Robert Gibbs: 'It's Going To Be A While Before' Guantanamo Closes

If there was one macro-lesson to be learned from the process -- painful as it was -- of overturning the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, it's that major legislative change can take time.

The Obama administration followed a process, entrusted Congress, and endured the (justified) impatience of the gay-rights community. Ultimately, it worked.

But it doesn't always go according to the legislative plan. And while the president followed through on his promise to overturn DADT, his failure to do the same on another campaign pledge -- the closure of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay -- remains conspicuous, and no closer to any apparent resolution.

On Sunday, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was asked when Gitmo was going to be closed, as the two-year deadline for the president's initial closure promise nears. "It's going to be a while before that prison closes" he told CNN's "State of the Union."

From the station's transcript:

CANDY CROWLEY: The first is, we are a month away from being a year late in closing down Guantanamo Bay prison. When is that prison going to close?

GIBBS: I don't -- it's certainly not going to close in the next month. I think it's -- I think it's going to be a while before that prison ...

CROWLEY: Another year?

GIBBS: -- closes. I think part of this depends on the Republicans' willingness to work with the administration on this.

The White House's inability to follow through on Gitmo's closure may be more about legal hurdles than a lack of political will or strategic missteps. But it also underscores how the president has been dependent on a compliant Congress. The administration, even in the most opportune of climates, couldn't find Republican backers (beyond the John McCain-Lindsey Graham nexus) to support Guantanamo's closure.

Comments

[Michael Ives]

06:06 PM on 12/28/2010

Quit acting like Gitmo is the only place where the US tortures its "enemies." We've been torturing people for years; this is an act of tokenism. Wow. We'll close GITMO yet leave all the other blacksites open for business. Good job USA! And now lets make it partisan even though this has been happening for over 50 years. The executive and legislative are merely ceremonial at this point.

[TheScarletPimpernel]

03:04 PM on 12/27/2010

Look a majority of the American people are scared of their own shadow and the GOP exploit this fear at every opportunity...what is the recipe? tell folks they are in danger then point out those responsible. 9/11 was a dream come true for the GOP.
So the Dems figure out that to argue with fear is not worth the effort. Look if Muslims could be rounded up and imprisoned in South Carolina like the Japanesse in WW2 and not upset our oil suppliers a majority of Americans would be down with it and dont think they would not Gitmo is just an indicator of this reality.

[calindi]

01:03 PM on 12/27/2010

Can't really say I'm surprised.  It's a fairly effective solution.

[moneyman1]

11:51 AM on 12/27/2010

No its not. We will be hiring a president in the next election who fullfills his promises to the nation.

[rebel9999]

11:15 AM on 12/27/2010

Translation: We're not going to be able to close it.

[LogicJack]

11:12 AM on 12/27/2010

The Dems could have closed Gitmo Detention Center anytime the wanted since 2006 by defunding, they chose not to. The house does not need approval of the senate to defund anything.

The Dems have been in control of congress for more years since 1955, well I like to blame both parties and still do for the ills of this country. The fact remains that the Dems have no-one to blame for Gitmo then themselves­­. When you control the house there is no filibuster clause there.

Democrats controlled BOTH house from 1955 until 1980 (26 years).
From 1981 until 1987 the Republican­­s controlled the Senate and the Democrats the House.
Democrats recaptured both houses in 87 and held them until 95 when the Republican­­s took both houses and held them until 2005. 2006 to 2010 the Dem controlled the house. 2006 to 2009 DEM controlled the senate.

[Chris3131]

11:00 AM on 12/27/2010

"closes. I think part of this depends on the Republicans' willingness to work with the administration on this."

I've had it with the Democrats' pathetic excuses. They had TWO YEARS of unbridled power to do almost anything they wanted. Don't give me the BS that this is the GOP's fault.

[opposingviewsareopposed]

10:58 AM on 12/27/2010

Yet another broken promise (lie) by Oshama.

Golf anyone?

