Senate bucks Obama on Gitmo

[K.Bullock]

WASHINGTON – In a rare, bipartisan defeat for President Barack Obama, the Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to keep the prison at Guantanamo Bay open for the foreseeable future and forbid the transfer of any detainees to facilities in the United States.

Democrats lined up with Republicans in the 90-6 vote that came on the heels of a similar move a week ago in the House, underscoring widespread apprehension among Obama's congressional allies over voters' strong feelings about bringing detainees to the U.S. from the prison in Cuba.

The president readied a speech for Thursday on the U.S. fight against terrorism, at a time when liberals have chafed at some of his decisions.

Obama has vowed to close the prison by January 2010, and the Senate's vote was not the final word on the matter. It will be next month at the earliest before Congress completes work on the legislation, giving the White House time pursue a compromise that would allow the president to fulfill his pledge.

But Obama's maneuvering room was further constrained during the day when FBI Director Robert Mueller told a congressional panel that he had concerns about bringing Guantanamo Bay detainees to prisons in the United States. Among the risks is "the potential for individuals undertaking attacks in the United States," said Mueller, who was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2001 and is serving a 10-year fixed term in office.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090520/...ess_guantanamo

[subroc]

Well, this is one thing he won't be able to do half cocked.

He may have the media giving him cover for foolish decisions but it appears that United States congress may be using logic instead of partisan politics when considering this.

I wonder how this will play with leftys????

Do they stand with their local elected official, obama, or the far left of the party (koz, huffington, aclu, etc.) and demand that gitmo be closed and the enemy be brought to the US regardless of if there is anywhere to put them?

[Gerry Clinchy]

There are 240 of them. Let us say that they are brought here, tried, then 20 or 30 of them are released. Where do they go then?

As I understood it, nobody wanted most of them ... not even their own countries if one was able to determine what country they did hold citizenship in.

It would appear that not even internationally is there any desire to welcome any of these people ... and the ultimate problem becomes where do they end up over the long haul. Oh, and what are they doing with any other possible terrorists that are uncovered? Obviously, the population at Gitmo is not being increased. Does that mean there are no more people who are "of interest" for intelligence purposes? Some are being held in Af'stan, but there seems to be very little information about any individuals being detained in Iraq.

[badbullgator]

There are 240 of them. Let us say that they are brought here, tried, then 20 or 30 of them are released. Where do they go then?

As I understood it, nobody wanted most of them ... not even their own countries if one was able to determine what country they did hold citizenship in.

It would appear that not even internationally is there any desire to welcome any of these people ... and the ultimate problem becomes where do they end up over the long haul. Oh, and what are they doing with any other possible terrorists that are uncovered? Obviously, the population at Gitmo is not being increased. Does that mean there are no more people who are "of interest" for intelligence purposes? Some are being held in Af'stan, but there seems to be very little information about any individuals being detained in Iraq.

As it should be. I still can't get over peoples idea that we are entitled to know EVERYTHING about National Security. (not aimed at you Gerry, just a statement)