Battle over Guantánamo set to erupt: Obama threatens closure of Gitmo via Executive Action

The Hill ^ | 11/08/2015 | By Jordain Carney

[SeekAndFind]

President Obama is on a collision course with congressional Republicans over the Guantánamo Bay detention facility, with increasing chatter in Washington that he might seek to close the prison through executive action.

The administration is expected to hand over a plan to Congress for shuttering the Cuban prison, in an attempt to fulfill a long-standing campaign pledge before Obama leaves office.

But even as Obama seeks cooperation from Congress, White House press secretary Josh Earnest has refused to rule out unilateral action to close the prison camp. Earnest on Friday said Obama "certainly wouldn't take off the table the ability of the president to use whatever authority is available to him."

There are 112 detainees left at the prison, including dozens that are considered "too dangerous to release" that would need to be transferred to the U.S. mainland.

Congressional Republicans are sending strong signals that any plan to close Guantánamo Bay is dead on arrival.

Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) suggested that the president is breaking the law by even having Defense Department officials study possible U.S. alternatives to the Cuban prison.

"Look, the law is very clear. The law states no money shall be made available, shall be used, can be designated for the assistance of the transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees," he said.

Gardner added that he sent Obama a letter asking, "what basis in law does he believe he has to violate the law," and hadn't received a response.

Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) has called Obama "damn stubborn" about closing the prison camp.

"It just raises all this dust in opposition," he added. "It's a bad idea, really a bad idea. I hope those of us in the Congress will maintain our vigilance."

[arthurus]

It won’t be much of a collision. The Republicans will surrender any powers and tools that they yet retain in a prior surrender. They will also lose the House and the Senate next year because they have proven to be passive Democrats.

[Parley Baer]

So, how many more terrorists is Obama going to put back on the battle field? He already has a good start.

[doug from upland]

“Look, the law is very clear. The law states no money shall be made available, shall be used, can be designated for the assistance of the transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees,” he said.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

No money means government coffers money. Some of Obama’s billionaire pals can fund it and Obama can say no taxpayer money was used.

[chris37]

Well, impeach the bastard, GOP, otherwise you are for it.

Simple as that.

Time to nut up or shut up.

[Darksheare]

Ship them all to the Whitehouse as his personal guests, he can personally keep an eye on them.

[Norm Lenhart]

No reason to think the highly principled we elected who did what they promised so far won’t once again rise to the occasion and keep Barry in the box they have had him in since we secured the House and Senate.

Oh wait.

[LittleBillyInfidel]

Gitmo is a day spa compared to Colorado’s Supermax. Let B-HO so it. These punks will find out what Hell is really all about.

[Vaquero]

Congressional republicans will bend over and present.

[Argus]

Barry doesn’t care about the terrorists one way or the other. He wants to vacate Gitmo to make it his parting gift to the Castro brothers.

[Truth29]

"It won’t be much of a collision. The Republicans will surrender any powers and tools that they yet retain in a prior surrender. They will also lose the House and the Senate next year because they have proven to be passive Democrats."

Indeed. If Zero does this, it should be cause for immediate impeachment and removal and failing that for the military to march into the White Mosque and arrest Obama, but it won't.

[Salman]

Wasn’t that one of his campaign promises back in 2008?

[ntnychik]

Well, we could see that coming. He’ll probably cede the entire base to the Cuban people (or dictator Raoul Castro) and blame Bay of Pigs on George W. Bush.

[Excellence]

The administration’s refusal to rule out circumventing Congress also appears to have antagonized Arizona Sen. John McCain, perhaps the biggest GOP advocate for finding a way to close the prison.

So, McCain is a Democrat?

[alloysteel]

Not merely closing Guantanamo, but turning it over to Raul and Fidel Castro. Gratis. Free. As a good will gesture.

And I am sure the Castro Brothers will reciprocate the love.
(Curse it, do I HAVE to include the < /sarcasm > tag EVERY time?)

[Sacajaweau]

I agree..that's the plan. Perhaps he will do it half a backwards....Cancel the Treaty for Gitmo and then, Cuba will tell us to vacate.

Cuba has never cashed a check. Watch for a headline that says they cashed one.

[raybbr]

No, McCain is insane.

[Timber Rattler]

Dictator.

[DemforBush]

“Not merely closing Guantanamo, but turning it over to Raul and Fidel Castro. Gratis. Free. As a good will gesture.”

I’ve wondered about Obama trying that, too. I honestly wouldn’t put anything past him these days.

[Cyman]

I think the GOP has already designated McConnell , Ryan, Graham etc. to be the designated drivers in their Florida airport Uber effort to drive the Gitmo terrorists to their new homes.