House wants plan for captives from Guantanamo Bay

WASHINGTON — Members of Congress from both parties clamored Sunday for President Barack Obama to develop a plan for dealing with the suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay if he intends to fulfill his promise to close its prison by early 2010. The top U.S. military officer also awaited a decision from the commander in chief.


The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, pressed Obama for details on how he intends to fulfill his promise to close the detention facility on the U.S. navy base in Cuba. Officials report that 240 suspected terrorists are housed there.

Obama’s promise to close the detention facility by early 2010 ran smack into political reality in the last week. Obama’s fellow Democrats denied him funding to move the suspected terrorists while Republicans latched onto a message that helped the minority GOP drive sustained headlines for the first time in months.

"I don’t think you can convince the American people that you can bring the people from Gitmo to their states and they will be safe,” said Sen. Richard Shelby, a Republican.

The not-in-my-backyard chorus drove Obama to deliver a speech defending his decision to close the facility, proposed during the campaign and delivered during his second full day in power.

Yet lawmakers and even Obama’s advisers remained unsure after the speech of how, exactly, the president would make good on his vow to close the symbol of the U.S.’ detention of suspected terrorists in a legal limbo.

A top Obama ally, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, conceded that the White House stumbled.

"Well, it was a mistake for us to entertain putting money — $80 million — in for the transfer of these detainees until the president’s plan was released,” he said.

Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich said the site should stay open "until the war is over.” When pressed, Gingrich acknowledged it’s a long-term prospect.

"What do you do with somebody who’s a ... religiously motivated terrorist? You had better keep them locked up,” he said.



by the associated press