Thursday, August 8, 2013

Another Reason On Why Guantanamo Will Not Be Closed Soon

Yemenis make up the largest group by nationality at the Guantanamo detention facility, Cuba. News.com.au

Yemen Turmoil Could Stall Obama's Effort To Close Guantanamo -- Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Turmoil in Yemen and the warnings of attacks that prompted the United States to shut diplomatic missions across the Middle East could hinder President Barack Obama's plans to close Guantanamo Bay prison.

Obama's plan to restart the repatriation of Yemeni inmates, a large group at the prison, is coming under increasing scrutiny because of the recent focus on the country as a hotbed of al Qaeda activity.

A U.S. senator involved in the debate over closing Guantanamo warned against transferring prisoners to Yemen, and an Obama administration official acknowledged that "current conditions will necessarily factor into that evaluation" of whether any detainees should be sent back to Yemen.

"It's not likely to happen" in the near future said Daniel Green, an expert on Yemen at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Read more ....

Update: Security threat from Yemen complicates Obama’s Guantanamo plan -- Washington Post

My Comment: This is a problem .... especially since more than half the detainees at Guantanamo are from Yemen. If sent to a prison in Yemen, it is all but a guarantee that they will be sprung out in a very short period of time. And while some will not resort to jihad, I would wager that most would.

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