The administration of US President Barack Obama announced today a long-awaited plan on the strategy for closing Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and transferring the remaining prisoners to the US.
The AP reports that the proposal raises the question of whether Obama will be able to complete the pending closure of Guantanamo before he leaves the White House.
The plan, which has been submitted to Congress, makes a financial case for closing the controversial prison. US officials said the plan calls for up to $475 million in construction costs, which would be offset by $180 million in annual operating cost savings.
U.S. officials said the plan covers 13 different locations in the U.S., including seven existing prisons in Colorado, South Carolina and Kansas.
According to them, the American facilities will cost between 265 million and 305 million dollars a year, while the annual cost for Guantanamo is 445 million dollars, but for the prison in Cuba it is necessary to set aside 225 million dollars for repairs and construction costs if it remains in use.
Supporters of closing Guantanamo say the prison has long been a recruiting tool for extremist groups and holds extremists suspected of violence without charge or trial, while opponents say changing the zip code won't solve the problem.
There are currently 91 prisoners in Guantanamo, and 35 of them are expected to be transferred this summer. In 2003, there were 680 prisoners in that prison.
Bonus video:
