Individual Political Cartoon, Essay Example

Source: http://bobmccarty.com/2011/04/04/holder-blames-congress-before-announcing-plan-to-hold-military-tribunals-for-911-terror-suspects/

This cartoon refers to the promise made by President Obama in order to close the Guantanamo Detention Centre. He made the promise to shut the facility within 12 months from taking office. Reports produced by such human rights groups as Amnesty International declared the facility unlawful and a breach of human rights. It is an issue of detaining people without bringing them to justice before the courts. Amnesty International argues that the Military do not have a track record of international fair trial standards and as such, these cases should not be left purely in the jurisdiction of the military courts.

The Presidents planned closure of the facility is the correct move, despite the ongoing war on terrorism. Enemy combatants can and should be detained during times of war if they have been clearly seen to participate in acts of conflict against the coalition troops. Despite this, there is a need for due process of law and bringing these people before the courts on charges linked to acts of terrorism.  The ruling of habeas corpus applies in that the Governments are themselves responsible for bring the detainees before the courts for trial.

This is obviously a very emotive issue, particularly when it is believed that the detainees are either hardened combatant terrorists or indeed linked to others who are determined to wage war and terrorism against peacekeeping troops in a battle theatre of operations. Simply to release them would be out of the question, nevertheless the concept of innocent before proven guilty applies and as such a case must be brought before the international courts and these individuals tried for their acts.  A prison of war camp is not really the answer, more a question of expedient due process of law. If the people are found to be guilty of acts of terrorism by the courts, then they should face long prison sentences before being released and re-patriated to their countries.