US News
Pentagon drawing up plans to close Guantanamo (Roundup)
By Mike McCarthy Dec 18, 2008, 20:29 GMT
A file photograph dated 09 October 2007, screened and cleared by the US Department of Defence officials, shows a US soldier standing in a guard tower overlooking Camp Delta on US Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has ordered plans to be drafted for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention centre, the Pentagon says on 18 December 2008. EPA/SHAWN THEW
Washington - US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has ordered aides to begin drawing up a plan to close the prison for suspects in the war on terrorism at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Pentagon said Thursday.
Gates wants to be prepared to move quickly if president-elect Barack Obama, who has pledged to close Guantanamo, makes it an earlier priority after taking office on January 20, spokesman Geoff Morrell said.
'He has asked his team for a proposal on how to shut it down, what would be required specifically to close it and move the detainees from that facility,' Morrell said.
Gates has agreed to stay on as Pentagon chief under Obama and has also expressed a desire to close Guantanamo as soon as possible. Gates has said, however, there are complicated legal issues that would have to be worked out, including a law the would ban the detainees from seeking asylum in the United States.
'One of the requirements of closure is, you know, constructing legislation that will provide some sort of comprehensive framework, statutory framework for the detention of this population outside of the confines of Gitmo,' Morrell said, using the nickname for the naval installation in the remote part of Cuba.
There are about 250 detainees still held at the prison, which opened in 2002 to hold terrorism suspects, most of whom were captured during fighting in Afghanistan. It also houses the alleged mastermind of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and other senior al-Qaeda figures.
'The motivation for the secretary in this ... is not just the fact that he believes closure is the right thing, but that the president- elect has made it perfectly clear throughout the course of the campaign that ... he wishes to address this issue early on in his administration,' Morrell said.
Guantanamo is also the site of the military prisons for trying suspects in the war on terrorism. The process has so far produced only three convictions, and most of the prisoners have not been formally charged but are held as 'enemy combatants.'
The Pentagon has identified 60 detainees for release, but they remain there because Washington has been unable to find countries willing to take them. Yemenis make up the largest group of the prisoners.
Obama has said he will order reviews of all of the cases in Guantanamo, and has hinted at preferring trials in US federal civilian courts. He said he wants to close the facility responsibly.
Guantanamo has been severely criticized by human rights groups and has been the subject of torture and abuse allegations during interrogation of the prisoners, including the use of waterboarding.
Guantanamo has also been a symbol of international criticism of President George W Bush's policies in the war on terrorism. Bush has expressed a desire to shutter the facility as well, but has been unable to come up with an acceptable plan.
The Bush administration maintains that it does not transfer detainees to other countries without first getting assurances they will not be tortured or abused.
Australian David Hicks, who was captured fighting with the Taliban in Afghanistan, pleaded guilty under the military commissions in 2007 to one count of providing material support for terrorism, and served out his nine-month sentence in his home country.
In August, Osama bin Laden's driver and bodyguard, Salim Hamdan, was convicted and received a five-and-a-half year prison sentence, which included his time already served. He was transferred to his native Yemen to complete the remainder of his sentence. He is due for release in January.
A propagandist for bin Laden, Ali Hamza al-Bahlul, also Yemeni, was convicted in November of conspiracy, providing material support for terrorism and soliciting murder as an al-Qaeda propagandist who made videos designed to recruit suicide bomber. He received a life sentence.
COMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in US
- 1. Mitt Romney Addresses Tea Party Summit Pictures
- 2. Seven injured as US Navy plane crashes into apartments
- 3. At least three injured in US Navy plane crash
- 4. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, others to face death penalty trial
- 5. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, four others to face death penalty trial
Older Talkback
page: 1
at last
THE VOICE OF SANITY!
This should have happened years ago.
'The Bush administration maintains that it does not transfer detainees to other countries without first getting assurances they will not be tortured or abused'
LOL
The sad thing about Guantanamo is that it is needed in this world, just not the way it is currently implemented.
It is currently a torture chamber to kidnap people and never release them and hold them from the justice system. It is, perhaps, one of the worst infractions of justice in recent history.
It could have been a model of justice and a shining beacon for hope and peace.
But, instead the United States turned it into a filthy place that demonstrates the true mind of its leaders. People with unpleasant minds that use hypocrisy as a tool for power where justice is is only a word to hide injustice.
..it has withstood every legal challenge the fairest court system in the world (that would be the USA) has put to it.
For all of their bombast, the naysayers have absolutely no victories to hold up in challenging Gitmo, and scant few in the detainees themselves.
Like Roosevelt, Bush took advantage of the system and it has been effective in keeping these combatants at bay....Guantanamo bay.
Now, Lance, run along and see how much you can impress us with your dissertation on how Bush broke the Bank of England.
'it has withstood every legal challenge the fairest court system in the world (that would be the USA) has put to it.'
Perfect example showing how the typical U.S. citizen lives in a dream world.
With fantasies like that it is no wonder that the U.S. is screwed up.
..you mean like your comment about Bush breaking the Bank of England?
That, Lance, is a fantasy.
Court record is fact, Lance. Time to grow up. Heck, worldwide, we're probably the most conservative on how we've haqndled this, compared to the other major powers i.e. Russia, China, India, etc.
NONE of the court challenges have succeeded.
CONGRESS, a liberal-led one, was unwilling to end it, when they could have.
Now, run along and finish that dissertation we're all waiting for.
'Court record is fact, Lance.'
Then I suggest you read the records.
I'm hardly going to argue with you SP4, you are a Bush groupie and always will be. Go blow off.
..I suggested YOU read them. If you did, you'd now be running to that Bush-broke-the-Bank-of-England doctoral you've been procrastinating on.
Like most libnazis, you're argument fails on the facts. NO court action was able to close GITMO. No congressional act was ever tried, because it would certainly fail. In addition, the dems WANTED it and wanted to be able to assign blame to Bush, just as when they greenlighted the Iraq war, rendition, interrogation, etc.
No, Lance, run back to your biases, they are all you have.
Have a nice day SP4.
OPERATION CLEAR-OUT
Pass this problem to Airborne Transport Command.
'Calling all cargo handlers - this is no drill !' . Now, execute the practice trimmed to perfection in Vietnam.
You load 4 of these guys in each lift aboard a Huey. Then you give them a one-way Huey-Hop over the Bay, about 1000 feet is OK. Should not take too long to clear the entire batch.
Nice fresh air, an exiting free ride and lovely cool crystal clear water.
...I'd just skip the water.
Retreating????
This must be the only prison in the world where multiple inmates were told to go home and REFUSED out of fear of returning to their original homelands
More people died in Ted K's car than in this joke of a so-called prison!
Put old General Patton in charge and it will be a true prison!
That place is a social service agency and not a real prison where people are made to suffer.....that is if you call cold water in the face and a barking dog torture.
I see that in my neighborhood in the summertime for free and it is no prison.
once upon a time AMERICA was the country of dreams, now its the country of war, terrorism, fear, bankrupsy, and paranoia.
guantanamo is the true face of america.
and it doesn't matter if they close it down, the world,(yes there is an outside world of about 20 times america's size!) has seen it!
you can't cover this any more, people have brains, 6 billion people now have seen, and they know, and sp4 can live in his dream world and be happy, thats how much he understands.
page: 1
here's a planDec 18th, 2008 - 21:32:00
Kick the guests out, turn off the lights and lock the door. There, I just saved the Pentagon 6 months and 20 million dollars. I suppose the arseholes need a plan in order to take a shit. By the numbers, people, by the numbers. One, two, three, shit.
Report this comment