Hopes dwindle for closing Guantanamo

"The U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, not long ago appeared headed for closure," The LA Times reports. "But the latest attempt to shut it down is facing collapse: The detention facility has been embraced by many Republicans as a potent political symbol in their quest to seize the terrorism issue ahead of next year's elections."

Sen. Chuck Hagel, one of the few Republicans calling for the closure of the Guantanamo camp explained, "The Republican Party has won two elections on the issue of fear and terrorism. [It's] going to try again."

Excerpts from the LA Times article follow:

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GOP presidential candidates have jockeyed to demonstrate their support for the prison. One candidate has called for doubling its use. Another praised the menu and health plan offered to detainees.

The Senate Republican leader has accused Democrats of wanting to move terrorists "into American communities."

And the president, who last year told German television that he "would like to end Guantanamo," is now threatening to veto any move to "micromanage the detention of enemy combatants."

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Read the whole LA Times article here.



