Obama Vows New Push To Close Guantanamo Detention Camp -- Reuters
(Reuters) - President Barack Obama vowed on Tuesday to make a new push to close the Guantanamo detention center, where about 100 inmates are on hunger strike, saying it was damaging to U.S. interests to keep holding prisoners there in legal limbo.
Human rights groups have long been critical of the 12-year-old camp for foreign terrorism suspects, and their concern has intensified in recent weeks. Some of those on hunger strike are being force-fed at the camp at the U.S. Naval Base in Cuba.
Obama, who repeatedly vowed to close the camp, which now holds 166 detainees, when he was campaigning for a first term and when he first took office in 2009, said he would re-engage with lawmakers to find a way to shut the facility and make good on an unkept promise.
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More News On President Obama's Vow To Close Guantanamo Prison
Obama vows to try to close Gitmo again -- Washington Post
Obama to Seek Closing Amid Hunger Strike at Guantánamo -- New York Times
Obama pledges to 're-engage' on Gitmo amid hunger strike -- NBC
Obama promises (again) to close down Guantanamo Bay -- National Post/Bloomberg
Guantánamo Bay: Obama Reiterates Need To Close Detention Center -- FOX News
Barack Obama says Guantanamo Bay prison must close -- BBC
Obama pledges renewed push on Gitmo -- Politico
Obama: We need to close Guantanamo Bay -- USA Today
Obama: Guantánamo prison 'not in the best interests of the American people' -- The Guardian
Obama renews pledge to close Guantanamo -- ABC News (Australia)
My Comment: I mentioned at the beginning of his first term (January 2009) that President Obama's vow to close Guanatanmo prison in 100 days was not realistic .... and I will say the same thing again today. The problem with many of these inmates is that while some can probably be repatriated to their country of origin .... many cannot. The inmates that cannot be released are simply too dangerous .... but because of how they were captured and interrogated .... doubts that they can be convicted in a standard U.S. court of law are legitimate .... the evidence will probably be thrown out.
I have always said that the best way to handle these detainees is through a military court .... but this White House has made it abundantly clear that this is not their preferred option. Hence .... we are now in that no-mans land of legal limbo .... and dangerous inmates who are now realizing that they are not going to be released.