Bush says he’s open to closure of Gitmo

WASHINGTON – President Bush on Wednesday left open the possibility that the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, could be shut down.

“We’re exploring all alternatives as to how best to do the main objective, which is to protect America,” Bush told Fox News.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said he did not know of anyone in the administration who was considering closing Guantanamo.

Former President Carter said at a rights conference Tuesday that closing the prison would show U.S. commitment to rights at a time when Washington’s reputation has suffered because of abuse reports from Guantanamo, Iraq and Afghanistan.