[craig nigrelli]

THE PENTAGON SAYS 11 YEMENI DETAINEES — INCLUDING TWO FORMER BODYGUARDS FOR OSAMA BIN LADEN — WHO WERE BEING HELD AT GUANTÁNAMO BAY, CUBA HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED TO OMAN. THAT COUNTRY HAS AGREED TO HELP RE-SETTLE THEM. None of those released had been charged with crimes.

THE MAJOR MOVE COMES AMID STEPS TO REDUCE THE POPULATION AT THE CONTROVERSIAL U-S MILITARY FACILITY.

THERE ARE NOW ONLY 15 DETAINEES LEFT AT GUANTÁNAMO BAY’S DETENTION FACILITY, which the UNITED STATES SET-UP AS THE WAR ON TERROR BEGAN AFTER SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001.

OF THE 15, ONLY THREE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR TRANSFER.

THREE MORE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A PERIODIC REVIEW, SEVEN ARE INVOLVED IN THE MILITARY COMMISSIONS PROCESS, AND TWO DETAINEES HAVE BEEN CONVICTED AND SENTENCED BY MILITARY COMMISSIONS.

IN RECENT WEEKS, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS TRANSFERRED OUT FOUR OTHER DETAINEES FROM GUANTÁNAMO — INCLUDING ONE,  BROUGHT TO THE DETENTION FACILITY THE DAY IT OPENED IN 2002.  BUT HE WAS NEVER CHARGED.

MEANTIME A RECENT DECISION BY A MILITARY JUDGE SPARKED OUTRAGE. THE JUDGE RULED PLEA AGREEMENTS WITH 9-11 MASTERMIND KHALID SHEIK MOHAMMED AND TWO OTHER ACCUSED TERRORISTS, ARE VALID AND BINDING.  THOSE DEALS TAKE THE DEATH PENALTY OFF THE TABLE FOR THE THREE MEN, WHO ALSO REMAIN AT THE BASED, OFTEN CALLED GIT-MO.