White House Bid to Close Gitmo Hampered by Snags in Congress – The Wall Street Journal
President Barack Obama’s order to close the Guantanamo Bay prison by January faces snags in Congress that some of the president’s supporters say result from a lack of White House muscle.
The Obama administration won a measure of support last week when House and Senate negotiators agreed on a joint Homeland Security appropriations bill that allows Guantanamo prisoners to be transferred to the U.S. for prosecution if the administration provides a plan for handling each detainee case.
However, just days before, in the full House, lawmakers overwhelmingly passed nonbinding resolutions barring the transfer of prisoners, even for trial.
Both the House and Senate must now sort out what to do when the Homeland Security appropriations legislation reaches the floor.
