Congress- No money to close Guantanamo, zero, nada, zilch

[masuki bance]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Legislation to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan this year is on its way to President Barack Obama, but it provides no money for closing the Guantanamo detainee prison and sets tough restrictions on the transfer of its inmates.
...

Lawmakers sent Obama, who wants to close the prison, not one but two messages Thursday to prove they don't like the idea.

In addition to the war fighting bill, which received final congressional approval, the House used the first spending bill for 2010 to deny the president money to close the prison next year. The legislation funds law enforcement and science programs.

Many lawmakers are upset at the possibility that alleged terrorists could end up in their states or districts.

The Iraq and Afghanistan war bill, passed 91-5 Thursday by the Senate and 226-202 the previous day in the House, may represent a milestone in paying for the two wars.

...

The Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, restrictions in the war funding bill would:

_Prohibit detainees from being released in the United States.

_Prevent prisoners being transferred to the United States, except to be prosecuted. Even then, a number of requirements would have to be met, including a plan showing the risks involved, the costs, the legal rationale and certification from the attorney general that the individual poses little or no security risk.

_Stop detainees from being transferred or released to another country unless the president meets a separate set of requirements, including an assessment of risks posed and terms of the transfer agreement with the receiving country.

...

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jCGDEOeo5yJdmsM3tHjoCMdrMSngD98TKTMO0

Does this mean it will stay open, or what?

[babylonsister]

1. No money yet. I bet it will be almost empty, if not totally. Have faith. nt

[TheBigotBasher]

2. Why Does The Democratic Party keep Losing?

Because it keeps breaking the promises it makes to their voters.

The DLC solution to that - break more promises.

We have the House, Senate and Presidency for a reason. The Party needs to deliver.

[avaistheone1]

5. I couldn't have said it any better than you did.

The Democratic party can keep this peak only by starting to really deliver. Otherwise it is downhill from here for the party.

[Fovea]

3. Pass the hat. It has to be cheaper to close than to run.

And a Bush Stylee signing statement should suffice to STFU to the wet trouser congress.

[Flaneur]

4. This "we're scared of terrorist prisoners" is some of the lamest bullshit...

...I have ever seen. I mean, it's embarrassing to hear people claim that these guys are just too evil to stay in American prisons.

And why are we shelling out $100 billion a year for foreign wars, anyway?

What a crock.

[Optical.Catalyst]

9. It is more of "We are scared of the next election" than anything else

Any member of Congress who votes to close Guantanamo Bay, and then has just one prisoner transfered to their state, can kiss reelection goodbye. Politicians can be some of the most gutless creatures on Earth.







Oh, and welcome to DU!

:hi:

[winyanstaz]

6. We will never know if these people are innocent or not.....

[masuki bance]

7. Why not?

Can't we try them even if Gitmo stays open?

[winyanstaz]

12. Well its been a long long time and there have been no trials for them yet.

What makes you think there ever will be trials for them or that the trials wont be run by the military and everything having to do with torture covered up? How will we ever know the truth unless they are publicly tried?

[moondust]

8. The tyranny of idiots.

"The monsters are comin' and they might get us!"

I have never before seen such irrational, embarrassing nonsense.

[saltpoint]

10. I'm thinking folks could ask around and scarf up a buck or two to get

this done.

Obama's feeling that Guantanamo should be closed is emblematic of the wish by many of us that the Cheney/Rumsfeld model of statehood be condemned and ended.

That's worth almost whatever it costs to close one dungeon in Cuba.

I hold with babylonsister on this. Guantanamo won't close this afternoon but it will close. And that will be a real good thing.

[HamdenRice]

11. Who gives a shit? As long as the prisoners are transferred.The issue is prisoners, not the facility

I hope everyone realizes that Gitmo has been around for decades. Closing it is a minor issue. The major issue is how it's used.

Obama is trying to transfer the people, while also closing the prison there for symbolic reasons. If he transfers the people, the human rights community's concerns will have been addressed.

But I suppose the haters will continue to say Obama is a war criminal, a failure and should be impeached if he can't get this dinky little (soon to be empty) prison formally closed.

[malletgirl02]

13. Also

These same people seem to forget that Obama is not a king, and can't change things by decree. He has to go by Congress.