This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/six-guantanamo-detainees-transferred-to-uruguay-as-obama-works-to-close-prison/2014/12/07/18f8ca3c-7c03-11e4-9a27-6fdbc612bff8_story.html?wprss=rss_national-security
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Six Guantanamo detainees transferred to Uruguay as Obama works to close prison | Six Guantanamo detainees transferred to Uruguay as Obama works to close prison |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Six detainees held at the U.S. military detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, were finally transferred to Uruguay over the weekend, months after the South American country had agreed to accept the men, the Pentagon announced Sunday. | Six detainees held at the U.S. military detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, were finally transferred to Uruguay over the weekend, months after the South American country had agreed to accept the men, the Pentagon announced Sunday. |
| The detainees included a Tunisian, a Palestinian and four Syrians who were captured in Pakistan and Afghanistan more than a decade ago and turned over to U.S. forces. This was the largest single transfer of detainees since 2009. | The detainees included a Tunisian, a Palestinian and four Syrians who were captured in Pakistan and Afghanistan more than a decade ago and turned over to U.S. forces. This was the largest single transfer of detainees since 2009. |
| One of the men, Abu Wa’el Dhiab, who has been on hunger strike, is at the center of litigation in federal court in the District involving the possible release of videos showing him being force-fed. | One of the men, Abu Wa’el Dhiab, who has been on hunger strike, is at the center of litigation in federal court in the District involving the possible release of videos showing him being force-fed. |
| “We are very grateful to Uruguay for this important humanitarian action, and to President [José ] Mujica for his strong leadership in providing a home for individuals who cannot return to their own countries,” said Clifford Sloan, the State Department’s special envoy tasked with closing the prison. | “We are very grateful to Uruguay for this important humanitarian action, and to President [José ] Mujica for his strong leadership in providing a home for individuals who cannot return to their own countries,” said Clifford Sloan, the State Department’s special envoy tasked with closing the prison. |
| “This transfer is a major milestone in our efforts to close the facility,” Sloan added. | “This transfer is a major milestone in our efforts to close the facility,” Sloan added. |
| In January, Sloan led a U.S. team to Uruguay and met with Mujica. | |
| U.S. officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss diplomatic negotiations, said an agreement was reached then with the country to transfer the detainees. Julissa Reynoso, the U.S. ambassador to Uruguay, played a key role in the talks. | U.S. officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss diplomatic negotiations, said an agreement was reached then with the country to transfer the detainees. Julissa Reynoso, the U.S. ambassador to Uruguay, played a key role in the talks. |
| Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel initially was reluctant to approve of the transfer. But he notified Congress in early July that the resettlement would take place no sooner than 30 days. The administration is required by law to provide a 30-day notice to Congress of its intent to transfer detainees out of Guantanamo Bay. | Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel initially was reluctant to approve of the transfer. But he notified Congress in early July that the resettlement would take place no sooner than 30 days. The administration is required by law to provide a 30-day notice to Congress of its intent to transfer detainees out of Guantanamo Bay. |
| By the time the United States was ready to move the men, a presidential election in Uruguay stalled the transfer. In November, former president Tabare Vazquez won a runoff vote, and the deal to accept the detainees was back on track. | By the time the United States was ready to move the men, a presidential election in Uruguay stalled the transfer. In November, former president Tabare Vazquez won a runoff vote, and the deal to accept the detainees was back on track. |
| Mujica, a former guerrilla who spent years behind bars, has called the Guantanamo Bay prison a disgrace. On Friday, his office released an open letter to President Obama reiterating his willingness to accept detainees. | |
| “We have offered our hospitality for human beings who suffered an atrocious kidnapping in Guantanamo,” he said. | “We have offered our hospitality for human beings who suffered an atrocious kidnapping in Guantanamo,” he said. |
| In an interview with The Washington Post in May, Mujica said that the prisoners would be considered refugees and that his government did not intend to monitor them. | In an interview with The Washington Post in May, Mujica said that the prisoners would be considered refugees and that his government did not intend to monitor them. |
| The resettlement brings the total number of detainees held at the facility to 136, with more possible transfers in the works this year, officials said. | The resettlement brings the total number of detainees held at the facility to 136, with more possible transfers in the works this year, officials said. |
| The Obama administration has successfully transferred 16 detainees this year as it inches toward its goal of shutting down the prison. | The Obama administration has successfully transferred 16 detainees this year as it inches toward its goal of shutting down the prison. |
| The Syrians released were Ahmed Adnan Ahjam, Ali Husein Shaaban, Abd al Hadi Omar Mahmoud Faraj and Dhiab. The other two were Palestinian Mohammed Abdullah Tahamuttan and Tunisian Abdul Bin Mohammed Bin Abess Ourgy. | The Syrians released were Ahmed Adnan Ahjam, Ali Husein Shaaban, Abd al Hadi Omar Mahmoud Faraj and Dhiab. The other two were Palestinian Mohammed Abdullah Tahamuttan and Tunisian Abdul Bin Mohammed Bin Abess Ourgy. |
| In 2009, the Guantanamo Review Task Force, set up by the Obama administration, had recommended that all of them, including Dhiab, be transferred. | In 2009, the Guantanamo Review Task Force, set up by the Obama administration, had recommended that all of them, including Dhiab, be transferred. |
| All of the men except for the Tunisian had ties to Abu Zubaida, an alleged key facilitator for al-Qaeda; two of the men were captured in Pakistan during raids that also netted Zubaida, according to U.S. military files disclosed by the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks. | All of the men except for the Tunisian had ties to Abu Zubaida, an alleged key facilitator for al-Qaeda; two of the men were captured in Pakistan during raids that also netted Zubaida, according to U.S. military files disclosed by the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks. |
| Ourgy, the Tunisian, was a suspected member of al-Qaeda and a senior explosives trainer. His alias was found on the hard drive of Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the files said. | Ourgy, the Tunisian, was a suspected member of al-Qaeda and a senior explosives trainer. His alias was found on the hard drive of Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the files said. |
| But a senior U.S. official cautioned that those files were later scrubbed and reevaluated under the Obama administration. Some of the information contained in them was discredited, the official said. | But a senior U.S. official cautioned that those files were later scrubbed and reevaluated under the Obama administration. Some of the information contained in them was discredited, the official said. |
| Julie Tate contributed to this report. | Julie Tate contributed to this report. |