Senate Proposed Bill Would Allow Gitmo Closure, Sets House Battle

House Version to Add More Restrictions on Releasing Detainees

The Senate Armed Services Committee has unveiled a version of the annual military spending bill which provides a pathway for the closure of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay.

The bill includes certain restrictions on transfers of detainees, but mandates the Defense Department to detail a case-by-case plan of disposition for all remaining detainees.

Senate officials say the agreement was a bipartisan compromise on the matter, though some, including Sen. James Inhofe (R – OK) said they were “deeply disappointed” with any deal to close the site.

Even if it passes the Senate, it will set the stage for a major fight with the House of Representatives, whose version of the funding bill not only does not contain provisions on closing Gitmo, but includes several new restrictions above and beyond those already in place.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.