The Pentagon on Tuesday released its plan to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and to create a new facility in the United States to house the most dangerous detainees. President Obama said the plan, officially submitted to Congress on Tuesday, would save money, make the US safer, and more closely align its policy with American values. “The plan we’re putting forward today isn’t just about closing the facility at Guantanamo,” Obama said. “It’s not just about dealing with the current group of detainees. … This is about closing a chapter in our history. It reflects the lessons that we’ve learned since 9/11—lessons that need to guide our nation going forward.” The plan has four main points: transfer the 35 remaining detainees already approved to leave the facility, continue to review the threat posed by those detainees who are not eligible for transfer, identify individuals’ dispositions for those still designated for continued law of war detention, and work with Congress to identify a location on a Defense Department facility inside the US to hold detainees “whom we cannot at this time transfer to foreign countries,” according to a Pentagon statement. The plan, Obama said, would save at least $335 million over 10 years and $1.7 billion over 20 years.
Top Lawmakers Want 15 Percent Pay Raise for Enlisted Troops
April 19, 2024
A new law introduced by Congress would raise the pay rate 15 percent for junior enlisted troops and seek improvements on a range of quality of life issues, such as pay and compensation, child care, housing, health care access, and military spouse employment.