President Obama dealt major setback in closing Guantanamo

Army Times — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 09:23:48 -0500

From: Army Times

WASHINGTON — President Obama's 5-year-old campaign to close the federal prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, suffered a major setback as lawmakers finalizing the annual defense policy bill rejected steps toward shuttering the facility.

Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Armed Services Committee, told reporters on Monday that the final bill omits a provision giving the president the authority to transfer terror suspects to the United States if Congress signs off on a comprehensive plan to close the prison.

Levin had pushed for the authority and hailed it in May as creating "a path to close Guantanamo." With lawmakers rushing to complete the defense bill in this month's lame-duck session, Levin said proponents were unable to prevail.

"Our language ... (on Guantanamo) ... will not be in," Levin said.

The House and Senate are expected to vote and overwhelmingly approve the sweeping policy bill in the coming days, sending it to Obama.

The president has pushed to close the post-9/11 prison since his inauguration in January 2009. He has faced strong resistance from Republicans and some Democrats in Congress who don't want terror suspects housed in U.S. facilities and have warned of suspects returning to the fight when they are transferred back to their home countries.

In its version of the defense bill in May, the Senate Armed Services Committee included a provision that would authorize the transfer of terror suspects to U.S. soil "for detention, trial and incarceration, subject to stringent security measures and legal protections, once the president has submitted a plan to Congress for closing Guantanamo and Congress has had an opportunity to vote to disapprove that plan under expedited procedures."

The House version of the defense bill prohibited the transfer to U.S. soil, and Republican and Democratic lawmakers who have repeatedly and successfully fought White House efforts to move detainees prevailed in the final version of the defense bill.

Currently, the prison holds 142 men, including 73 already cleared for release.

Last month, the Pentagon said it sent a Saudi citizen who has spent the past 12 years detained at Guantanamo to his homeland. The transfer of Muhammad al-Zahrani was based on the conclusion of a U.S. government board that has been re-evaluating the need to continue holding some of the men as prisoners.

http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/capitol-hill/2014/12/01/obama-dealt-major-setback-in-closing-guantanamo/19759741/

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2014 9:37 AM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 09:37:34 -0500

Resistance is futile?

Not surprised at the resistance with this initiative, it's conflicting to say the least.

Response by SGT James Hastings made Dec 2 at 2014 10:06 AM

SGT James Hastings — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 10:06:55 -0500

I've never understood the rationale behind the President's desire to close the prison. He hasn't shown any interest in reducing the national debt. Do you think he would cut the salary of his helpers to save the nation from further debt? Maybe taking fewer vacations at the public expense could save enough money to balance the budget? Oh, right, we don't have a budget. I forgot that one.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Dec 2 at 2014 10:18 AM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 10:18:25 -0500

I'm interested in hearing people's opinions on this (please keep it professional) -- At this stage, does closing GITMO serve a military purpose, or does it more serve a political purpose? Specifically, would this simply be symbolic or would it actually align well with our military's strategy?

Response by SFC Melker Johansson made Dec 2 at 2014 12:00 PM

SFC Melker Johansson — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 12:00:20 -0500

The facility definitely need to be closed down. The 73 cleared for release need to be repatriated without further delay and the rest transferred to confinement facilities in the United States. I think the current cost for each detainee held at GTMO is 1.6 million dollars a year. We would save a lot of money by using existing federal prisons in the United States.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2014 12:03 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 12:03:16 -0500

The mistake was us establishing GITMO to circumvent International law and treaties; then to enact policies and laws (read as: PATRIOT Act) that allow indefinite and unjustified detention.

And here's a prime example of how a President cannot simply do "anything he/she wants". Yet we'll continue to attack Obama for "failing to keep a promise" rather than blame Congress and the U.S.G. as a whole for allowing this farce of democracy to go un-checked.

GITMO existing directly undermines our credibility and our security.

Response by MAJ Michael Scharff made Dec 2 at 2014 12:08 PM

MAJ Michael Scharff — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 12:08:33 -0500

At least someone in Washington is doing the right thing...

Response by LCpl Angela P. made Dec 2 at 2014 1:14 PM

LCpl Angela P. — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 13:14:46 -0500

Their is never an good outcome from closing any prison facility

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Dec 2 at 2014 1:55 PM

Cpl Dennis F. — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 13:55:53 -0500

Given all of the commentary on global this and global that. We need GITMO or something like it to deal with the "other than" problems. We have for some time now had global non-state bad actors (international criminals/terrorists) causing havoc for the whole planet. Perhaps we need an internationally administered site (no, not the UN, they have caused more problems than they have fixed) We have Interpol, why not Interprison, Run as was post war Germany by a collective of countries. The SciFi writers seem to understand this, removing all the assorted bad apples off world.

