The problem is that not only have a lot of them been there long enough to qualify for US citizenship, but they've experienced enough torture and fundamental violation of their human rights that they also qualify as avid haters of America and its citizens.
So the US has created a monster, and is not willing to let that monster live in its neighborhood, and nobody else wants it either, so .. there they stay.
Don't worry though, a lot of the Gitmo detainees know the situation is dire, and thus: the hunger strike. For some of them, death will be the only escape.
A sincere apology, along with providing counselling, free housing and a stable pension to take care of their living expenses - would go a long way.
Also, hatred grows exponentially, with each day they spend in prison and is multiplied by the international audience that's watching the story unfold. If you fear their hatred, the most rational thing to do is to release them and package their misfortune in tale with a happy ending.
Not doing that will lead to even more hatred and even bigger monsters.
> The problem is that not only have a lot of them been there long enough to qualify for US citizenship, but they've experienced enough torture and fundamental violation of their human rights that they also qualify as avid haters of America and its citizens.
I think that's quite an assumption to make. There's no doubt that the prisoners will have sustained serious injuries to their mental and physical health, but that's the job of the US government to address. The right thing to do is to move them to a mainland facility, give them treatment for the problems they have and release them as and when they're ready to enter society. If they then choose to sue the government that's their choice and the US government should suck it up.
This needs to be so painful for the US government to deal with that it never happens again.
And yet, to add insult to multiple injuries, they are not even allowed to die. They are force-fed. If nothing else can be done, they should be allowed to starve themselves to death if that's their wish. I wonder if Boehner, Limbaugh, etc. would be ok with that.
So the US has created a monster, and is not willing to let that monster live in its neighborhood, and nobody else wants it either, so .. there they stay.
Don't worry though, a lot of the Gitmo detainees know the situation is dire, and thus: the hunger strike. For some of them, death will be the only escape.