Guantanamo: Wedge Issue or Wuss Issue?

According to an article in today's New York Times, the closing of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility has become an effective "wedge issue" for Republicans against Democrats and President Obama. To review, in politics, a wedge issue is an issue that is given emphasis primarily because of its potential to drive a wedge between voters and one's political opposition. So, make no mistake, the diatribes we're hearing on this issue are primarily politically-motivated rather than genuine concerns about local and national security.

Because if they are the latter, then those critics have a pretty wimpy view of our country and its people. They are arguing that, despite all of our resources, the U.S. cannot safely secure the remaining 240 Gitmo detainees, many of whom have been beaten down by years of imprisonment and would undoubtedly face a thoroughly unpleasant ordeal incarcerated in a U.S. facility. That's 4.8 prisoners per state. According to a study by the Pew Center, as of 2007, the U.S. housed 7.3 million inmates in our prisons, including all sorts of ruthless criminals who have "killed Americans." We really can't handle 5 more in each state? And it's probably fewer than that because there may be a few more who have been wrongly jailed and should be released anyway (see earlier post on this topic). And, yes, I can honestly say that I would have no problem with a detainee holding facility in my community as it would probably be one of the most secure prisons in the history of the world.

I don't recall an outpouring of fear and outrage about the possibility of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh escaping captivity and repeating his horrific acts. Yet, prior to 9/11, McVeigh had launched the most lethal terrorist attack on U.S. soil. How is this different? Have we lost our nerve, along with our principles? If those opposing the closing of Guantanamo have done so, then their America is a weak nation easily confounded. Or, more likely, they indirectly suggest this in pursuit of the almighty "wedge issue" and its momentary political payoff. So which is it? Playing politics or playing scared? Wedge issue or wuss issue?

Obama at Notre Dame

My preview of President Obama's controversial commencement speech at Notre Dame on Sunday can be found both here and here (scroll down to "studio guests" for second video).