White House looks at details of closing Guantanamo

[babylonsister]

White House looks at details of closing Guantanamo
Plan being considered for federal judges, not military, to decide who should be held

William Glaberson, New York Times

Sunday, November 4, 2007


(11-04) 04:00 PST Washington --

Bush administration officials are considering granting Guantanamo detainees substantially greater rights as part of an effort to close the detention center and possibly move much of its population to the United States, according to officials involved in the discussions.

One proposal that is being widely discussed in the administration would overhaul the procedure for determining whether detainees are properly held by granting them legal representation at detention hearings and by giving federal judges, not military officers, the power to decide whether suspects should be held.

Although the Bush administration has long defended the legal protections afforded detainees at Guantanamo against strenuous criticism, some officials now say that moving them to U.S. soil would require giving them enhanced protections.

"If you were to bring them to the United States, there is a recognition that for policy reasons you would need even more robust procedures than those currently at Guantanamo," one senior official involved in the discussions said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because no decisions have been made.

more...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/11/04/MN78T63RM.DTL

[gratuitous]

1. Uh oh, has Mittens been consulted?

Last I heard, he wanted to "double Guantanamo" whatever in hell that means, but I'm guessing it doesn't mean an expansion so his family can camp there on weekends.

And if the prisoners there are the "worst of the worst," as we've been repeatedly told by this corrupt bunch of thugs, why is the decision of their final disposition being left up to a bunch of judges?

[opihimoimoi]

2. BS Crap....its a PR move only....they ain't gonna do shit