Spain accepts more Gitmo detainees

One of U.S. president Barack Obama’s first moves upon taking office in January 2009 was to order the shutdown of the Guantánamo Bay military prison. Since then his plans to close the jail by January 22nd of this year has run into opposition both domestically and abroad.

Nevertheless several countries have been willing to take in Guantanamo detainees, the latest example being Spain:

Spain has said it is willing to take five inmates from the Guantanamo Bay detention center in Cuba, which the US administration has pledged to close.



Miguel Angel Moratinos, Spain's foreign minister, said on Monday that the former prisoners would not pose a security threat to the country.

"It will obviously be done with every legal guarantee needed in order to defend the country's security and legal situation," he said.

Spain had previously agreed to accept two detainees and their commitment to five more is the largest by any European country. Yet Moratinos added that Spain is “encouraging other European countries to do their utmost" to accept more Guantanamo prisoners.

Today’s news comes after ex-Vice President Dick Cheney admitted that he disagreed with the release of detainees under former President George W. Bush. “Where was he the last four years of the last administration?" asked current Vice President Joe Biden in response to Cheney’s criticisms on current national security policy.

Image- BBC News
Online Sources- Washington Post, AP, Al Jazeera English, AFP, The Latin Americanist