The Obama administration long held the position that transferring highly dangerous Guantanamo prisoners abroad could represent an olive branch in so-called peace talks with the Taliban. Another option in Obama’s determination to close Guantanamo was to transfer its prisoners to America, another bad idea that was met with resistance and ultimately blocked by Congress.
In his final days in office, Obama transferred 10 detainees to Oman, 3 to Saudi Arabia and 1 to the UAE; while 15 were sent off to the UAE in August. He knew full well that his successor — Donald Trump -0 would end the practice of Guantanamo transfers in keeping with concern for public safety.
“US transferring 4 Gitmo detainees to UAE and Saudi Arabia, officials say”, by Lucas Tomlinson, Fox News, January 17, 2017:
The U.S. military will transfer four more detainees out of Guantanamo Bay this week ahead of President Obama’s final day in office, two U.S. officials with knowledge of the transfers tell Fox News.
Three detainees will be sent to the United Arab Emirates, and one will be sent to Saudi Arabia, on two separate military flights, the officials said.
After the transfers are complete, 41 detainees will remain at the detention camp. It is not immediately known if any more transfers will take place before Obama leaves office Friday, though it is clear the outgoing president will not achieve his 2008 campaign goal of shuttering the camp.
President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end detainee transfers from Gitmo after taking office.
The four detainees are expected to depart the camp Wednesday and arrive in UAE and Saudi Arabia on Thursday, the officials said.
The Pentagon does not typically acknowledge detainee transfers until at least 24 hours after they arrive in third-party nations.
Earlier this week, 10 detainees were transferred to Oman….