The true national security implications of closing the Guantanamo Bay facility and moving Guantanamo's prisoners to American soil remain murky to most Americans because the US media has yet to delve too deeply into the issue. Unlike the American media, the Australian media is asking the tough questions, and Col. Morris Davis, the chief prosecutor in the Guantanamo military commissions, is answering them. Here's what Davis had to say in an article in the Australian about Guantanamo:

Closing jail 'will free terrorists'

Paul Maley
June 26, 2007

TERRORISTS could go free if Guantanamo Bay was closed and terror suspects were tried in civilian courts, the US chief prosecutor warned yesterday.

Mo Davis said it would be impossible to try most Guantanamo Bay detainees in US civilian courts, a course often advocated by critics of military commissions, including former secretary of state Colin Powell.

Colonel Davis said much of the pre-trial work necessary for a conviction in a civilian court had not been done, meaning most of prosecutions would be doomed to fail.

When asked if this could see terrorists released back into the community, Colonel Davis said that was a "likely scenario".

"There's a larger percentage that if you apply the ordinary rules that apply in a Federal Court, like speedy trial and Miranda warnings and hearsay rules, we wouldn't make it past the day of motions," he said.

Colonel Davis said the case against accused Bali bomber Hambali was strong and would have a "decent prospect" of success in a federal court, "but I think we need to look at the bigger picture."

Colonel Davis's remarks follow weekend reports, denied by the Bush Administration, that the White House was considering closing Guantanamo Bay in the near future.