Closing the prison for unaffiliated combatants at the Guantanamo Naval Base does pose a serious problem: what to do with the current inmates (and any that may be captured in the future). The politicians—from both of the major parties—have not offered any suggestions that meet a common-sense test. Nor have the reporter-commentators from the semi-rational media. This absence of plans from any source gives us ordinary people an indication of the perceived seriousness of the problem.
Yes, the prisoners at “Gitmo” are different—probably far worse than most of the current residents of the federal super-max prison in Colorado. Somewhere around 15 – 20% of those released from the Guantanamo facility to date have rather quickly returned to their terrorist activities in Iraq, Afghanistan and vicinity: some to be recaptured, some to be killed in action, and a few to publish videos of their triumphant return to jihad. No wonder there are public safety concerns.
We are reminded frequently that although these captives may be worse than just rowdy boys, we must consider their “rights” (which opens up a distracting discussion of how to handle people who have no Geneva Convention status and no country, who deny all authority, and who obey nothing and no one). Clearly, this is a difficult problem, made more difficult by its breadth and its distractions.
Now is the time to remember what world-class problem-solvers tell us: often the most obvious solution is overlooked. Sometimes this is caused by the cost or unpleasant aspects of the obvious answer. At other times the best solution is ignored because it seems too simple.
When we release convicts by parole or by completion of sentence in the United States, we know from long experience that some fraction of those released will go back to commit other offenses. Therefore we have learned to expect and to tolerate the small fraction of recidivism—fifteen, twenty percent or whatever—that our experience teaches us. We should not be surprised to see the same small fraction of recidivism in released terrorists. But a bonus is that so far they have gone back to their own base of operations, far from the U. S.
We should just release the remaining prisoners on their own recognizance in a location where they would have the best opportunity to become normal, productive residents. The ideal location would be one where the citizens have displayed a high tolerance and a welcoming receptivity for people who have a different ethnicity, culture, language, color, or way of life. At their release they should be provided with somewhat more than we normally give paroled criminals released from our prisons, considering the circumstances of these particular parolees.
In the United States, there are several locations which meet the criteria for release of these alien prisoners . None is better than the northern California area around San Francisco represented by Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi. The breadth and depth of the tolerance of these Californians is well known, and their support for the former terrorists would be all but guaranteed.
Each released person should be provided with a full complement of new clothing, of whatever type and style the individual desires. Every one should be given $10,000 cash (for transportation to any location desired). All released combatants should, of course, receive unemployment and health care benefits. In addition, each should be provided with a package of hygiene, grooming, and other personal necessities.¹
In the warm and affirming environment of the San Francisco area, it might be within the realm of possibility that every single one would become a welcome addition.
¹ Personal Necessities: AK47; 250 rounds of ammunition; 10 hand grenades and grenade launcher; and a choice of 3 anti-personnel mines, 2 Claymore mines or a single 155mm artillery shell.
Tags: Captured Terrorists, Gitmo, Public Safety, Terrorist Rights
