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Europe Balks at Taking Gitmo Detainees

After US Congress raises objections, allies change tune

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted May 29, 2009 6:54 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Obama administration has intensely lobbied its European allies to allow at least 50 Guantanamo detainees to resettle overseas. But as the US Congress rebels against the president's plans to move inmates to federal prisons, reports the Washington Post, an already skeptical Europe has strengthened its objections. "If the US refuses to take these people, why should we?" one German legislator said.

So far Britain and France have each accepted one prisoner, but since then negotiations have gotten trickier. In Germany, where the US hoped to settle nine Uighurs that were cleared of all charges, officials who once supported resettlement now say the White House is refusing to share enough information about possible security risks. "If the US says they should come here, but they cannot travel to the US, we would have to ask why not?" said one German official. "Does that mean they are dangerous?"

Guantanamo detainees pray before dawn near a fence of razor-wire inside the exercise yard at Camp 4 detention facility, at Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Base, Cuba.
Guantanamo detainees pray before dawn near a fence of razor-wire inside the exercise yard at Camp 4 detention facility, at Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Base, Cuba.   (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley, file)
Germany's Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble welcomes US Attorney General Eric Holder for talks in Berlin on Wednesday, April 29, 2009.
Germany's Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble welcomes US Attorney General Eric Holder for talks in Berlin on Wednesday, April 29, 2009.   (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
US Attorney General Eric Holder arrives  for talks with Germany's Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble in Berlin on Wednesday, April 29, 2009.
US Attorney General Eric Holder arrives for talks with Germany's Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble in Berlin on Wednesday, April 29, 2009.   (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Guards escort a Guantanamo detainee carrying a book at the Camp 4 detention facility at the US Military Base, in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Guards escort a Guantanamo detainee carrying a book at the Camp 4 detention facility at the US Military Base, in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.   (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley, file)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
kokuaguy
May 30, 2009 12:16 PM CDT
kokuaguy
May 30, 2009 12:10 PM CDT
Why should the Europeans take them? We need to close Gitmo with all deliberate speed and process them in our criminal justice system in the United States. Send them to prisons in Texas and Wyoming.
Mad
May 29, 2009 8:42 AM CDT
What a filthy fucking mess Bush and the republicans left us. Fuck them.

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