It seems that the closing of Guantanamo Bay has hit yet another snag. According to the New York Times, funding for retrofitting the Thompson, Illinois prison intended to house the detainees was not approved, leaving the Federal Bureau of Prisons without enough cash to purchase and upgrade the facility. More over the fold.
The appropriation necessary will be included as part of the FY2011 spending bill, which will be debated in late 2010, far later than the President's self-appointed deadline of January 22nd of next year. Of course, considering the fact that funding was not approved in this budget, one has to wonder how much success the President will have at a later date. Even once funding is secured, it will take "8 to 10 months to install new fencing, towers, cameras and other security upgrades before any transfers take place.", which seems to move the actual closing date of Guantanamo to near 2012.
Also brought up were the usual tropes about not housing terrorists on America soil, and giving Al-Qaeda a target on American soil. This was surprising to me, as I am glad to hear that we haven't had a target here in America (like, say...the whole country) for Al-Qaeda to attack, until this Guantanamo North is built.
Another issue raised regards those that the administration will not prosecute, nor turn over custody to another country ie indefinite detention. It is unclear to me how blocking the funding for this accomplishes the end of ceasing this extralegal process (as they will remain detained regardless of if there is a new facility or not), but this is the stance Congress has taken.
Link below:
New York Times Article