Guantanamo Being Emptied As Middle East Deteriorates

The current number of Guantanamo detainees is now down to 93 – and counting. With the recent release of 10 detainees it brings the occupancy levels down to the lowest in almost fourteen years. Even without a plan approved by Congressional lawmakers to officially close the facility, President Obama seems intent on overseeing the reduction in the utilization of the facility.

Karoun Demirjian – The Washington Post

GUANTANAMO DETAINEE COUNT BELOW 100: The Pentagon officially announced the release of 10 Yemeni detainees to Oman on Thursday, bringing the number of inmates at the facility in Guantanamo Bay down below 100 for the first time in 14 years. The men who were released had all been held for about 14 years as well, according to the Omani government, and in that time, had never been charged. According to Omani officials, they are in that country for a temporary stay.

But even at 93 and counting down, the ultimate question hanging over Guantanamo remains, and that is whether the Obama administration will succeed in its bid to close the facility before President Obama’s term ends this time next year. Congress is insisting that the president submit a plan before lawmakers take any moves to shutter the facility, and resistance is high against transferring detainees to the United States – a move that seems necessary for at least some of the more dangerous detainees that other countries will be reluctant to accept. Transfers of some inmates to the U.S. is part of the latest Gitmo closure plan the Pentagon submitted to the White House for approval, according to Defense Secretary Ash Carter in a speech written about in this CNN report.

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