Response by SSG John Erny made Dec 2 at 2014 2:12 PM

SSG John Erny — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 14:12:54 -0500

Well, back every one 1000 M and sweep and zone the compound 6 rounds HE, 6 rounds Willy Pete, shake and bake. Does that sound cruel and unjust? These bastards would cut the throat of a child. You can't fix evil but you can kill it some times. Let them go and they will kill again period. Every enemy we have fought in the past has had some Honor, but not these animals.

Response by SFC Melker Johansson made Dec 2 at 2014 2:35 PM

SFC Melker Johansson — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 14:35:40 -0500

Just out of curiosity: Anyone here actually been to the detention facility?

Response by SPC Donald Moore made Dec 2 at 2014 4:10 PM

SPC Donald Moore — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 16:10:07 -0500

It is a bad idea to release those prisoners to go back and lead our enemy against us again.

Response by TSgt Tim (lj) Littlejohn made Dec 2 at 2014 4:38 PM

TSgt Tim (lj) Littlejohn — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 16:38:37 -0500

If Obama releases the prisoners at Gitmo he should be responsible for what ever wrong to any U.S. citizen harmed any place in the world!

Response by PO2 Aubrey Mayberry made Dec 3 at 2014 11:02 AM

PO2 Aubrey Mayberry — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 11:02:25 -0500

Nothing more than political posturing

Response by PO3 Greg Lytwyn made Dec 3 at 2014 11:06 AM

PO3 Greg Lytwyn — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 11:06:48 -0500

why is there such heat to close Guantanamo? Is this all from the fall out of the pictures and the handling of the prisoners?

Response by Cpl Don "GUNNY" Miller made Dec 8 at 2014 12:02 AM

Cpl Don "GUNNY" Miller — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 00:02:00 -0500

SFC (Verify To See), Pentagon

Cpl Don Miller I would like to hear your motivation for the "drive-by" down vote.

Don't know what a drive by down vote is just didn't agree With you on closing GITMO as I don't think we should move and keep terrorist in the USA. I feel GITMO is more secure in the event that they may escape and not have access to the public. Did not and do not intend on a lengthy debate, just stating my opinion.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2015 5:27 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 17:27:39 -0500

Here is the qwandry as I see it. I don't want the terrorists/enemy combatants or what ever their designation is to be brought into the United States - that affords them protections under our Constitution and there is always some lawyer that will want to make a name for themselves defending scum. I also don't want that "threat" brought within our borders event though we have some excellent Federal Detention Centers that could house them.
If brought into the United States I don't want to see them mixing with general population criminals and recruiting future terrorists on our shores.

The flip side of all this is that we cannot hold them indefinitely and if and when released are most likely going to make their way back to the battlefield and their end will come when a drone fires a hellfire missile at them. (At least that is what I would envision would happen to them).

In my opinion we need to maintain the facility at GITMO for the most hardened of terrorists/enemy combatants. Whether we spend 1.6 million per detainee down there or stateside it is going to cost us money.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2015 12:39 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 12:39:16 -0500

GITMO needs to remain open to house terrorists, period. We shouldn't bring them to the continental U.S. so they can do more damage. We should recognize better ways to gain information but keep the detention center active for national security purposes. No matter how many rights we give others, we will not end the hatred taught by certain beliefs that authorize deception as part of their systems. Truth, Justice, Honor, and Compassion are all hallmarks of liberty. We can't have the freedoms we have without taking responsibility for the troubles caused by those who seek to erode our freedoms through hate and disinformation.

Response by SGT Robert Wilson made Jan 14 at 2015 2:03 PM

SGT Robert Wilson — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 14:03:00 -0500

your president always wanted to close gitmo but could not and since he released prisoners that reattacked us again for a traitor that caused American lives. we need a new real leader.

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2015 3:59 AM

LCpl Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 03:59:43 -0500

He's been talking about closing the prison camp at Gitmo (because no one wants to close the actual base except the Cubans, and if we normalize relations that tune will change PDQ, hello American servicemen dollars! Welcome to Cuba! Have a cigar and some rum!) since he started campaigning. I've never seen an actual plan from any one on getting this properly sorted.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2015 4:02 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 16:02:07 -0500

Maybe it has been said but if we close Guantanamo Bay and send the prisoners to Federal prisons...oh my. Can you build a shank fast enough? Those prisoners are far better off than at Sing Sing or Leavenworth.

Response by TSgt John Gearity made Jan 24 at 2015 7:01 PM

TSgt John Gearity — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 19:01:31 -0500

If the white house would wake up and smell the dead roses in the middle east and declare war on Jihad, those in GITMO would be POW's and we can hold them till this is over, or till hell freezes over!!