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Pentagon: 1 in 7 Gitmo Prisoners Rejoin Fight

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted May 20, 2009 4:53 PM CDT

(Newser) – A Pentagon report concludes that 74 of 534 prisoners released from Guantanamo Bay returned to militant activity—a recidivism rate of 14%, or about 1 in 7, the New York Times notes. The report, still under review, could complicate President Obama’s goal of shutting the facility by January because of concerns about where remaining prisoners will go. He’ll offer more details of the plan tomorrow.

The Times notes that critics have called into question the accuracy of previous Pentagon reports on the subject. “It’s part of a campaign to win the hearts and minds of history for Guantanamo,” said a Seton Hall law professor who has represented Guantanamo detainees. “They want to be able to claim there really were bad people there.”

Guards stand on either side of a lineup of Guantanamo detainees.
Guards stand on either side of a lineup of Guantanamo detainees.   (AP Photo)
In this file photo, detainees pray before dawn near a fence of razor-wire at Guantanamo.
In this file photo, detainees pray before dawn near a fence of razor-wire at Guantanamo.   (AP Photo)
A Guantanamo detainee pushes his hands against his cell window.
A Guantanamo detainee pushes his hands against his cell window.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
justme
May 21, 2009 12:06 PM CDT
Funny when the goat herder was pointing a gun at you or better yet bombing people in markets just because they belong to some other tribe. I find it amazing how some people always assume that the US is bad and the poor terrorist is just misunderstood.
SBS
May 21, 2009 10:18 AM CDT
Couldn't have said it better.
northeast
May 21, 2009 4:08 AM CDT
Only 14%? Wow, that might actually be better than the recidivism rates in the States. ....old stats, but apparently from the DOJ, (http://www.ojp.gov/bjs/reentry...) that's over four times better than the re-arrest rate for good 'ol home grown American felons (67%).

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