed numerous times. In the Duration of the camp’s existence, Obama was able to release 72 detainees, and President Bush indirectly released 532 prisoners, all to third world countries under the Bush administration (Stockdale 2). Also, there was a Military Commissions System put in place in 2006 in order to speed up the process of being tried; this worked well in theory but ended up having prisoners convicted and put back in prison quicker (Greenburg 3). Currently, only seven detainees have been convicted (Greenburg 3). Lastly, in 2003, the Pentagon put a new set of interrogation methods into effect, 24 new methods and 17 methods from the old manual (Friedman 113). These new interrogation methods are in effect today and meant to not violate any human rights (113). If any guards or military officials do act up, they are also subject to disciplinary actions (Friedman
In 2005, the Pentagon approved a law stating that physical or mental torture is prohibited for any prisoners in military custody (Herman 114). In 2013, there were approximately 160 prisoners left in Guantanamo Bay; from February to May there arose a hunger strike among them (Stockdale 2). According to Stockdale, President Obama received this news on May 23, and renewed his efforts in closing the prison (2). He attempted to close Guantanamo Bay since the beginning go his election, but failed numerous times. In the Duration of the camp’s existence, Obama was able to release 72 detainees, and President Bush indirectly released 532 prisoners, all to third world countries under the Bush administration (Stockdale 2). Also, there was a Military Commissions System put in place in 2006 in order to speed up the process of being tried; this worked well in theory but ended up having prisoners convicted and put back in prison quicker (Greenburg 3). Currently, only seven detainees have been convicted (Greenburg 3). Lastly, in 2003, the Pentagon put a new set of interrogation methods into effect, 24 new methods and 17 methods from the old manual (Friedman 113). These new interrogation methods are in effect today and meant to not violate any human rights (113). If any guards or military officials do act up, they are also subject to disciplinary actions (Friedman