The debate over whether to close down the US detention facilities in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba involves two basic questions. What happens to terrorist suspects after they leave the detention center at Guantanamo Bay? Can Gitmo’s terrorists be rehabilitated?

There have been reports that answer the first question. Many of the former so-called terror suspects detained at Gitmo simply slid back to a life of terrorism. ‘According to a Pentagon report leaked in May, 14 percent are engaged in terrorist activity. While many of their identities remain unknown, details are available about a handful of high-profile recidivists.’

Answering the second question is more crucial as this anticipates ‘the next chapter of the fight against terrorism.’ While closing the US prisons in Guantanamo Bay erases ‘a deeply resented symbol,’ the much-lobbied move will ‘not address the enduring challenge of dealing with incarcerated militants.’

Saudi Arabia is said to have ‘a relatively successful effort to rehabilitate terrorists, though there are still no comprehensive and objective assessments,’ but records show a 100 percent success rate. To reintegrate former militants, Saudi applied the following strategies: ‘intense religious discussion, followed by generous financial support, employment assistance, and long-term monitoring.’

Of utmost concern right now are the detainees from Yemen that ‘pose an especially difficult problem.’ They account for 40 percent of the remaining detainees at Guantanamo. Yemen is ill-equipped to deal with their return. ‘The escape of 13 Al Qaeda suspects from a Yemeni prison in 2006 undermines confidence in the country’s ability to secure dangerous inmates if the US were to send them home.’ Add to this is the fact that ‘al-Qaeda has a growing presence in Yemen, underscored by the attack last September on the US Embassy.’

Image

Via The Christian Science Monitor