A Slim Majority Favors Obama's Order to Close Guantánamo Bay

The numbers behind Obama's order to close the Guantánamo Bay detention facility within a year

By U.S. News Staff

January 26, 2009 RSS Feed Print
  • 53: Percentage of Americans in favor of closing the Guantánamo Bay detention facility
  • 42: Percentage of Americans who think terror suspects should remain at Gitmo
  • 6 in 10: Americans think detainees should be put on trial in the regular court system
  • 750: Number of prisoners at Gitmo at its height
  • 245: Number of prisoners currently being held at Gitmo

Read more Data Points

Sources: Washington Post-ABC Poll, National Public Radio, Associated Press

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Guantánamo Bay

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I am all for closing closing Guantama bay. It's about time that people held in Guantánamo are not criminals, they are people being held prisoners because of their beliefs.seriously people, get a clue! This goes to show how ignorant white people are. had they had any interest whatsoever in politics and culture, they would have know this already. All the people in Latin America already knew this! Only the white people recently found out the truth about Guantanama Bay!! So they're like WOW, BIG SHOCK! yeah only to them. Anyway, I'm all for Obama. I'm hoping he'll also lift the embargo between the US and Cuba

anonymous of WV 5:36PM January 27, 2009

The people held in Guantánamo are not criminals, they are not POW, they are illegal combatants conducting terrorist activities around the world. What do you want to do give them the same rights as American citizens? Do you want to apply the Geneva Contention? They do not meet either classification. Their home countries want nothing to do with them.

I am all for closing down Guantánamo, but what are you going to do with them? How about we put them in your backyard?

I love all these people with these great ideas as long as what they want has no negative impact on them.

Larry of CA 11:48AM January 26, 2009

Guantanamo is a place we have held people for years with no trial. That is un-American, and viewed as unreasonable by legal folks worldwide.

Put them through the legal system, try them, and convict or acquit. We have no right to hold them because we suspect someone...Some have been held for seven years!!!

There are a few who should be convicted and legally sent to prison forever as far as I am concerned. The rest - we have lost our moral compass based solely on fear.

I heartily endorse closing a prison with folks who have not been convicted. Submit these folks to international tribunals,and be done with it!!!!

Fear is no justification for immoral action. As Ben Franklin said" The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either. "

We turn our backs on our heritage is we support Guantanamo.

Dorfy of SC 10:53AM January 26, 2009

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