Paris and Kalei Go to Guantanamo Bay

New Guantanamo Bay detainees arrive at Camp X-Ray.

In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, few things have been more controversial than the Guantanámo Bay Detention Center.

Part 1: Background (12 points)
Over the next few days, we will examine the detention center's legality. We'll start by exploring two web resources:

• "Closing Guantánamo?", an article produced by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)
• The NY Times Topics page for Guantánamo Bay

Use these two sources to respond to the following questions on loose leaf:

1. What is Guantánamo Bay? Where is it located?
2. When was the prison established there?
3. How many detainees are currently held in the prison (at the time these sources were last updated)?
4. What did President Obama do with regard to the prison shortly after he took office in January 2009?
5. What are some of the proposed options for having trials for the prisoners?
6. What are some options for where to send current prisoners if Guantánamo is closed?

Part 2: Exploring Reasons for Closure (Or to Keep it Open) (9 points)

1. Create a list of reasons people might want to close Guantanamo Bay. Come up with at least three solid reasons.
2. Create a list of reasons people might want to keep Guantanamo Bay open. Come up with a list of at least three reasons.
3. What makes the decision to keep Guantanamo Bay open (or to close it) a complicated one?

Part 3: Is it Constitutional? (9 points)

Examine the U.S. Constitution. You can find the full text of the Constitution, with links to the amendments, at Cornell University Law School's website.

Decide which articles and amendments apply to the Guantanamo Bay situation. Write them down, then explain in specific terms how each applies.