[cnn-photo-caption image= "http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2008/images/01/14/art.mullen.ap.jpg" caption=" Department of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen ."]
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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says he wants to close the Guantanamo Bay prison as soon as possible.
During a visit there, Admiral Mike Mullen said he’d like to see Gitmo shut down because he thinks that negative publicity around the world about U.S. treatment of terror suspects there has been "pretty damaging" to our image.
Mullen adds that closing Gitmo is not his decision to make, and he understands there are many complex legal questions that first need to be answered, things like where to move the prisoners.
Officials say the prison population has shrunk over the past year, to 277. At one point, there were more that 600 suspects being held at Gitmo. Critics charge that some detainees have been mistreated and that their detentions haven't been consistent with the rule of law.
Both President Bush and Defense Secretary Robert Gates have spoken in favor of closing the prison, but Mullen says he's not aware of any moves to actually do it.
Mullen's visit to Gitmo came just two days after the sixth anniversary of the prison's opening.
Here’s my question to you: How far would closing the Guantanamo Bay prison go toward restoring America’s image around the world?
Tune in to the Situation Room at 6pm to see if Jack reads your answer on air.