[Cory111]

11:43 AM on 12/27/2010

You posted: Obama has done noting but made the economic mess worse>>
Really how has it directly affected your life, a few details might be in order.
>
Gas prices, say you are really stretching it, Obama sets the price of gas, interesting. Will I be hearing about the price of gold next?
>
I'm surprised at your age you would be calling posters liars, those are school yard words.

[opposingviewsareopposed]

06:41 PM on 12/27/2010

Just a few years ago, all you leftist here were blaming Bush and especially Cheney for the high price of gas.

What say you now?

Your just proof that liberals are full of nothing but hot air and double standards.

Priceless!!

[jokerdanny]

10:19 AM on 12/27/2010

Can't blame this all on the Reps...as much as I'd like to. The truth is conservative members of the Dem party held this up. We had large majorities and couldn't get it done. There is really no other way to read this. Just like not investigating torture. Same reasons. Some Dems like and/or were complicit in both. Any other explanation doesn't pass the laugh test.

[marywooo]

09:23 AM on 12/27/2010

maybe obama can get another country to take the prisoners when he goes on his annual "apoligize for america" tour in the spring.

[1776 or 1984]

09:58 AM on 12/27/2010

He just blow smoke up the puppet states' butt so that they behave as good children.

[Jack2011]

10:12 AM on 12/27/2010

He's been blocked from bringing them here for trial and prison and they have been negotiating for a while for other countries to take some of them - including the ones that were cleared years ago.

[AnnfromCA]

07:41 AM on 12/27/2010

The big issue of the progressives goes by the wayside, due to reality.
 
Anyone care to admit it?

[1776 or 1984]

09:57 AM on 12/27/2010

...due to the reality that both Empire parties need to bury KSM to complete the 9 1 1 coverup.

Yes, I admit that.

[Homer Strump]

05:22 AM on 12/27/2010

"Yes I am tired of all the republican­s posing as disgruntle­d liberals"

The above was on a previous post. There is such a thing as a real disgruntled liberal. There seem to be millions of 'em on HP. As far Guantanamo goes, it will probably close one day before the election in 2012.

[Cory111]

09:00 AM on 12/27/2010

Something about, "Better late then never comes to mind." Right now we are trying to clean up a domestic mess. Guantanamo is low priority, well unless you are a prisoner that wanted to harm America.

[Michael Ives]

03:16 AM on 12/27/2010

Why are we acting like GITMO is the only place the US tortures "terrorists" at? This is tokenism at its finest.

[hypeandchange]

02:40 AM on 12/27/2010

another obama lie

[Non Sibi]

06:12 AM on 12/27/2010

And another right-wing whiner.

[no tea]

11:07 AM on 12/27/2010

Yeah, like the wingers want Gitmo to be closed. LOL.

[biznesschic]

12:38 AM on 12/27/2010

HP readers, beware of what is happening:

HP, who makes money off of advertisement, post uninformed head lines for the Obama haters, both left and right, to chime in.

Right wing professionals come to HP to try to get the progressives to issue a primary challenge for Obama, as they know they are toast without it.

If you are a Nader, Larouche, or the new party of "Hillary should have won", you are supporting a losing effort, so don't come here to prove how "special" you are. Actually have your guy win a primary, for some sense of credibility.

[ArchieBunkerTypicalRepub]

02:51 AM on 12/27/2010

Yes I am tired of all the republicans posing as disgruntled liberals.

And HP does seem to be more interested in creating profits rather than supplying facts and a clear explanations.

[Cory111]

09:07 AM on 12/27/2010

Well, if you really feel that strong about it you should boycott HP by not posting here. Many of us would support your efforts and wish you well. That would give many out here more time to post rather then constantly rummaging through complaints.
Bon Voyage…

[SisterAnn]

09:54 AM on 12/27/2010

You are wrong about most of us. What are you, one of those 'Obama can do no wrong' people?

Obama is sure helping the republicans at the expense of the rest of us.

[Cory111]

11:20 AM on 12/27/2010

Really, how has his Administration "directly" affected your life today? I should really make a macro for this sentence. Maybe a better question might be, "Are you one of those that can find go good in his Presidency?