Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Gitmo Inmates May Land on Mainland: Gates

By M. Morris,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 30, 2009 2:00 PM CDT

(Newser) – The fate of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay remains unclear, but Robert Gates hinted at one possibility during a Senate hearing today, reports the New York Times: Inmates who aren’t tried, repatriated, or sent to other countries could wind up in the US. Of the 250 “enemy combatants” in custody, the defense secretary said, “what do we do with the 50 to 100—probably in that ballpark—who we cannot release and cannot try?”

“We have put a plug in the budget for $50 million just as a hedge that would allow us to get started if some construction is needed to be able to accommodate those detainees,” said Gates.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, right, and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, second from left, share a laugh as they arrive to testify today.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, right, and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, second from left, share a laugh as they arrive to testify today.   (AP Photo)
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates testifies before the Senate Appropriations Committee today.
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates testifies before the Senate Appropriations Committee today.   (AP Photo)
Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton listen to a question during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing today on Capitol Hill.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton listen to a question during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing today on Capitol Hill.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
bacimom
May 1, 2009 3:16 AM CDT
They've never been charged of a crime so it is problematical to put them into the U.S. system. They would also probably be killed if in general populace of the average prison. They should be held, if that's what is going to happen anyway, at Leavenworth.
woodyTX
Apr 30, 2009 10:02 AM CDT
I agree with you SK. The main issues I'm hearing are a) local folks are up in arms having these guys in their "community". Like they're worse than home grown murderers, rapists and child predators. b) and this is more interesting ...what to do with them when they are released ten or twenty years later. Are they landed immigrants ? Citizens ? Do we immediately deport them ? To where ? Is this fair given they have "paid the price" for their crimes ? It's certainly not straighforward.

More Newser Stories

Obama Restarts Guantanamo Trials

Guantanamo Bay Turns 10

Gitmo Doctors Covered Up Torture: Study

Obama Resurrects Gitmo Military Trials

Obama: We Won't Make Gitmo Deadline


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne