Welcome to debate on Guantanamo Bay!

Debating for the Dems: Sarah and Jeanine!

(8:09) Republicans open – these are enemy combatants, don’t deserve civilian rights

(8:10) Democrats Opening: Guantanamo Bay and testimony does not aid in America’s national security. The information is often false. We’ve betrayed the values upon which this country has been founded.

(8:18) Is the right to Habeus Corpus for all constitutional? is it statutory? Republicans are arguing that enemy combatants are not given the right to Habeus Corpus, citing laws surrounding prisoners of war. Dems disagree

(8:20) Republicans ask: If Guantanamo Bay closes, do you honestly think that one less person will be recruited to Al Qaeda? Dems had argued that Guantanamo Bay harms US national security by providing a recruiting point for terrorist organizations. Audience starts to react to the debate by nodding emphatically.

(8:25) Oops – Republicans just said that they don’t care how prisoners are treated…..

(8:26) Republicans argue that we should turn to other alternatives. We should bring in Human Rights groups and open it to more Media access. Dems ask if they are being truly humane and Republicans argue that the debate is over whether the Guantanamo Bay should be closed – not whether torture is ok. That torture is wrong is (thankfully) a bipartisan opinion on this campus.

(8:34) Should sleep deprivation and solitary confinement be used? Republicans say yes. It does not leave permanent physical damage.

(8:36) What should happen? Dems: They need to have a trial and should either be released or convicted. Republicans: These detainees have important information and that is the issue with these solutions.

(8:40) Question is “name a piece of credible intelligence from Gitmo” – Republicans say they can’t name one but there has been claims that terrorist attacks have been stopped. Democrats cite military officials that claim that no credible evidence has been found.

(8:43) Should enemy combatants be read their miranda rights? Dems say that they need to clarify what the battlefield is here. On a battlefield, you need to do it in all reasonable speed. But in places like chicago O’Hare where Padilla was taken, this is no problem. Republicans say we should not give them to civilian rights.

(8:46) Good question from the Republicans – people kill Americans for everything from giving women voting rights to Guantanamo bay. When does it stop? Great Dems answer: When something makes someone hate us, that is not cause enough. But when it violates our principles and contributes to people hating us, then it should be stopped.

(8:50) How do we classify enemy combatants? Republicans don’t answer the question, but Democrats reinforce it.