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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
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
