MOSCOW, September 2 (RIA Novosti) - Although President Obama has repeatedly claimed that Guantanamo prison, a symbol of torture and human rights abuse, would be closed, the notorious camp is still operating amid steady decay.
"More than 12 years after the Bush administration sent the first prisoners here, tensions are mounting over whether Mr. Obama can close the prison before leaving office, according to interviews with two dozen administration, congressional and military officials," notes The New York Times.
The prison is apparently a heavy burden for the American taxpayers: it costs nearly $3 million per detainee a year and its overall cost in 2014 has already reached $443 million. However, some of the Pentagon officials argue that Guantanamo should be kept operating. They believe that the low-security detainees, transferred to foreign sites may pose a substantial threat to the US security.
79 low-security prisoners have been already approved for transfer to other countries, while 70 high-security detainees are being considered to be moved to the US domestic prisons. However, neither the President, nor the American lawmakers are hastening to fulfill the promise to relocate the prisoners and close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center.
"My name is going on that document. That’s a big responsibility. What I’m doing is, I am taking my time. I owe that to the American people, to ensure that any decision I make is, in my mind, responsible," explained US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel regarding the Guantanamo Bay detainee transfers, as cited by the New York Times.
Meanwhile the conditions of imprisonment in Guantanamo Bay are worsening steadily: old and fraying facilities are badly in need of repair. The quality of medical assistance in the camp is the subject of criticism as well. The US Congress has prohibited treating the Guantanamo prisoners on the territory of the US, Pentagon lawyers stated. "It was lawful not to evacuate a prisoner for urgent medical treatment," The New York Times underscores.
"Although our policies require JTF-GTMO to provide detainees medical care that is comparable to the care available to US personnel on island, they do not require JTF-GTMO to MEDEVAC detainees to the United States for care, even if we would do so for our own personnel," reads the Pentagon's document obtained by the media outlet.
On the other hand, according to the camp's medical staff about 20-25 prisoners have diabetes or high blood pressure. The aging Guantanamo inmates are suffering from heart diseases, strokes and cancer and do need advanced medical treatment.
"It’s a long way from being closed," said Gen. John F. Kelly, which is controlling Joint Task Force Guantánamo, as quoted by The New York Times.
Indeed, it remains unclear, whether or not Barack Obama's pledge to close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center will be fulfilled.
