Obama's Gitmo closure plan won't affect local soldiers' Cuba deployment
President Obama's plan to shutter the prison in Cuba that houses war on terrorism suspects won't affect the Army reservists from Southwestern Pennsylvania being deployed there.
The New Kensington-based 307th Military Police Company will go to Guantanamo Bay as soon as the approximately 100 soldiers complete deployment training, said Army Maj. LeVar M. Armstrong of the 200th Military Police Command public affairs office.
“There has been no change of orders,” Armstrong said in a phone call Tuesday.
The 307th flew out of Pittsburgh on Monday for training at Fort Bliss in Texas.
The president said 91 detainees from the war on terrorism are confined at the camp at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, commonly known as Gitmo.
In a Tuesday TV address, the president touted a Department of Defense plan to close the camp. He asked the GOP-controlled Congress, which has resisted the closing, to join him so that the issue isn't around for the next president.
Congressional reaction
The area's Congressional delegation had mixed opinions on the president's plan.
U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus, R-Sewickley, whose 12th District covers parts of Allegheny, Beaver and Westmoreland counties, criticized the proposal. “What is touted as a plan isn't a plan because there are no specifics, timeline or funding details,” he said.
He said he'd much rather see Obama's plan to defeat ISIS. “That deadline was last week,“ Rothfus said. “Why was the Guantanamo Bay plan announced today and he ignores the ISIS plan?”
U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Everett, alleged the president's proposal was “regurgitated, old talking points.
“The terrorists held at Guantanamo Bay are some of the most evil people in the world, and many of the individuals this administration has released have gone on to become members of ISIS,” Shuster said. “I remain strongly opposed to any attempts to close Guantanamo Bay and to transfer them to a different facility.”
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, who just returned from the Middle East, isn't ready to sign off on the proposal.
“I haven't seen the plan, and it will take a while to review,” the Democrat said. “I prefer it closed. But just how and when to close it, I still don't know.”
Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., opposed the president's plan — particularly the possible transfer of some detainees to the United States.
“The president is trying to make good on an ill-conceived campaign promise in spite of bipartisan opposition ... and the risks to the American people,” Toomey said. “I oppose the White House's plan to now ... unnecessarily compromise our security.”
Chuck Biedka is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-226-4711 or at cbiedka@tribweb.com.
