US President Barack Obama’s plan to close the Guantanamo Bay prison by early 2010 hit a snag Tuesday as his Democratic Senate allies moved to deny his 80-million-dollar request to shut the facility.
The decision came after a fierce campaign from Republicans who charged that Obama lacked a plan for dealing with the 240 detainees at the notorious jail, and warned against imprisoning, trying, or freeing any of them on US soil.
“The money was sought prematurely,” agreed Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, who told reporters the administration had failed to present a detailed strategy.
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The Pentagon said the plan to close the facility, a global symbol of US “war on terrorism” excesses, was on track, while the White House said Obama would unveil a “hefty part” of his plan in a national security speech on Thursday.
