Small US town wants to be the new Gitmo (Feature)

By Mike McCarthy Jun 10, 2009, 1:04 GMT

Washington - US President Barack Obama's plans to close the Guantanamo Bay prison has prompted politicians from across the country to declare their opposition to bringing any of the detainees to their constituencies. But there is a small poor town in Montana with welcoming arms open.

Hardin lies in the southeastern part of Montana known as Big Sky Country and is home to about 3,400 residents. Two years ago the city completed construction of a 27-million-dollar prison, hoping it would create badly needed jobs and boost the local economy.

The facility built to hold 464 inmates has not seen a single prisoner since, mainly because of a dispute between Hardin and the Montana state government.

But Obama's election and his quick announcement to close Guantanamo within a year brought new hope. Hardin's officials offered use of the prison for housing all or some of the 240 detainees remaining at Guantanamo until they could be transferred or tried.

So far, though, the offer has fallen on dead ears. The city's director of economic development, Greg Smith, said that Hardin has not heard back from the federal government. Worsening their case is the refusal of Montana's three representatives to support the idea.

Smith said the medium-security prison could be upgraded to handle the Guantanamo detainees and that any shortcomings could be made up with added manpower. While Hardin wants to do its part to help close Guantanamo, Smith says, the prison could pump millions of dollars into the economy.

'It would be better than hitting the lottery,' Smith said in a telephone interview.

The White House has not commented on what it plans to do with the Guantanamo detainees. Few countries have stepped forward to take some off the Obama administration's hands, and Obama has run into fierce Democratic and Republican opposition in Congress over the prospect that some of the suspected terrorists could end up in the United States.

Montana's lawmakers in Washington are no exception. 'I understand the need to create jobs, but we're not going to bring al-Qaeda to Big Sky Country - no way, not on my watch,' Democratic Senator Max Baucus said, according to Time.

Congress last month blocked 80 million dollars in funding requested by Obama to begin closing Guantanamo, demanding that the president first outline his plans for housing the detainees. Obama could do that next month, when the task force he assembled to come up with a plan is due to report.

After the congressional defeat, Obama held firm, saying he intends to bring some detainees to the United States and accused members of Congress of preying on the public fear for political gain.

For the city of Hardin, the long wait to determine the fate of the prison continues - although some residents are not thrilled about transferring dangerous Guantanamo Bay detainees to their neighbourhood.

Clara Eshleman, who lives 'kitty corner' to the prison with husband William, wants to see the prison filled, but not with Guantanamo inmates.

'I am not in favour of it, neither of us are in favour of it,' she said when reached by telephone. 'I don't think it's a good idea.'