Carter calls for close of Guantanamo prison

Reporter's Notebook from the Carter conference, Friday, Jan. 19, 2007

By: Todd South

Posted: 1/19/07

Former President Jimmy Carter had a three word answer for what to do with the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

"Close it down," he said in response to a University student's question about the military prison where hundreds of terror suspects are being held without charges by the U.S. government.

Carter called the prison "an abomination and a disgrace that has destroyed America's deserved reputation as being a leader in human rights."

Helen Smith, a senior from Charlotte, N.C. was one of six University students to present papers on areas of Carter's presidency in a roundtable discussion. The discussion was one of a series in the conference titled, "The Carter Presidency: Lessons for the 21st Century," being held at the University's Center for Continuing Education this weekend.

She posed the question of what the U.S. can do to end problems with Guantanamo.

Carter did not ignore possible complications with releasing prisoners currently held at the site.

"Even if they are set free it's a lot less danger to our country than it is to maintain this situation," Carter said.

The former president, an ardent human rights advocate, cited suspension of habeas corpus and observed that the situation in Guantanamo Bay has been a major factor in destroying America's credibility domestically and internationally.

Earlier in the day another recent topic of debate drew comment during a panel discussion on foreign affairs.

Jody Powell, former White House press secretary and Stansfield Turner, former CIA director answered questions at a standing-room only foreign affairs discussion along with a number of professors presenting papers. Talk compared historical notes and contemporary problems in foreign affairs.

Tom Johnson, an audience member asked for the panels' comments on Carter's recent book "Palestine: Peace not Apartheid."

Powell noted that in 1977 Carter was the first U.S. public official to say Palestinians needed a homeland - a position, Powell said, Carter was "beat up for."

"And he is still taking a beating for [it]," Powell continued. Carter's book has come under intense scrutiny by many who have said in recent weeks that the book portrays Israel unfairly. Fourteen advisers to the Atlanta-based Carter Center resigned in protest over the book January 11.

The title of the book was the most controversial part of any discussion about the work, Powell said.

He said many people who read the title don't necessarily read the book, noting that the word apartheid is loaded. Powell added that in his view the situation in Israel could be called apartheid.