Return Fire, 2nd Volley: US Senate to consider blocking Guantanamo closure

[Clio the Leo]

Related to...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=556595">Return Fire: House Dems Attempt to Block Obama's Ability to Close Git'mo

US Senate to consider blocking Guantanamo closure
WASHINGTON — The US Senate begins consideration Thursday of a bill that if adopted will block civilian trials of "war on terror" suspects and closure of the US prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a congressional source said Wednesday.

The development, which follows passage of a similar measure by the House of Representatives on December 8, has raised an outcry among human rights groups.

The measure consists of a paragraph refusing the administration's request "for the first year costs of criminal trials for some former Guantanamo Bay detainees because the administration's plan for these trials is still undefined."

It also contains language prohibiting the administration from using funds to acquire a prison to hold Guantanamo detainees in the United States. The administration had planned to buy a prison in Illinois for that purpose.

"We urge those on Capitol Hill to put politics aside and refocus on implementing smart national security strategies that include holding those who would harm Americans accountable in our courts," Elisa Massimino, the head of Human Rights First, said.

<snip>

Obama had promised to close the prison at the US naval base at Guantanamo before January 2010 but backed off in the face of stiff opposition in the Congress.

There are still 174 detainees at Guantanamo, only three of whom have been formally tried and found guilty.

The European Commission said Friday it was "very concerned" by the December 8 vote in the House despite the efforts of EU members to help America "turn a very dark page" of its history.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gLFzzL0d-bBArJCxzIdfwSQZgSGA?docId=CNG.937a29e74a6fa43f33a85ed42e22fb84.9b1

[vaberella]

1. DU doesn't care about this. They believe that Obama never wanted to close Gitmo.

I deal with that crap regularly on this board. I'm glad the president was planning on building a Prison in the US. But that will be shot down by the pricks in office.

[Clio the Leo]

3. You'd think those who are oppose to the war & who dont want Obama to "cave"...

.... would be upset about this .... but ..... guess they all have me on "ignore." ;)

[alcibiades_mystery]

6. "If only he would 'fight' for a Guantanamo closure, the Senate and House would relent..."

And blah blah blah and other completely meaningless nonsense.

He's put attempts up by my count six different times in under two years, and at every step the attempt to close Gitmo is stymied by the recalcitrant Congress, including Dems, not to mention state legislators and admins playing a silly and nonsensical NIMBY routine. But it's Obama's fault that Gitmo's not closed, because he should "fight" harder.

It's a real eye-opening lesson in the utter meaninglessness of this "fight harder" bit.

[TwilightGardener]

2. This is truly weird. I don't know what to make of this. WHO is sponsoring this measure

in the House and Senate--are they Dems or Repubs?

[Clio the Leo]

5. Read the original article...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=556595

... obviously this new article doesn't name names (or even committees) but Dems CONTROL the business of the Senate .... bills dont get brought up, committees dont meet on anything unless WE allow it (or push it.)

[TwilightGardener]

7. Seems like everyone's pretending they didn't know where the idea came from, it

just magically appeared in the bill. That's really chickenshit behavior--disappointed with Democrats. If they believe Gitmo should not be closed, they should openly sponsor and defend the provision.

[Clio the Leo]

8. isn't that crazy? nt

[mtnsnake]

4. So what is President Obama saying about this from the bully pulpit?