Guantanamo Bay Prison Could Close, Bush Hints: "President Bush opened the door for the first time yesterday to the idea of shutting down the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a facility that has become a symbol of excess for critics of the United States around the world since it was opened after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

While Bush continued to defend the treatment of prisoners at the camp, he pointedly did not rule out suggestions by two leading Democrats that the facility be closed in an effort to repair the tarnished U.S. image abroad. 'We're exploring all alternatives as to how best to do the main objective, which is to protect America,' Bush told Fox News Channel when asked about the prospect. 'What we don't want to do is let somebody out that comes back and harms us.'

The president's comments surprised many in the administration and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld seemed to shoot down the notion, telling reporters flying with him to Europe that he was unaware of any consideration being given to shutting down Guantanamo Bay. "

(Via Washington Post.)