White House: Guantanamo still closing in January

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/white-house-guantanamo-still-closing-in-january-2009-05-19.html


White House: Guantanamo still closing in January
By Sam Youngman
Posted: 05/19/09 02:51 PM


Even as Senate Democrats on Tuesday stripped the funding to relocate detainees now at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the White House said it is holding firm to President Obama's order closing the detention facility in January.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs downplayed the Democrats' decision to take out $80 million from Obama's budget that would pay to help relocate the detainees. Many lawmakers are still wary of where those alleged terrorists might end up.

"There's been no change in the date from the executive order," Gibbs said.

Gibbs said Obama will offer more details on his plan in a speech on Thursday.

"We agree with Congress that before resources, that they should receive a more detailed plan," Gibbs said.

Gibbs said the White House will work with Congress on a "timeline that makes sense for us and for them" on the funding, but the timeline for closing the facility is unchanged.

Gibbs said the president, in his speech on Thursday, will also address lawmakers' concerns about relocating the detainees to mainland U.S. soil.

[spanone]

1. go Obama......k&r

fracken democratic congress


Senate Democrats Won’t Provide Money to Close Guantánamo

WASHINGTON — In an abrupt shift, Senate Democratic leaders said on Tuesday that they would not provide the $80 million that President Obama requested to close the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.

Mr. Obama, who on Thursday is scheduled to outline his plans for the 240 detainees still held in the prison, has faced growing pressure from lawmakers, particularly Republicans, to find a solution that does not involve moving the prisoners to the United States.

While Democrats generally have been supportive of Mr. Obama’s plan to close the detention center by Jan. 22, 2010, lawmakers have not stepped forward to offer to accept detainees in their home states or districts. When the tiny town of Hardin, Mont., offered to put the terrorism suspects in the town’s empty jail, both Montana senators and its Congressional representative quickly voiced strong opposition

Republicans, including the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, applauded the Democrats’ decision not to include the funds in their version of the military spending bill. Mr. McConnell, who has been warning for weeks about the dangers of closing the prison, said that he hoped it was a prelude to keeping the camp open and dangerous terror suspects off shore, where he said they belong.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/20/us/politics/20detain.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=print

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. Why doesn't Obama just make congress fund the closing?

He has the power to make congress do what he wants, after all.

:crazy:

[EFerrari]

3. You think there's a concerted effort here to divide Obama from his base?

Nah. :sarcasm:

[babylonsister]

5. I think Reid might regret being so public about Gitmo. That

could bite him in the behind.

[EFerrari]

6. And Feinstein. What is she up to?

I thought she wanted to run for governor. Maybe she's kissing up to red California.

[babylonsister]

8. She's been pretty quiet, but used to be all for closing Gitmo.

As for guv, don't know that either. HAven't heard a word lately.

[villager]

4. Good! No last minute changes of heart on this one, okay?

n/t

[kcks]

7. so

where do we put them?

[HopeOverFear]

9. I say we send them to your house.