by Fox News
President Obama detailed Tuesday a four-point plan he'll submit to Congress to eventually close the detention facility at Guantanamo, Cuba -- a plan that includes releasing more of the remaining 91 detainees, while transferring others to an as-yet determined facility on U.S. soil.
Much of the president's plan, which represents a final effort to fulfill his 2008 campaign pledge to close the detention center, still must be approved by Congress, and includes:
-- The “careful” transfer of 35 detainees to overseas countries;
-- Accelerating the review process for the roughly 56 remaining detainees to see whether they’re eligible for transfer;
-- Using “all of the legal tools” available to resolve the cases of detainees in the commission process; and,
-- Work with Congress to select a secure transfer location on U.S. soil.
“We can improve our security, uphold our highest values around the world and save Americans money in the process,” Obama said in introductory remarks meant to frame the four key points.
The Guantanamo facility, on the U.S. Naval base in Cuba, was opened in January 2002 in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks to house captured terror suspects.
The Pentagon previously had proposed a plan to close the detention center and move nearly 60 detainees to a facility on the U.S. mainland, at a cost of upt o $475 million to build, with claimed savings of roughly $180 million in operating expenses.
Any closure plan faces stiff opposition in Congress, which has passed legislation banning any effort to move detainees to the U.S.
Texas GOP Rep. Mac Thornberry, chairman of House Armed Services Committee, declined comment on the latest plan until he finishes his review of it -- but has told Obama what Congress expects such a plan to include.
A committee aide, however, told Fox News on Tuesday that the administration plan is “not compliant."
New Hampshire GOP Sen. Kelly Ayotte said: "While the administration asserts that transferring detainees and closing Guantanamo is in America's national security interests, they refuse to level with the American people regarding the terrorist activities and affiliations of the detainees who remain at Guantanamo."
U.S. officials say the latest Obama plan considers 13 U.S. locations to house remaining detaineds -- seven prison facilities in Colorado, South Carolina and Kansas, and six other locations on military bases.
They also say the plan doesn't recommend a preferred site and that cost estimates are just a starting point for negotiations with Congress.
It’s unclear whether the plan addresses what to do with any top-members of the Islamic State terror groups should they be captured on the battlefield.
According to the officials, the U.S. facilities would cost $265 million to $305 million to operate each year. The annual operating cost for Guantanamo is $445 million, but the officials said the Cuba detention center will need about $225 million in repairs and construction costs for continued use.
They said a facility will cost $290 million to $475 million to build, depending on the location.
Congress has been demanding the Guantanamo plan for months, and members representing South Carolina, Kansas and Colorado have voiced opposition to housing the detainees in their states.
Those members and others in the GOP-controlled Congress argue that such a facility poses a national security risk, particularly a terror attack -- concerns that Obama brushed aside in Tuesday's opening remarks.
The administration currently is prohibited by law from moving the detainees to the United States.
Beyond cost concerns, supporters of closing Guantanamo argue that holding suspected terrorists indefinitely without charges or trial further inspires militant groups and alienates U.S. allies.
In addition to having security concerns, opponents say changing the detention center's ZIP code won't change those world perceptions.
At its peak in 2003, Guantanamo held nearly 680 detainees, and there were about 245 when Obama took office.
President Obama detailed Tuesday a four-point plan he'll submit to Congress to eventually close the detention facility at Guantanamo, Cuba -- a plan that includes releasing more of the remaining 91 detainees, while transferring others to an as-yet determined facility on U.S. soil.
Much of the president's plan, which represents a final effort to fulfill his 2008 campaign pledge to close the detention center, still must be approved by Congress, and includes:
-- The “careful” transfer of 35 detainees to overseas countries;
-- Accelerating the review process for the roughly 56 remaining detainees to see whether they’re eligible for transfer;
-- Using “all of the legal tools” available to resolve the cases of detainees in the commission process; and,
-- Work with Congress to select a secure transfer location on U.S. soil.
“We can improve our security, uphold our highest values around the world and save Americans money in the process,” Obama said in introductory remarks meant to frame the four key points.
The Guantanamo facility, on the U.S. Naval base in Cuba, was opened in January 2002 in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks to house captured terror suspects.
The Pentagon previously had proposed a plan to close the detention center and move nearly 60 detainees to a facility on the U.S. mainland, at a cost of upt o $475 million to build, with claimed savings of roughly $180 million in operating expenses.
Any closure plan faces stiff opposition in Congress, which has passed legislation banning any effort to move detainees to the U.S.
Texas GOP Rep. Mac Thornberry, chairman of House Armed Services Committee, declined comment on the latest plan until he finishes his review of it -- but has told Obama what Congress expects such a plan to include.
A committee aide, however, told Fox News on Tuesday that the administration plan is “not compliant."
New Hampshire GOP Sen. Kelly Ayotte said: "While the administration asserts that transferring detainees and closing Guantanamo is in America's national security interests, they refuse to level with the American people regarding the terrorist activities and affiliations of the detainees who remain at Guantanamo."
U.S. officials say the latest Obama plan considers 13 U.S. locations to house remaining detaineds -- seven prison facilities in Colorado, South Carolina and Kansas, and six other locations on military bases.
They also say the plan doesn't recommend a preferred site and that cost estimates are just a starting point for negotiations with Congress.
It’s unclear whether the plan addresses what to do with any top-members of the Islamic State terror groups should they be captured on the battlefield.
According to the officials, the U.S. facilities would cost $265 million to $305 million to operate each year. The annual operating cost for Guantanamo is $445 million, but the officials said the Cuba detention center will need about $225 million in repairs and construction costs for continued use.
They said a facility will cost $290 million to $475 million to build, depending on the location.
Congress has been demanding the Guantanamo plan for months, and members representing South Carolina, Kansas and Colorado have voiced opposition to housing the detainees in their states.
Those members and others in the GOP-controlled Congress argue that such a facility poses a national security risk, particularly a terror attack -- concerns that Obama brushed aside in Tuesday's opening remarks.
The administration currently is prohibited by law from moving the detainees to the United States.
Beyond cost concerns, supporters of closing Guantanamo argue that holding suspected terrorists indefinitely without charges or trial further inspires militant groups and alienates U.S. allies.
In addition to having security concerns, opponents say changing the detention center's ZIP code won't change those world perceptions.
At its peak in 2003, Guantanamo held nearly 680 detainees, and there were about 245 when Obama took office.
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