From AP:
GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba (AP) — Plans to close Guantanamo are not sitting well with the Sept. 11 victims' relatives who sat stunned while two alleged terrorists declared they were proud of their role in the plot.
The U.S. military brought relatives of three Sept. 11 victims to Guantanamo to observe pretrial hearings in the case of five men charged in the plot who could get the death penalty if convicted.
It is a potentially momentous time for the military detention center. President-elect Barack Obama — whose inauguration is Tuesday — has said he will close it, and many observers and some officials here expect him to suspend the war crimes tribunals for accused terrorists and move the trials to the U.S.
The five invited relatives of 9/11 victims oppose such a move.
Read more ....
More News On Guantanamo Prison
9/11 Defendants Give Unapologetic Admissions in Guantanamo War Crimes Trial -- FOX News
Families of 9/11 victims want to keep Guantanamo open -- AFP
Defense: Prosecutors want to pause Gitmo trials -- AP
Guantanamo suspects defiant as uncertainty shrouds hearings -- AFP
My Comment: It is surprising that the families of 9/11 victims have not been forceful in their condemnation of closing Gitmo in the past. It is clear that many 9/11 families feel that Guantanamo provides a proper forum to administer justice to the men who planned and executed 9/11.
The fact that today .... of all days .... we had two Al Qaeda leaders admit their guilt and are proud of what they did on 9/11 adds insult to injury to these families.
I would not be surprised if in the next few weeks 9/11 families start to protest in front of the White House on the closure of Guantanamo. I would also not be surprised to see families of soldiers who have been killed by these men and their actions start to protest also.
But will the main stream media cover these events ..... will President Obama address his concerns to these families .... my gut tells me no.