Poll: Americans still want to keep Guantanamo open

Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a Mauretanian man detained by the United States in November 2001, has become the first prisoner at Guantanamo to publish an account of his 14 years of detention. Slahi remains in Guantanamo, without charge, and still detained despite a court decision ordering his release. The Obama administration has in recent months stepped up efforts to release the more than 70 detainees who have been cleared for release, and last night pledged once again to shut the prison in his State of the Union speech.

Despite these ongoing efforts, most Americans (51%) say that they think that the prison for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay should continue to operate. Only 28% say that the prison should be closed down. Attitudes towards shutting Guantanamo are largely unchanged over recent years. In January 2011 50% of Americans wanted the prison to continue operating, while 30% wanted it to shut.