GTMO: good or a bad thing?

GTMO (or Gitmo) is short for Guantanomo Bay, the US controlled detention facility in Cuba that has been a well know place for alleged human rights violations enacted upon the suspected or convicted terrorist detainee's staying there. Pres. Elect Barack Obama has made it a point in his campaign and since being elected to distance himself from the Bush administration through the closing of GTMO. So far, I have to say I have not been able to make up my mind on this issue yet.

Those opposed to the facility cite a few reasons for closing its doors. Mainly, human rights violations in the form of torture for information, as well as the fact that many of these detainee's have been held for years without much in the way of due process of law. No trials, no convictions, yet they are being held as prisoners.

Those in favor of keeping the operation open cite the reasons that we need a place like this if not for anything else but a deterrent to committing further crimes against our nation. Closing GTMO would place our national security at risk. This same group tend to find value in the ability to interrogate through various methods as a way to accomplish the goals of national security and military operations.

In standing back and thinking as Latter-Day Saints, we believe that such forms of torture and slavery without some kind of legal conviction is wrong. We also believe in honoring and sustaining the inspired constitution that state there shall be no cruel and unusual punishment as being one of the inalienable rights of man, not just citizens. On the other hand, we have seen, as in the cases of Captain Moroni of the Book of Mormon, where those that didn't believe in the cause of liberty, more specifically the cause of free government which many of today's terrorists are opposed, were put to death. Would closing its door be one more way where liberal democrats are seeking to abolish punishment for one's acts?

I pose the question, is such a facility more bad than good? Or is it the other way around? Can we as citizens of this country be okay with preaching liberty to the captives, and have such a facility? Is that hypocrisy or is this justice?

You can watch a Hannity Show take at this link. Just make it through the first story about one minute and 14 seconds in, then you will see the Obama Guantanamo Bay stuff.