President Barack Obama said Thursday he’s not ready to concede that the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, will remain open when he leaves office.
Obama was asked about the future of Guantanamo as he conducted a news conference wrapping up his final visit as president to Asia. The detention center was opened in January 2002 to hold foreign fighters suspected of links to the Taliban or the al-Qaida terrorist organization.
Obama said his administration was still working diligently to shrink the prisoner population. He said that, as the population continues to decrease, he hopes the American people will ask about the expense of maintaining a facility that he believes isn’t necessary for their safety and security.
Obama set a goal early in his presidency of closing the prison, but he’s been blocked by Congress. Republican leaders argue that they won’t jeopardize national security over a campaign promise. About 60 prisoners are being held there, down from hundreds.
“I continue to believe that Guantanamo is a recruitment tool for terrorist organizations, that it clouds and sours some of the counter-terrorism cooperation we need to engage in,” Obama said.
In recent weeks, 15 prisoners at Guantanamo were sent to the United Arab Emirates in the single largest release of detainees during the Obama administration. During the Bush administration, 532 prisoners were released from Guantanamo, often in large groups to Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
In past wars, POW’s were held in camps, fed, and otherwise properly cared for. Then, at the cessation of hostilities, they were released. Now, this brain dead idiot is releasing POW’s randomly allowing them to return to the battlefield. He deserves to be removed from office.
Right but the Republican lack the intestinal fortitude to do anything.
Obozo uses his skin pigmentation as a shield against anyone trying to do anything to stop him….because if you try to impeach the prick, then you have to be a racist.
He is the racist of all times.His hatred for whites is unprecedented.
Call me a racist if you must. But this POS even if he were white/black (which he is), black, Mexican, American, etc., etc., needs to be impeached. Since it is a long process, a little too late now. However, not too late for him to do a tremendous amount new damage to our country. Why did Congress let this go on this long? Only one explanation possible. They like having their pockets lined.
Pen reason seems to be biden !!! Lord knows why
Well and true said.
AMEN !!! Who does this numnuts think he is?
He want’s to close it and give the land back to Cuba as part of his legacy. Still cam’t believe America voted for him twice..
Some did but it was the dead voting from their graves,and repeat voters, some as many as 5 times, as well as the paid for none tax. paying, bought and paid for that put him in office.
That along with massive voter fraud when in some counties he received 20-30% more votes than register voters. In many cases in addition to the dishonest and disgusting ballot stuffing. Traitor Romney was right about one thing. Roughly 48% of Americans don’t pay any taxes but get massive benefits from the government. Naturally they voted for the gravy train.
You think he was dishonest, wait to see what that nut job Hillary will try.
How true
Dear Mr President:
Make sure they leave 2 of the nastiest cells for you & your chum Hitlery
WE NEED TO KEEP IT OPEN, THERE ARE A LOT OF JIHADIS AND TERRORISTS IN THIS COUNTRY WHO WILL NEED TO GO THERE AND A LOT OF TRAITORS TO INCLUDE OBAMA AND HILLARY WHO SHOULD BE IMPRISONED AND THAT IS AS GOOD AS ANYPLACE FOR THEM. IN FACT FROM WHAT I HEAR IT IS TOO GOOD!
Amen.
obama ,who cares what you say ?? your useless ASS will be out come January, and Gitmo stays open so we can put your useless Muslim ASS in there with your sidekick Killary where you both should have been the last 8 Years ,and we can say good riddens you two useless COCKROACHES ,they need to put you in the most Cockroach infested cells ,that would be too good for you ,two
The Muslim Obama belongs in GITMO. Let him rot there!!!
He can leave when his time is up, or we can put him in their with them for trying to become a dictator. He’s buying a home in Dubi he just needs to take his sorry ass to the middle east that he loves so much.
Maybe President Obama can let the terrorists stay at his mansion once he leaves office. Obama and these terrorists all seem to hate America and want to see our nation destroyed. The terrorists used various terrorist techniques to bring America down. Obama used his lawless presidency to try to accomplish the same goal.
Better yet, maybe President Obama will be charged for treason and sent to Gitmo.
Don’t be surprised if Obama decides to stay in office for that third term by declaring martial law and declaring the election null and void. He can use that mighty pen he keeps talking about to change the law to stay in office if he so chooses. You say he can’t do that because of the Constitution? When has Obama given a flip about that piece of paper? What’s worse, there’s no one who can force him out since he’s the Commander in Chief of all the military. I suspect he already has a private army already waiting in the wings to defend him if anyone should try to take him out. Also wouldn’t be surprised to see the black flag of ISIS flying over Washington in the near future either as Obama finally comes out of the closet and admits he’s still a Muslim. At this point, nothing would surprise me. I guess I need my mouth washed out with soap now!
There’s only one recruitment tool for promoting terrorists. That is Obama and his Mr Magoo like weakness that actually gives support to these scumbags! Like the clintions and those that share a blinder type mentality to the problem.
No where in the article does it say Obama said he would not leave office until Gitmo is closed. This kind of crap hurts conservatives.
You are right. I notice the same thing.
http://www.burrardstreetjournal.com/obama-refusing-to-leave-if-trump-elected Make sure u read this
I think H & O deserve the Lord of the Flies Treatment. I don’t want to have to support them for the rest of their miserable lives.
We promised to rent the land for 99 years, and that promise won’t be up until 2033. So if Obed isn’t out of office before 12 noon on 20th of January 2017, I think the military has a right to physically remove everything he brought there and him, by the request of the Sargent-of-arms in Congress.
Let him close it tonight, if he will leave tomorrow morning and never come back.
Why have none of you reasoned that the easing of our relations with Cuba was OBuma’s way of eventually allowing “Cubans” (but really ISIS-type terrorists) to “visit” the U.S. We are already allowing our citizens to go there ands oon “they” will be
“sightseeing” here on our soil…….. only to disappear on our land and cause havoc!
Stop it now before it happens!
Guantanamo should be made into an exile prison for dirty, corrupt, criminal elected officials such as Barry, Eric, Jeh, Lois, John, Lorretta, Huma, Cheryl, Slick Willy and dirty Hill. Also Chucky, Harry, Nancy, damn near every elected official should be there.