Obama moves to close Guantanamo Bay

February 25, 2016

The White House has presented to Congress a plan to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, one of President Barack Obama’s long-standing goals. It wants to transfer the remaining 91 detainees to their home countries or to US military or civilian prisons. But Congress is deeply opposed to terror suspects being held on US soil and is expected to block the move. The prison costs $445m (£316m) to run annually and closing it was a 2009 promise from Obama. “This is about closing a chapter in our history,” Obama said yesterday, adding, “It reflects the lessons we’ve learned since 9/11- lessons that must guide our nation going forward.”
But Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio was scathing in his criticism, saying Guantanamo prisoners do not belong on US soil The president, who will complete his second and final term in January, said it was important not to pass the problem on to his successor. “Keeping this facility open is contrary to our values. It undermines our standing in the world. It is viewed as a stain on our broader record of upholding the highest standards of rule of law,’ Obama further said.’ Guantanamo Bay is located on an American naval base in south eastern Cuba. Former US President George W Bush opened it to accommodate foreign terror suspects after the 9/11 attacks on the US. Human rights groups have repeatedly complained about the prison, which has held 780 men total since it opened in 2002. Many detainees have been held there without charge or trial.