Committee on Foreign Affairs House of Re

The Administration's Plan to Close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility Committee on Foreign Affairs House of Re

President Obama's race to empty the Guantanamo Bay detention facility is on. In recent weeks and months, many hardened terrorists have been released. Many of them have been sent abroad, and according to the President's closure plan sent to Congress last month, another 35 are set to be transferred this summer. Many of the recipient countries don't have the desire or commitment or even ability to monitor these dangerous individuals and prevent them from returning to the battlefield. Countries like Ghana and Uruguay aren't typical security and intelligence partners but they are being asked to shoulder a heavy burden and a heavy responsibility. There are real concerns about the administration setting aside intelligence assessments to deceive countries about the threat posed by the militants they are being asked to take in. The administration often talks of detainees "cleared for release" as if they are no longer a threat. But just over 30 percent of the detainees that have been released are either confirmed or suspected to have returned to the battlefield.