US, February 24, 2016 – President Barack Obama of the United States is currently seeking congressional support to shut down, Guantanamo Bay, US detention centre in Cuba.
Obama made the revelation during a press call by a Senior Administration Officer in the White House.
Speaking on the detention facility, he said President Obama wants to finish what he started.
Closure of Guantanamo Bay was one of the issues that dominated Obama’s campaign, prior to his election.
Quoting the President, the officer said the facility is a negative symbol for American security, adding that it inspires jihadist.
“The last thing I’d say is the reason the President is doing this, finish what we began, which is Guantanamo is a symbol, it’s a negative symbol for our national security.
“The President has said this, the prior President has said this, many of our generals have told us this. It hurts us with our allies, it inspires jihadists, and it’s time to bring this chapter of American history to a close.
“The President strongly believes we can safely hold the small remaining population of between 30 to 60, which is their current estimate and what we based our estimates on, that we can safely do so in the United States”, he said.
The Administration Officer who made the call with Mr. Price said the President considers closing the camp and relocating the remaining inmates that cannot be transferred to the US and that it is cheaper to hold inmates in US than at Guantanamo Bay.
He explained that Obama regards operation of the facility as inconsistent with American values.
“He regards it as a providing propaganda for terrorists. He regards it as continuing to cause friction with foreign partners. And he regards it as a cost drain on the U.S. taxpayer. And so this plan picks up on what has been a consistent effort to move towards closure for all of those reasons.
“And as the plan lays out, some efforts are continuing, such as to review those potentially eligible for transfer and to transfer those who have been deemed eligible, and we’ll continue doing those’’, he said.
According to him, other elements of the plan involve a conversation with Congress, adding that the President hopes that presentation of the report will spark that conversation and allow US to move forward on other aspects of what is needed to achieve closure.
