Will They Finally Close Gitmo?

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"President Obama’s appointment of Clifford Sloan to take over the Office of Guantánamo Closure this week is the most recent indicator of the administration’s revived push to close the prison."

"Sloan, a prominent D.C. lawyer, will work at the State Department to transfer all of the Guantánamo detainees who are cleared to go back to their home countries. He will also negotiate with members of Congress to reverse the bills that currently restrict the White House from moving the remaining prisoners to the U.S. for trial and detention.

Officials say Sloan was chosen for his ability to cross agency lines. “His broad experience from having worked in Congress and the White House, to arguing cases before the Supreme Court, will inform his work across agencies with our colleagues in Congress and with our foreign partners to responsibly close the detention facility at Guantánamo,” said Ian Moss, a spokesperson at the Office for Guantánamo Closure.

The post was previously held by Dan Fried, who facilitated the transfer of 67 detainees. Obama moved Fried from his position in January, which effectively closed the office.

Then in May, the president gave a speech at the National Defense University, where he made a point of saying he was committed to closing the controversial facility. Now comes the appointment of Sloan.

“It certainly means they are back in the game here,” Ken Gude, vice president at the American Center for Progress said about the latest move. “One of the things that needs to happen with Guantánamo is finding a way to transfer the 86 people cleared for release—not having someone in that role made that practically impossible.” "
 
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