US election will have big impact at Gitmo

No matter who wins, Tuesday's historic U.S. presidential election is bound to change the face of this sleepy 45-square-mile (116 square-kilometer) navy base ringed by cacti-studded hills.

Both Republican contender John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama have pledged to close the base prison that holds roughly 255 men suspected of terrorism or links to al-Qaida or the Taliban. If they do, it will lead to a dramatic reduction of military operations here.

Although no campaign signs were visible at Guantanamo, many troops stationed there have cast absentee ballots - although they're keeping their preferences to themselves.

"It's fair to say the Internet is probably overwhelmed here as people check (election) results," said Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jacob Richardson, a voting assistance officer for the task force that runs the high-security detention center.

At least one group at Guantanamo was open about its loyalties - the dozens of Jamaican "third-country nationals" who work as laborers, firefighters and store clerks on the base.

"Most Jamaicans here are really excited by Obama, talking about how he's the first black man to maybe run America," said Jermaine Williams, a Jamaican convenience store worker.

Whoever become the next president will have to figure out what to do with those terror suspects left at Guantanamo's prison.

The U.S. has been struggling to persuade other countries to take in the detainees it doesn't plan to prosecute, including many already cleared for release and dozens who officials consider too dangerous to let loose, even if they don't want to put them on trial.