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Court Ruling Renews Gitmo Closing Argument

Posted on: Friday, 13 June 2008, 09:00 CDT

The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling allowing Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, prisoners access to civilian courts reopens debate for closing the facility, observers said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is among administration officials who said it should be shuttered, the opposite view of U.S. President George Bush, who said the center should remain open and is considering introducing legislation to blunt the ruling's effect, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

The 5-4 Supreme Court decision Thursday allowing prisoners to appeal their detentions in civilian courts undercuts the administration's main reason for opening the facility: keeping detainees out of the U.S. civilian court system.

Civilian detention proceedings differs from those at Guantanamo, said Charles D. Stimson, who also has overseen detainee affairs at the Pentagon. For one, detainees will have lawyers who can present evidence and question witnesses.

Some lawyers said defending against the petitions would burden the government, pressuring the administration to send detainees to their home countries, The New York Times reported.

The ruling could affect about 130 detainee incarcerated because the administration doesn't intend to charge them with war crimes but said they're too dangerous to release, the Times said.

Source: United Press International

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