US Congress to vote on plans to close Guantanamo

[webfact]

US Congress to vote on plans to close Guantanamo
By Catherine Hardy | With REUTERS, EFE, AFP



US President says he will close Guantanamo

91 people still held at facility
Congress firmly against plan

"I am absolutely committed to closing the detention facility at Guantanamo"

WASHINGTON: -- US President Barack Obama says he plans to close the controversial Guantanamo Bay detention facility.

91 people are still being held at the jail in Cuba.

The Pentagon plans to transfer them to their home countries or to US military or civilian jails.

However, Congress is firmly against the move and is likely to block it.

What Obama said

US President Barack Obama made the announcement during a press call at the White House.

“This is about closing a chapter in our history, it reflects the lessons that we have learned since 9/11.”

“I don’t want to pass this problem on to the next president, whoever it is. And if as a nation we do not deal with this now, when will be deal with it?”

“With this plan we have the opportunity finally to eliminate a terrorist propaganda tool, to strengthen relationships with allies and partners, enhance our national security and most importantly uphold the values that define us as Americans. I am absolutely committed to closing the detention facility at Guantanamo.”


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-02-24

[webfact]

Obama: Guantanamo Bay undermines security, must be closed
By LOLITA C. BALDOR and KATHLEEN HENNESSEY

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's plan to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba slammed into a wall of Republican opposition on Tuesday, stopping cold Obama's hope for a bipartisan effort to "close a chapter" that began in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.

The long-awaited proposal, which was requested by Congress, is Obama's last attempt to make good on an unfulfilled campaign promise by persuading Congress to change the law that prohibits moving detainees accused of violent extremist acts to U.S. soil. Fourteen years after the facility opened and seven years after Obama took office, the president argued it was "finally" time to shutter a facility that has sparked persistent legal battles, become a recruitment tool for Islamic militants and garnered strong opposition from some allies abroad.

"I don't want to pass this problem onto the next president, whoever it is," Obama said in an appearance at the White House. "If we don't do what's required now, I think future generations are going to look back and ask why we failed to act when the right course, the right side of history, and justice and our best American traditions was clear."

Despite the big ambitions, Obama's proposed path remained unclear. The plan leaves unanswered the politically thorny question of where in the U.S a new facility would be located. It offered broad cost estimates. The White House described it as more of a conversation starter than a definitive outline.

Republican leaders in Congress showed no interest in having that conversation.

"We will review President Obama's plan but since it includes bringing dangerous terrorists to facilities in U.S. communities, he knows that the bipartisan will of Congress has already been expressed against that proposal," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said Obama had yet to convince Americans that moving detainees to U.S. soil is "smart or safe."

"It is against the law — and it will stay against the law," Ryan said.

Even Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a former prisoner of war and an advocate of closing the prison, called Obama's report a "vague menu of options," which does not include a policy for dealing with future detainees.

Obama has "missed a major chance to convince the Congress and the American people that he has a responsible plan to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility," he said.

It's not clear whether that chance ever existed. Momentum to close the facility has slowed dramatically under Obama's tenure. Congress remains deadlocked on far less contentious matters, and the issue has little resonance on the presidential campaign trail.

Still, for Obama, the facility stands as painful reminder of the limits on his power: His first executive order sketched out a timeline for closing the prison, but was ultimately derailed by Congress.

The White House has not ruled out the possibility that the president may again attempt to close the prison through executive action — a move that would directly challenge Congress' authority. The plan submitted Tuesday does not address that option.

Instead, the proposal reflects the administration's strategy of shrinking the population, hoping the cost of housing the diminished population would ultimately make closure inevitable.

Under the plan, roughly 35 of the 91 current detainees will be transferred to other countries in the coming months, leaving up to 60 detainees who are either facing trial by military commission or have been determined to be too dangerous to release but are not facing charges.

Those detainees would be relocated to a U.S. facility that could cost up to $475 million to build, but would ultimately be offset by as much as $180 million per year in operating cost savings. The annual operating cost for Guantanamo is $445 million. The U.S. facilities would cost between $265 million and $305 million to operate each year, according to the proposal.

The plan considers, but does not name, 13 different locations in the U.S., including seven existing prison facilities in Colorado, South Carolina and Kansas, as well as six other locations at current correctional facilities on state, federal or military sites in several states. It also notes that there could be all new construction on existing military bases. The plan doesn't recommend a preferred site.

Naming a site would have certainly further antagonized some members of Congress. Those representing South Carolina, Kansas and Colorado already have voiced opposition to housing the detainees in their states.

Advocates of closing Guantanamo say the prison has long been a recruiting tool for militant groups and that holding extremists suspected of violent acts indefinitely without charges or trial sparks anger and dismay among U.S. allies.

