Guantanamo Can Be Closed In Ten Days

by: Chris LeJeune

Wed Oct 21, 2009 at 11:04:44 AM EDT


Much has been made of the decision to close the detainee camp at Guantanamo Bay.  Proponents of the plan point to its use as a recruiting tool by AQ and other militant groups around the world.  On the other side, many state that closing the prison is just an unneeded expense that will not resolve anything.  In the middle of the two arguments, however, one point is often overlooked.  That is the question of whether or not the US military can do it.  Is it actually a feasible solution, and are there plans in place to carry it out?  That question has now been answered:


GUANTANAMO BAY NAVY BASE, Cuba -- The military can comply with a White House order to empty the detention center and clear all 221 war-on-terror captives off this remote base "with 10 days notice,'' the prison camps commander said Tuesday.

Navy Rear Adm. Tom Copeman told The Miami Herald and Fox News in an interview that his 2,100-member team of guards and other support staff can meet President Barack Obama's Jan. 22 closure deadline right through the eighth anniversary of the establishment of the controversial prison camps.

"If they say on Jan. 12, 'Move them out,' we can meet the deadline,'' he said, "given the proper amount of logistical support.''

There are not a lot of detainees left.  The facility which once held over 500 prisoners, now only has 221 left.  Of those, 17 have been ordered as set free by a federal judge.

Chris LeJeune :: Guantanamo Can Be Closed In Ten Days
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I'm guessing (0.00 / 0)
the speed-bump here is figuring out what to do with those remaining detainees. The answer should be obvious, move them to the states.  Even that would require sometime to prepare facilities for their arrival. Still, this isn't something that can't be accomplished.

I'm on twitter.

Actually, from what I've read (0.00 / 0)
The speed bump is logistical.  They try not to put more than 20 prisoners on a plane at a time.  They also are very careful about traveling to multiple destinations at a time.  So basically, they have to separate them out according to final destination, then make a dozen trips, with a ton of security involved.  They actually take more precautions with these guys than the Federal Bureau of Prisons does with supermax prisoners.  Then there is the question of what to do with the 17 that are to be released. Altogether the whole thing is a logistical nightmare.  

"No U.S. soldier ever dies in vain because they're carrying out the missions of their commander in chief. And we honor all the service that they've provided." - Barack Obama

[ Parent ]
Facilities in the US being used (0.00 / 0)
meh (0.00 / 0)
I generally have no sympathy for these people.  Not familiar with the Bishop case, but I find it strange that he waited until the day before his unit deployed to decide he needed to work on conscientious objector paperwork.  And Church, I've read his details before. There are so many things he could have done that would have helped his situation that he did not do, and decided to go AWOL instead.

Even that considered, if there were abuses in the confinement facility, thats a problem. But having worked with CF's when I was in the Army, I doubt what is described actually occurred. These guys are professionals who's MOS is operating prisons (not detailed Soldiers like at abu grahib). They know what is kosher and what isn't and that their careers are in the line if they break the rules. Also, I generally don't trust civilian defense councils who work in military courts.  

I'm on twitter.


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