Majority Of Americans Now Favor Keeping Guantanamo Open

A watchtower at the Guantanamo detention facility. Photo from Radio Free Europe

CNN Poll: Big Shift On Closing Of Guantanamo Bay Facility -- CNN

Washington (CNN) - Attitudes about the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba have changed dramatically since President Barack Obama took office, according to a new national poll.

Support for closing the facility has dropped 12 points over the past 14 months, a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey indicates.

Shortly before Obama's inauguration, 51 percent of Americans said they thought the facility in Cuba should be closed. Now that number is down to 39 percent, and six in ten believe the United States should continue to operate Guantanamo.

The poll, released Sunday, suggests independent voters are contributing to the 12 point overall drop.

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My Comment: Knowing that this is a CNN poll, I would have to assume that the percentage who favor keeping Guantanamo is probably even higher. Reading articles like this one will only re-inforces this sentiment.

Majority Of Americans Oppose Civilian Trials For 9/11 Planners: Gallop

Americans At Odds With Recent Terror Trial Decisions -- Gallop

Majorities would prefer trying 9/11 kingpin in a military court, away from New York.

PRINCETON, NJ -- By 59% to 36%, more Americans believe accused Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed should be tried in a military court, rather than in a civilian criminal court. Most Republicans and independents favor holding the trial in a military court, while the slight majority of Democrats disagree.

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My Comment: Gallop has a history of taking more Democrats than Republicans in their sampling .... so real totals may be more skewed to an even higher percentage who favor military tribunals for these defendants.

But one thing in this poll is clear .... independents are abandoning the Democrat Party by huge numbers.