Opponents, however, say changing the detention center's ZIP code won't eliminate that problem.

Obama's proposal faced criticism even from those who endorse closing the detention center. His initial campaign pledge was widely viewed as a promise to end the practice of detaining prisoners indefinitely without charge, not to bring that practice to the U.S., said Naureen Shah, director of Amnesty International USA's Security and Human Rights Program.

"Whatever the president proposes, even if it doesn't come to fruition, the administration is changing the goal posts on this issue," she said.
__

Associated Press writers Deb Riechmann and Donna Cassata contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-02-24

[NeverSure]

Aw gee. Are some of Obama's Muslim pals locked up? Fortunately there's what he likes to call a "do nothing" and "obstructionist" Congress to stop his butt.

For any who don't know, Gitmo is in Cuba, on foreign soil, in a US military base on land that the US has leased from Cuba for about 100 years. The detainees are prisoners of war.

The instant any of those people set foot on US soil they inherit most of the rights of a US citizen, and all of the rights to the US court system. They get civilian lawyers, the right to sue, all paid for by the taxpayer. As long as they are on foreign soil, no such luck. They are under the military court system for foreigners.

There's also no chance of them getting loose in the general population.

CONFIRMED: 117 Gitmo Detainees Returned to Terrorism So Far or 18% of Released Detainees LINK

Edited February 24, 2016 by NeverSure

[SgtRock]

You might want to think about leasing it to the EU.

They are going to need it within the next 5 years.

[kamahele]

Aw gee. Are some of Obama's Muslim pals locked up? Fortunately there's what he likes to call a "do nothing" and "obstructionist" Congress to stop his butt.

For any who don't know, Gitmo is in Cuba, on foreign soil, in a US military base on land that the US has leased from Cuba for about 100 years. The detainees are prisoners of war.

The instant any of those people set foot on US soil they inherit most of the rights of a US citizen, and all of the rights to the US court system. They get civilian lawyers, the right to sue, all paid for by the taxpayer. As long as they are on foreign soil, no such luck. They are under the military court system for foreigners.

There's also no chance of them getting loose in the general population.

CONFIRMED: 117 Gitmo Detainees Returned to Terrorism So Far or 18% of Released Detainees LINK

The USA's attempt to keep detainees overseas to overt protections guaranteed under the US constitution has been a disaster. Even the mastermind behind opening the base, G.W. Bush wanted it closed. It has brought shame upon the country on the international stage and been a complete financial disaster for US taxpayers. What you are defending with your post are the same type of actions you would complain about if American citizens were involved and the country involved was Iran, or Russia or China. Why would you want America to emulate these countries?

[i claudius]

Keep it open , they dont care about us , we dont care about them

[NeverSure]

Aw gee. Are some of Obama's Muslim pals locked up? Fortunately there's what he likes to call a "do nothing" and "obstructionist" Congress to stop his butt.

For any who don't know, Gitmo is in Cuba, on foreign soil, in a US military base on land that the US has leased from Cuba for about 100 years. The detainees are prisoners of war.

The instant any of those people set foot on US soil they inherit most of the rights of a US citizen, and all of the rights to the US court system. They get civilian lawyers, the right to sue, all paid for by the taxpayer. As long as they are on foreign soil, no such luck. They are under the military court system for foreigners.

There's also no chance of them getting loose in the general population.

CONFIRMED: 117 Gitmo Detainees Returned to Terrorism So Far or 18% of Released Detainees LINK

The USA's attempt to keep detainees overseas to overt protections guaranteed under the US constitution has been a disaster. Even the mastermind behind opening the base, G.W. Bush wanted it closed. It has brought shame upon the country on the international stage and been a complete financial disaster for US taxpayers. What you are defending with your post are the same type of actions you would complain about if American citizens were involved and the country involved was Iran, or Russia or China. Why would you want America to emulate these countries?

There have been wars and there have been prisoners of war forever. As to your mention of Iran, Russia or China they wouldn't play nice either.

Other than that, I have no respect for your thinking or your post. If keeping terrorists who are captured off US soil is a "disaster", so be it. It's not a financial disaster as it's a lot cheaper to lock them up in an existing military base than it is in a US prison with the whole legal system in gear at taxpayer expense.

Cheers.

[Srikcir]

“I don’t want to pass this problem on to the next president, whoever it is."

If Trump becomes President, he'd probably cheerfully expand the facility - not a problem for him. Maybe set up detention camps for American Muslims like Roosevelt did with American Japanese. Not that I agree with any of such programs.

[SgtRock]

President in waiting Trump wants it kept open.

Trump is hitting his campaign promises.

Gonna keep Guantanamo open, we’re going to fill it with bad dudes.

