At a Senate hearing on closing the camp, the first of its kind in roughly six years, lawmakers could find little common ground apart from dissatisfaction with the Biden administration.
Through its nearly two-decade existence, the Guantanamo Bay detention center has sparked intense, partisan debate.
Although the White House says shuttering the facility, located within the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba, is a goal, so far it has taken few steps toward accomplishing it and has declined to set a timeline.Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the committee's top ranking Republican, also lamented that the White House had not supplied any witnesses to testify on reports from the intelligence community or the administration's progress toward shuttering the prison.
Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., said"229 of the 729 released from Gitmo have gone back to the fight. This is nuts," citing the number of former Guantanamo detainees the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has either confirmed or suspected of re-engaging in terrorist activities. Chief Defense Counsel for Military Commissions Brig. Gen. John Baker, another witness, argued that the ongoing cases must be brought to"as rapid as a conclusion as possible."
In the past, administrations have engaged in sometimes years-long negotiations with countries receiving prisoners to secure some level of security assurance. Congress' requirements for transfer and destabilization in the Middle East have left few viable options.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Biden to warn Putin of economic consequences of Ukraine invasion, says officialU.S. President Joe Biden will warn Russian President Vladimir Putin of severe economic consequences should Russia go ahead with an invasion of Ukraine, a senior U.S. administration official said on Monday.
Read more »
Column: Has Biden moved to finally kill California's most farcical water project?The Cadiz water scheme has been a dead-project-walking for two decades. Biden may finally put it in the grave.
Read more »
3rd Circuit's chief judge takes senior status, giving Biden chance to tilt courtU.S. Circuit Judge D. Brooks Smith is stepping down from active service on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, creating a new judicial vacancy for President Joe Biden that will allow him to potentially tilt the makeup of the Philadelphia-based court.
Read more »
Biden defends holiday shortage, cites historic toy spikesIn the final weeks of the 2021 holiday shopping season, President Biden has mounted a Cabbage Patch offensive — trying to diminish Americans' anxiety about pandemic shortages and price spikes by recalling past runs on toys.Driving the news: 'There are items every year that sell out, that are hard to find,' he said Wednesday at the White House.Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free'Some of you moms and dads may remember Cabbage Patch K
Read more »
Biden touts savings on insulin and other drugs for AmericansPresident Joe Biden pledged Monday that his social agenda legislation would deliver tangible savings on prescription drugs for all Americans. Biden tried to shift the focus to pocketbook provisions overlooked in the political machinations over his $2 trillion legislation, which deals with issues from climate to family life and taxes. “It’s safe to say that all of us can agree that prescription drugs are outrageously expensive in this country,” Biden said at the White House.
Read more »