Anyone paying attention knows by now that President Obama is capable of simultaneously juggling dozens of No. 1 priorities, among them the closing of Guantanamo Bay and the release of all prisoners held there — something he promised would be completed “no later than 1 year” from the signing of his January 2009 executive order.
Only recently did the administration send out a team to scout out locations in the United States to host our guests at Gitmo, but — surprise! — neither Congress nor the governors of the proposed states are cooperating. Not to mention, the president’s new best pal Raul Castro said he’d like the military base back, though we can’t imagine what use he’d have for a prison on his island paradise.
UPDATE: Cuban government says U.S. should return Guantanamo Bay military base to Cuban sovereignty.
— Reuters (@Reuters) July 1, 2015
Fortunately, the president has found a friend in need. While he was busy scouring the golf course yet again for signs of ISIS militants, Saudi Arabia, home of 15 of the 19 terrorists who carried out 9/11, took nine prisoners off of his hands.
JUST IN: 9 detainees transferred from Gitmo to Saudi Arabia. Now 80 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay. @CBSNews
— Paula Reid (@PaulaReidCBS) April 16, 2016
Authorities say the U.S. has released nine prisoners from Guantanamo Bay and sent them to Saudi Arabia: https://t.co/ekkuo4Crrv
— The Associated Press (@AP) April 17, 2016
BREAKING US troops deliver 9 Yemeni detainees from #Guantanamo to Saudi rehab program. https://t.co/yH6SUNJikI pic.twitter.com/KVhetJVIOz
— Carol Rosenberg (@carolrosenberg) April 16, 2016
Each of the prisoner’s cases underwent a thorough review “as directed by the president’s Jan. 22, 2009, executive order,” read a statement from the Department of Defense.
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Transfer of 9 to Saudi Arabia comes 4 days before Pres Obama arrives in The Kingdom for talks with King Salman & other Arab leaders.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) April 16, 2016
WH says Pres Obama remains committed to shutting Gitmo before he leaves office though Congress bars transfer of detainees to US prisons.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) April 16, 2016
That is a damned shame, but at least Saudi Arabia, if not the U.S. Congress, can be entrusted to carry out the humanitarian gesture that Americans just won’t do and “ensure these transfers took place consistent with appropriate security and humane treatment measures.”
Statement says US "grateful" for Saudi "humanitarian gesture" to accept 9 detainees & support efforts to shut Gitmo detention facility.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) April 16, 2016
Further, DOD says Saudi Govt helped ensure that "transfers consistent with appropriate security and humane treatment measures."
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) April 16, 2016
The statement by the Department of Defense reads, in part:
The United States is grateful to the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its humanitarian gesture and willingness to support ongoing U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. The United States coordinated with government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to ensure these transfers took place consistent with appropriate security and humane treatment measures.
Lawyer for freed Gitmo hunger striker says Saudi 'will do better by him' than White House. https://t.co/mJ7YBe37y1 pic.twitter.com/iSngCcSBE0
— Carol Rosenberg (@carolrosenberg) April 16, 2016
Although the DOD statement only names the prisoners, Carol Rosenberg, the Miami Herald’s Guantanamo Bay reporter, likes to make sure each inmate is given the personal touch, Dating Game style. Ali al Raimi, for example, “kept himself productive with drawing, painting, and sculpture.”
Who are the 9 Yemenis Gitmo sent to Saudi Arabia's rehab program? @MiamiHerald story names, describes each man, https://t.co/mJ7YBe37y1
— Carol Rosenberg (@carolrosenberg) April 16, 2016
Believe it or not, the board does still deny parole to certain prisoners. Former Bin Laden bodyguard Muhammed al Ansi, for example, whose lawyer says he loves American culture and watching “The Fast and the Furious” movie series and “The Walking Dead” at Guantánamo, wasn’t cleared at a parole board meeting last month.
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