Joint Chiefs chairman: Close Guantanamo

Joint Chiefs chairman: Close Guantanamo

By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer1 hour, 52 minutes ago

The chief of the U.S. military said Sunday 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.

"I'd like to see it shut down," Adm. Mike Mullen said in an interview with three reporters who

toured the detention center with him on his first visit since becoming chairman of the Joint

Chiefs of Staff last October.

His visit came two days after the sixth anniversary of the prison's opening in January 2002. He

stressed that a closure decision was not his to make and that he understands there are numerous

complex legal questions the administration believes would have to be settled first, such as

where to move prisoners.

The admiral also noted that some of Guantanamo Bay's prisoners are deemed high security

threats. During a tour of Camp Six, which is a high-security facility holding about 100

prisoners, Mullen got a firsthand look at some of the cells; one prisoner glared at Mullen

through his narrow cell window as U.S. officers explained to the Joint Chiefs chairman how they

maintain almost-constant watch over each prisoner.

Mullen, whose previous visit was in December 2005 as head of the U.S. Navy, noted that

President Bush and Defense Secretary Robert Gates also have spoken publicly in favor of closing

the prison. But Mullen said he is unaware of any active discussion in the administration about

how to do it.

"I'm not aware that there is any immediate consideration to closing Guantanamo Bay," Mullen said.

Asked why he thinks Guantanamo Bay, commonly dubbed Gitmo, should be closed, and the prisoners

perhaps moved to U.S. soil, Mullen said, "More than anything else it's been the image