The Future of Guantanamo Bay Detainees

LONDON, Jan. 27, 2008— -- Last week President Obama announced his intention to close down the notorious prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba within a year. This may not be as simple as it seems. What's to be done with its 245 inmates? The answer may depend on the cooperation of countries in the European Union.

The EU, which has always been more or less united in its opposition to the very existence of Guantanamo Bay, suddenly appears divided on the subject.

While it still believes that the prison camp should be shut down, its member states are making no promises to take in any of the remaining prisoners. The issue could become the first big test of Europe's solidarity with the Obama administration.

Here is a Q&A on the subject.

Q. Who is still imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay and why is the European Union important for the future of some of them?

A. About 245 men, some of whom will now be tried in U.S. courts on terrorism-related charges under safeguards guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and international law. Others will be repatriated to their home countries. But there are about 60 so-called "hard cases" who cannot be returned to their homes because they would face further torture or the death penalty there. These are prisoners from Algeria, China, Russia, Syria, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The Obama administration wants help from the 27 countries of the European Union with some of these people, since it is apparently unwilling to grant asylum in the U.S. to any of them.

Q. What about Great Britain, arguably America's best friend in the War on Terror?

A. Britain has already repatriated nine prisoners from Guantanamo who are all U.K. citizens and another three who have U.K. residence permits. Britain says that none of these men have committed any crimes since their return, so far. Foreign Secretary David Milleband argues that Britain has already done its bit: "We have played an important role in showing that this can be done in a safe and secure way," he said Monday.