There are now 155 detainees at the U.S. military
prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba — down from
almost 250 in 2009.
​(Via U.S. Army)
Tuesday the Pentagon announced it transferred
three Uighur Chinese nationals to Slovakia
from Gitmo.
The Pentagon called the move "a significant
milestone" in the effort to close the facility.
Guantanamo Bay is arguably one of the world's
most infamous prisons — the target of a
lot of criticism both domestically and internationally.
(Via National Geographic)
"A place where the U.S. could avoid playing
by its own rules.
Rules like a right to a fair trial, innocent
until proven guilty."
(Via RT)
A judge actually ordered the newly released
men to be freed back in 2008 — but until
Slovakia took them, there hadn't been a place
to send them.
The U.S. couldn't send them back to China
over concerns of mistreatment by the Chinese
government.
Uighurs are a Muslim minority in China and
have been treated like terrorists.
In 2001, the U.S. captured 22 Uighurs, some
of whom were released back in 2010.
The military had determined the men weren't
at war with the U.S. (Via Al Jazeera)
And while the Pentagon says it's a move toward
the facility's closure, it's been almost five
years since President Obama signed this executive
order to close the prison.
Which promptly faced this roadblock — when
Congress denied him the funds to do it.
(Via The New York Times)
But in May of this year, Obama reiterated
the desire to close the facility.
OBAMA: "History will cast a harsh judgment
on this aspect of our fight against terrorism."
(Via The Wall Street Journal)
See, Congress has put restrictions on the
transfer of detainees into the United States,
so whenever it needs to happen, the U.S. has
to find a country willing to take them.
According to the administration, it costs
the U.S. $1 million per detainee per year.
(Via The White House)
