Massimino's Arguments Against Summary

Is Closing the Prison for Alleged Terrorist at the U.S. Naval Base Justified?
Elisa Massimino argues that Guantanamo should be closed, because it is compromising the United States’ influence in advocating human rights in other countries and is a matter of national security. In her argument she provides reasoning why Guantanamo should be closed and then discusses a plan to closing Guantanamo.
In contrast, Frank Gaffney Jr argues that Guantanamo should continue detaining and interrogating prisoners of war that are affiliated with terrorism at Guantanamo Bay. He claims that the United States is at war and as a result has the right to defend itself; in particularly from prisoners rejoining terrorist activities. He also argues that Guantanamo is a resourceful tool for intelligence.
Elisa Massimino’s argument contains facts. In her argument, Massimino states, “50 retired generals and admirals along with three Secretaries of Defense [Gates, Panetta, and Hagel] want Guantanamo to be closed” (p. 120). Including this fact, supports her argument that Guantanamo could be an issue of national security. Another fact includes, how transferring of prisoners have been stalled because of Congress in 2010 to 2012 (p. 120). This information is in

accordance with the general overview. Incorporating this fact, supports her argument that there needs to be national security waivers to allow the administration to have the proper authority to transfer detainees.
Elisa Massimino’s argument contains opinions.

An example includes, “The ability of the United States to credibly push other governments to respect human rights is seriously compromised” (p. 119). Stating that the United States’ soft power regarding human rights is compromised as result of Guantanamo is an opinion and not a fact, because it could be argued how the United States still has soft power in respect to Human Rights. Another example includes, her solution to resolve the cases of 34 detainees on page 122. Her solution is “Congress should pass the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act” (p. 122). This is an opinion because it could be argued how implementing this solution would not help achieve

resolution.
Frank Gaffney Jr.’s argument contains facts as well. An example includes, “In 2010, the Obama administration suspended the transfer of detainees to Yemen” (p. 126). Including this fact that the transfer of detainees were stalled, is an attempt to support his argument that former detainees could rejoin the fight. Another example includes, the percentage of former detainees that rejoined the fight. In his argument he states, according to the ODNI, “out of the 599 released former Gitmo detainees, 27.9% were either confirmed or suspected of engaging in terrorist activity” (p. 126). He then states that it was a “2.9% increase” from 2010.
Frank Gaffney Jr.’s argument also includes opinions. An example is, “Guantanamo Bay is the optimal location for U.S detention and interrogation of unlawful enemy combatants” (p. 125). Stating that Guantanamo is the ideal location for these United States actions against enemy combatants is arguable. In addition, stating that Guantanamo is “highly humane” (p. 125) is an opinion because evidence could be produced to reveal how these prisoners were tortured. Lastly, stating that “We should be free to add to their number at Gitmo” (p. 127) because it will help gain intelligence is an opinion because critics could argue that there are other means to gain intelligence and retrieving intelligence in that medium could have adverse effects.
Elisa Massimino’s argument contains propaganda. The propaganda techniques include: Testimony, appeal to sympathy, appeal to hate, appeal to pride and appeal to authority. The introduction of Massimino’s argument appeals to authority because it states her credentials and expertise on the issue. Specific lines include, “I am the President and Chief Executive Officer of Human Rights First” as well as “We have published a series of groundbreaking reports on Guantanamo” (p. 118). The likely result of this propaganda technique is that some of the audiences will automatically believe she is right or speaks the truth, based on her level of authority on the issue.
In her argument, Massimino also uses testimonials to demonstrate the need to close Guantanamo. These testimonies are from relatives of the detainees (p. 119). She utilizes the testimonies to demonstrate the negative effect Guantanamo has on the perception of the United States, from non-western countries. In addition, the excerpts she includes from the letters appeal to sympathy as well as hate. “How can this nation, one that prides itself of defending Human Rights, close its eyes to these violations of its founding principles?” (p. 119) is an example of appeal to hate, because it is pointing out the United States’ hypocrisy. The line, “I do not understand why my son is still in Guantanamo after all these years, when we know he has been cleared” (p. 119) is an appeal to sympathy.
Frank Gaffney Jr.’s argument also contains propaganda. Techniques he uses includes; appeal to authority, appeal to pride and appeal to hate. Similar to Massimino, Frank Gaffney Jr.’s opening statement appeals to authority, because he is stating his credentials. Specific lines include, “As a former member of the staff of…Henry Scoop and as a professional staff member for the Senate Armed Services Committee” (p. 125) as well as “four and a half years in the Regan Defense Department” (p. 125). In his argument, Frank Gaffney Jr. appeals to hatred when he states, “They are Shariah-adherent jihadists who believe in accordance with that doctrine that it is God’s will that they destroy our way of life and subjugate us to theirs” (p. 125). Frank Gaffney appeals to pride when he states, “Gitmo has these attributes primarily thanks to the servicemen and women whose professionalism, discipline and courage make them possible notwithstanding routine…” (p. 126). This is an appeal to pride because it is building up the character of the military personnel stationed at Guantanamo. However, with in the same line, he appeals to hate when he says, “….vile and often violent provocations on the part of detainees” (p. 126). This line conjures a negative perception of the detainees, which is different in comparison to Massimino’s argument.
After reading both arguments, I believe Frank Gaffney Jr.’s argument is the most biased. The piece was relevantly short and as a result, the propaganda was more blatant in comparison to Massimino’s argument. Unlike, Massimino, Frank Gaffney Jr. does not acknowledge his opponents arguments. Massimino mentioned the fear of former detainees rejoining the fight. Frank Gaffney Jr. does not acknowledge the argument of other countries losing respect for the United States regarding human rights.
After reading these two arguments, I think that Guantanamo Bay should be closed down. I believe keeping the facility open, is damaging the United States’ soft power regarding human rights. In correlation, I also feel as though not closing Gitmo, is giving non-western countries further reason to dislike the United States.
Actions I could take include signing or creating petitions to close down Guantanamo Bay. The petitions would most likely be sent to congress or the president. In order to get people to sign the petition, there should be an awareness group informing the people of what is occurring and provide reasons why it should be closed down.