Don Arias doesn't want you to forget September 11, 2001. "We need to pick that scab every now and then and this is one of those times."

Arias' brother, Adam, was killed when the south tower of the World Trade Center collapsed during the September 11th terrorist attacks. Arias was randomly selected to go to Guantanamo Bay this January and witness a competency hearing for accused terrorist Ramzi Binalshibh.

Arias says, "When I was in Gitmo, the defendants looked tanned and relaxed and quite cocky. They proclaimed how proud they were that they had killed almost 3,000 Americans."

Arias is back from two weeks of meetings with the Military Commissions Prosecution Team in Orlando and the Department of Justice Task Force in the nation's capital. Arias believes that President Obama's plan to close Guantanamo Bay is misguided. He says he met many people who agree with him: "An elderly fireman, who retired, who lost his son on 9/11, looked around the table and said, 'How many people here are in favor of closing Gitmo?' Two hands went up. 'How many people here are in favor of keeping Gitmo and the tribunals open?' Forty hands went up. That man said, 'Bring that to the president, tell him what 9/11 families really want.'"

He says that under the President's current orders, a multi-agency task force will review each case in the detention center, with guidance to put as many in federal court as possible. But, he claims this provides terrorists with more rights than they deserve, and he cautions that prosecuting attorneys would have to divulge sensitive information in court just to get a conviction.

"We would actually betray our allies in the field that way. So, that would give insight into the ways, means, methods in which we collect information to thwart terrorist attacks. So, we're putting human lives in danger by doing that."

Arias says a justice system that punishes war criminals is vital to winning the War on Terror. He offers an argument against those who say Gitmo can be used against us: "Prior to 9/11, there was no such thing as Guantanamo Bay Detention Center. Al-Qaeda needed no recruitment tool other than hatred to kill 3,000 Americans on 9/11."

Arias hopes President Obama changes his mind, and listens to what all family members of victims of 9/11 really have to say.

The Detention Policy Task Force will turn in their recommendations on how best to deal with closing the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center in the next few weeks. If you would like to write them with your concerns or comments, fax them at 202-514-4725 or email them at nsd.ovt@usdoj.Gov.