[chuckd]

“I don’t want to pass this problem on to the next president, whoever it is."

If Trump becomes President, he'd probably cheerfully expand the facility - not a problem for him. Maybe set up detention camps for American Muslims like Roosevelt did with American Japanese. Not that I agree with any of such programs.

...and then, probably not expand it.

[mopar71]

Obama is correct when he says Gitmo is being used as a recruitment tools by terrorists...

Die, go to heaven and get 72 virgins.

Get captured, go to Club Med Gitmo...

Life is so much more compfy there than back home in the cave or dung hut...

https://www.google.com/search?q=gitmo+prison+photos&rlz=1C1GGGE_enAE413AE421&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=681&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjMtZzS8o_LAhVDsxQKHZkPBzUQsAQIGw#tbm=isch&tbs=rimg%3ACUghb4FCBczLIjjB-Ag3gM_1vUiEz8qCfeCXizFnAguphjdrCJJcG_1th83jDa0YrzsxUGlOyaDsvZfKyvwuy44uyBXCoSCcH4CDeAz-9SETjI3s5wfo3yKhIJITPyoJ94JeIRcz820bo2gEcqEgnMWcCC6mGN2hGm7zekVgdnAyoSCcIklwb-2HzeES_1HV_19tPLR2KhIJMNrRivOzFQYRUJBCwRjtK4wqEgmU7JoOy9l8rBHrKCHWyKtlpSoSCa_1C7Lji7IFcEfdlZ5PjxePq&q=gitmo%20prison%20cell%20photos&imgrc=8jtol9aRKORl2M%3A

[Chicog]

"It is against the law — and it will stay against the law," Ryan said.

Since when was Due Process "against the law"?

They are not "prisoners of war", because then they'd be covered under the Geneva Conventions.

Bush designated them "enemy combatants", yet still denied them their right to a military tribunal and justice.

No, there are no prizes for guessing why.

I have no problem with Congress not wanting them to slip through the cracks.

Call them what they are - Unlawful combatants as defined by the Supreme Court - and try them.

If convicted, apply the sentence.

And if found innocent, as I'm sure more than a few will be, let them go home.

Although even if they were innocent, they are probably by now mad enough to want to suicide bomb you.

Edited February 24, 2016 by Chicog

[bark]

“I don’t want to pass this problem on to the next president, whoever it is."

If Trump becomes President, he'd probably cheerfully expand the facility - not a problem for him. Maybe set up detention camps for American Muslims like Roosevelt did with American Japanese. Not that I agree with any of such programs.

Trump will build buildings for them with no roof !

[jerojero]

He promised that closing 7 years ago. Use Executive authority and close it! George W. created it without Congress' blessing.

[sanukjim]

Aw gee. Are some of Obama's Muslim pals locked up? Fortunately there's what he likes to call a "do nothing" and "obstructionist" Congress to stop his butt.

For any who don't know, Gitmo is in Cuba, on foreign soil, in a US military base on land that the US has leased from Cuba for about 100 years. The detainees are prisoners of war.

The instant any of those people set foot on US soil they inherit most of the rights of a US citizen, and all of the rights to the US court system. They get civilian lawyers, the right to sue, all paid for by the taxpayer. As long as they are on foreign soil, no such luck. They are under the military court system for foreigners.

There's also no chance of them getting loose in the general population.

CONFIRMED: 117 Gitmo Detainees Returned to Terrorism So Far or 18% of Released Detainees LINK

The USA's attempt to keep detainees overseas to overt protections guaranteed under the US constitution has been a disaster. Even the mastermind behind opening the base, G.W. Bush wanted it closed. It has brought shame upon the country on the international stage and been a complete financial disaster for US taxpayers. What you are defending with your post are the same type of actions you would complain about if American citizens were involved and the country involved was Iran, or Russia or China. Why would you want America to emulate these countries?

I see no shame in locking up and keeping terrorist away from the rest of the US and it's laws that are in the hands of liberal jurys..After getting all the info out of them send the ole ones back to their countries and retain the rest.

[NovaBlue05]

Is it big enough to fit Congress in?

[mopar71]

They are not "prisoners of war", because then they'd be covered under the Geneva Conventions.

According to the Geneva Conventions they should have been shot on site for not wearing a uniform, for disguising themselves as civilians. Or, they can be held until the war is over, which it probably never will be.

If they must be released, secretly put chips in their bodies so they can be tracked. Send then back to their home countries, some will go on to fight, others will be sent to prison, and still others will simply be put to death. I'm sure the last two scenarios are better than living in Gitmo.

Question: have there been any books written by former detainees? In the West, they would get a nice paycheck from that, perhaps even a movie deal. Or do they just not do the whole book thing in the Muslim world?