Obama Administration to Provide Gitmo Detainees H1N1 Vaccine

In addition to the political and administrative challenges facing the closure of Guantanamo, the Obama Adminstration may face further difficulties in deciding to provide detainees with a vaccine for the H1N1 flu virus.

Rep. John Boehner, House Minority Leader, has already criticized the decision, pointing out that it was announced as part of a Friday news-dump.

However, as reported in the WaPo (linked provided above), some supporters of the move assert that the US government has an obligation to provide for detainees' basic needs. These needs include the vaccinations.

Supreme Court to Hear Uighur Case

AFP is reporting that the Supreme Court will hear Kiyemba, et al., v. Obama, et al. regarding the power of federal judges to release prisoners from Guantanamo. This will be the first time the court will hear a case on the War on Terror since Mr. Obama took office. Read more at SCOTUS blog.

Lithuania Yet to Decide on Guantanamo Inmates

Globalsecurity.org links to an article by the RIA Novosti news service, on Lithuania's delay to accept Guantanamo inmates. Dalia Grybauskaite, current Lithuanian President, insists that Lithuania's role in secret CIA prisons must be disproven before they will take in any Guantanamo detainees.

Ireland Aids United States in Relocation of Gitmo Detainees

As noted in tomorrow's online edition of the Irish Examiner, Hillary Clinton recently thanked Ireland and Taoiseach Cowen for assisting in the resettlement of two Uzbek detainees. Secretary Clinton pointed out that legal and financial factors have added to the difficulty of closing the facility by President Obama's goal date of January 22, 2010.

A previous NSLB posting has more on the logistical challenges facing the closing of Guantanamo.

Difficulties Facing the Closure of Guantanamo

As the Voice of America news agency reported earlier this week, Attorney General Holder has indicated that full closure of the Guantanamo detention center by late January of 2010 will be difficult. President Obama has previously asserted his aim to close Guantanamo by this date as part of his administration's effort to restore America's international image.

As US officials strive to meet this deadline, strong Congressional opposition to holding Guantanamo detainees on mainland American soil has likely made matters more difficult. Conversely, President Obama's recent acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize may have added to the political pressure supporting prompt closure of the detention facility.

For more on this story, please visit Globalsecurity.org.