Gitmo is closing.

Well, not all at once, but the prison population at Guantanomo Bay has been steadily declining as prisoners are released.  The Media have almost completely ignored this trend.

 Fourteen Saudi Arabians were released Saturday from the detention center at the American naval base at Guant疣amo Bay, Cuba, and transferred to their home country, the Pentagon said.

One was released because, the government said, American officials had determined the detainee was no longer an enemy combatant. The others were released after an administrative review process determined they could be transferred.

The releases bring to 310 the number of detainees who have departed Guant疣amo to other countries, including Albania, Afghanistan, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Kuwait, Morocco, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden and Uganda.

About 450 detainees remain at the detention center, including 120 who are considered eligible for transfer or release. Decisions in those cases depend on discussions between the United States and other nations.

This closing of Gitmo has been what the New York Times, various NGOs, and opportunistic Democratic politicians have been demanding and using as chum to rile and rally their supporters. They are getting it on the installment plan. The prisoner population has been declining as prisoners are sent back to various nations  including Albania, Afghanistan, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Kuwait, Morocco, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden and Uganda.

In essence, we have had a creeping virtual closing of the prison as prisoners are released—while still retaining the prison if needed during future conflicts.

Of course, the complaints will never end. Critics have complained that the prisoners who are released may face subsequent punishment in the nations that accept them.  What would be their solution? Grant them asylum in America or a stipend to ease their difficulties in transitioning from the jihaist lifestyle?

Of course, the same groups don't raise much of a protest when Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia imprison their own human rights activists or terror suspects. They remain silent when previously released prisoners have gone on to continue their careers as jihadists. They positively gush over a movie  (glowingly profiled in the New York Times, though panned by the Wall Street Journal) made with the cooperation of three released prisoners (with quite suspicious backgrounds) that portrays Guantanamo as  a dungeon that would make the Marquis de Sade proud.

The Wall Street Journal basically called the movie a propaganda film; the New York Times and others hailed it as an indictment of America.

Odd, the Bush Administration critics are getting what they want, yet do their best to hide that fact. To admit it, would lose one of their (s)talking points. What is their true goal? Of course, to destroy and weaken the Bush Administration and by extension the Republican Party. At the same time, they are helping to blacken America's reputation in the world.

However my guess is that their real goal is to simply close Guantanamo Bay for all time. This would permanently weaken America since Gauntanamo Bay has proven very valuable as a place to hold dangerous terrorists.  They just don't care.

Ed Lasky   6 15 06