Wednesday, March 04, 2009

What to do about those pesky Gitmo detainees?

What should we do with detainees currently held at Gitmo after the base is closed? I say we should allow them to be brought to the United States if for no other reason than to establish socioeconomic equity.

Who knows? Bernie Madoff might even be persuaded to put up a couple dozen detainees in his $7 million Manhattan condo, but if more space is needed, there are several luxury highrises nearby on the Upper East Side that might serve equally well as temporary living quarters for some of those higher octane enemy combatants.

Of course, if Mayor Bloomberg objects, or Madoff enters a guilty plea, gets a slap on the wrist and, in effect, prevails, he gets to keep his many millions and the condo, both of which are in his wife's name (and yes, there is an Easter bunny), there's lots of prime real estate in the Hamptons, or Palm Beach, that would be perfect for these political pariahs.

The good news is that there are only something like 245 detainees left at Gitmo, so finding suitable lodgings for them might not be as difficult a task as, say, finding housing for the many thousands who have lost their homes as a result of foreclosure, and the scalping they got at the hands
of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the big city banks, and the stock market.

So, given that the so-called war on terror has relegated 95% of America to a fnancial holding cell, it makes perfect sense to look upon these detainees as our new roommates!