Battle over Guantánamo set to erupt: Obama threatens closure of Gitmo via Executive Action

President Obama is on a collision course with congressional Republicans over the Guantánamo Bay detention facility, with increasing chatter in Washington that he might seek to close the prison through executive action. The administration is expected to hand over a plan to Congress for shuttering the Cuban prison, in an attempt to fulfill a long-standing campaign pledge before Obama leaves office.


Read more at The Hill Read More......

Obama frees suspected bodyguard of Osama bin Laden from Guantanamo

The military freed one of Guantánamo's most determined hunger strikers to Saudi Arabia Tuesday, a former "forever prisoner" brought here the day Camp X-Ray opened as a suspected bodyguard of Osama bin Laden.
The release, to a Saudi jet on this base's air strip, left the prison camp population at 114. Now, 52 of the captives are cleared for release to special security agreements with other countries.


Read more at the Miami Herald Read More......

WSJ: Release of Taliban Detainees Alarms Afghan Villagers

SHEYKHAN, Afghanistan—Taliban forces led by Mohammed Fazl swept through this village on the Shomali plain north of Kabul in 1999 in a scorched-earth offensive that prompted some 300,000 people to flee for their lives.

Fifteen years later, local residents here are responding with fear and dismay to the U.S. release of the notorious commander, along with four other Taliban leaders in exchange for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the only American prisoner of war who was held by the Taliban. The group released a video on Wednesday showing the hurried handover a few days earlier of the American captive, looking gaunt and dazed.

Read more at Wall Street Journal Read More......

FOX: Civilian Jury Clears Former Gitmo Detainee of All But One Charge

The first Guantanamo Bay detainee to face a civilian trial is convicted in New York City of only a lesser consipiracy charge in the deadly 1998 plot to bomb two U.S. embassies in Africa. Read more at Fox News... Read More......

Keep Terrorists Out of America Act

From Brad Dayspring, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Cantor Joins House GOP Members to Introduce Keep Terrorists Out of America Act - WASHINGTON, DC – House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) today joined several Republican colleagues to introduce the Keep Terrorists Out of America Act—legislation intended to prevent prisoners being held at Guantanamo Bay from being relocated to the United States.

The Keep Terrorists Out of America Act requires pre-approval from governors and state legislatures to transfer or release any terrorist detainee into their respective state. The legislation establishes strict criteria and certification standards that must be met before any detainee is released into the United States. Cantor is also an original co-sponsor of H.R. 1186, which seeks to prohibit prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility from being transferred to federal prisons or military bases in Virginia.

At a press conference earlier today on Capitol Hill, Mr. Cantor made the following statement:

“This is the one area where I’m going to take a protectionist stance—protection from terrorists. If there’s ever a time for protectionism, this is it.

“Coming from Virginia, where there are two facilities on the list of potential sites for relocating these terrorists, I am particularly passionate about making sure that the President’s desire, and some in this congress, to bring these enemy combatants to the soil of the United States does not happen. With the communities surrounding Naval Base Norfolk and those around Quantico, in their interest—this must not happen.”

View the Video Here


Facts on the Keep Terrorists Out of America Act (Courtesy of the Office of the Republican Leader):

Affirming Congress’ Opposition to the Release and Transfer of Terrorists. The bill affirms Congress’ opposition to transferring or releasing terrorists held at the Guantanamo Bay prison into the United States. Most Americans do not support releasing these terrorists from Guantanamo Bay prison and transferring them into the United States. The bill gives Congress an opportunity to show that it stands with the American people on this critical matter, and opposes the release and transfer of these terrorists.

Governor & State Legislature Pre-Approval. The measure prohibits the Administration from transferring or releasing any terrorist detainees at Guantanamo Bay to any state without express approval from the state’s governor and legislature, and certifies to Congress that strict requirements have been met. For example, the Administration must certify to the respective governor and state legislature that the detainee does not pose a security risk to the United States. The certifications must be made 60 days before any transfer or release.

Presidential Certification Requirements. The measure prohibits the President from transferring or releasing a terrorist detainee into the United States unless he provides the following notification and certification to Congress regarding:
The name of the detainee and transfer/release location in the United States.
The release/transfer would not negatively impact continued prosecution of the detainee.
The release/transfer would not negatively impact continued detention of the detainee.
The ability of federal judges to release detainees into the United States. Read More......

Official: Pentagon report says Gitmo humane

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Pentagon says the Guantanamo Bay prison meets the standard for humane treatment laid out in the Geneva Conventions, according to a report for President Barack Obama, who has ordered the terrorist detention center closed within a year. Read more at Breitbart News...

Obama backs Bush: No rights for Bagram prisoners
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama sided with the Bush administration Friday, saying detainees in Afghanistan have no constitutional rights. Read More......

Obama reverses Bush policies

Breitbart.com: Obama reverses Bush abortion-funds policy

U.S. News & World Report: Obama Signs order to close Guantanamo

GOP Questions Obama's Orders
The AP reports House Minority Leader John Boehner "was among a group of House Republicans who quickly filed a bill seeking to bar federal courts from ordering Guantanamo detainees to be released into the United States." The Financial Times notes "several top Republicans raised concerns that Mr. Obama was giving too many rights to detainees and had not explained how he would protect Americans from terrorism suspects brought to the US."

A third Executive Order prohibits lobbyists from serving in Obama's administration... but exceptions are being made so we'll see what that EO is worth... Read More......