9/11 Families Invited To Talk On GITMO Closure

9/11 families invited to talk on Gitmo closure

http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009...gitmo-closure/

By Christina Bellantoni | Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Sept. 11 families, divided on President Obama's decision to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, are in Washington to offer their opinions to a Justice Department task force on issues surrounding the prison's closure.

The 50 or so family members - some who met with the president this past winter - were told they could speak their minds as the task force collects input for a report, due July 21, on how best to close the prison facility at the U.S. naval base in Cuba.

Several oppose Mr. Obama's decision, announced the day after his inauguration, to order the facility's closure by Jan. 22, 2010.

"I just want them to know these terrorists are not nice people. We're not in the revenge business, but what we do want is justice," said Lee Hanson, whose son, daughter-in-law and infant granddaughter were killed when United Flight 175 crashed into the World Trade Center's South Tower in 2001.

The families arrived for meetings with the Justice Department task force Monday evening and Tuesday as the European Union agreed to help resettle former Guantanamo detainees and as Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said he would take three people being freed from Guantanamo.

Mr. Obama thanked Mr. Berlusconi while meeting with the Italian leader. "This is not just talk, Italy has agreed to accept three specific detainees," Mr. Obama said.

Referring to another recent transfer of detainees, he added, "Bermuda has done us a great service as well on that front."

A Justice spokesman said the task force has been meeting with lawyers, human rights groups, scholars, representatives from foreign governments, members of Congress, foreign nongovernental organizations and victims of terrorism.

"We've received input from all sides on this issue," the spokesman said, adding that the variety of viewpoints is helping the task force "make more informed decisions and recommendations to the president."

Mr. Obama has hit snags along the way, as states in the U.S. have refused to take prisoners and some foreign governments have not wanted to help.