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Podcasts Take Two
Why Guantanamo Bay won't be closed any time soon
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Jan 30, 2013
Listen • 10:00
Why Guantanamo Bay won't be closed any time soon
This week the State Department announced that their special envoy assigned to close the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has been reassigned. Some say its another sign that President Obama may not fulfill his campaign promise to close the base.
U.S. military guards walk within the Camp Delta military-run prison at the Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base, Cuba, in 2006. Wednesday marks 10 years since detainees first arrived at the detention facility.
U.S. military guards walk within the Camp Delta military-run prison at the Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base, Cuba, in 2006. Wednesday marks 10 years since detainees first arrived at the detention facility.
(
Brennan Linsley/AP
)

This week the State Department announced that their special envoy assigned to close the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has been reassigned. Some say its another sign that President Obama may not fulfill his campaign promise to close the base.

Immigration reform has been a top priority for President Obama since his 2008 campaign, the same year he promised that, if elected, he would close the prison at Guantanamo Bay Cuba

The prison is still open and is currently housing 166 men. Earlier this week the administration signalled it has no plans to close it any time soon.

Daniel Fried, the State Department employee responsible for resettling detainees was reassigned and his office closed. He will not be replaced. The move comes at the same time that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other detainees prepare to go to on trial for planning the 9/11 attacks.

Carol Rosenberg covers military affairs for the Miami Herald newspaper and she joins us on the line from Camp Justice in Guantanamo Bay.