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Ill Logic
3:24 p.m. jan 31, 2009

President Obama has taken steps toward shutting down the Gitmo prison. Liberals tend to be in favor, conservatives tend to be opposed.

This debate is between Tristan Sloughter and qu1xand. Tristan is a Marxist, and will argue in favor of not only closing the prison, but returning the entire base to Cuba, to whom he believe the land belongs. Qu1xand is a conservative, and believes that the Gitmo prison should remain operational as it has been.

I should note for the sake of the readers that I, the mediator, am a libertarian, however I do have some sympathy for conservatism, so, while my principles would probably lead to wanting to close the prison, natural bias may be somewhat split. Which is probably ideal here. Regardless, if either of you believes I am being biased, please say so outloud. My goal is to get both sides to agree to every decision I make, so hopefully bias, if it exists, won't come into play.

We should have a lively debate, and let disagreements form naturally, even if it may seem a little off-topic. As long as you let me do the "organization" aspects, which is my job.

With that said, have at it. I will I leave it to Tristan to make his first argument, since he is the one proposing a change to the status quo. (Even if Obama closes the prison, he probably won't be returning the base to Cuba, so either way Tristan is arguing against status quo).

Tristan Sloughter
9:03 a.m. mar 28, 2009

The United States has no moral use for Guantanamo Bay. The contract which the land was initially kept by the U.S. under stated it was to be used for coaling and naval operations. Thus, not only has Cuba not been accepting rent payments, but the U.S. was violating the contract by using Gitmo as a "prison". This makes it clear the "prison" must be closed NOW, which Obama is doing, but later. Following the closing of Gitmo why would the U.S. bother to keep the land? Clearly it is seen as what would be a useful port for Cuba to have for trade and other operations. The U.S. continues its insane and obsessive attacks on Cuba's people by keeping this land. I do not like Fidel or Raul Castro, I must make clear they are and have never been communists, but the policies the U.S. follows regarding Cuba do nothing to help the people of Cuba. The continued abuses against the nation of Cuba only makes us look pathetic.