Wednesday, December 16, 2009

[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, December 16, 2009

 

From the Council on Foreign Relations

December 16, 2009

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

- Guantanamo detainees to be transferred.
- Iran successful in missile test.
- Thailand requests UN funds for seized arms.
- Russia, U.S. close to new START treaty.

Top of the Agenda: Obama Order on Guantanamo Detainees

U.S. President Barack Obama made headway on closing the controversial military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, ordering (NYT) a limited number of Guantanamo detainees to be housed in an Illinois prison that the federal government will buy.

The move would still require congressional approval, since Congress does not currently allow Guantanamo detainees to be brought onto American soil unless they are being prosecuted, and some of the prisoners would be held indefinitely. It is not clear how many of the roughly 210 Guantanamo detainees would be sent to Thomson Correctional Center or when, but several administration officials estimated the transfers to total roughly one hundred detainees. Critics worry that those prisoners could be freed inside the United States under habeas corpus petitions, but administration officials said any such detainees would be transferred out of the country or brought to trial.

Human rights groups say the relocation of suspects still violates (BBC) the legal principle that people cannot be held without charge or trial. Amnesty International said in a statement: "The only thing that President Obama is doing with this announcement is changing the ZIP code of Guantanamo."

Another part of Obama's plan to close Guantanamo includes the possible release of 116 detainees, as recommended by Justice Department prosecutors. The administration also said last month that some suspects will be tried (WashPost) in New York federal court and others by the military.

Analysis

The Christian Science Monitor reports that bringing detainees onto U.S. soil will likely broaden their legal rights, though it is unclear to what degree.

Background

A CFR Backgrounder examines the legal and security issues surrounding the closure of Guantanamo.

MIDDLE EAST: Iran Missile Test

Iran successfully test-fired (PRESSTV) its longest-range missile, amid increased tensions with the international community over its nuclear program.

Israel: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' term has been indefinitely extended (Reuters) until new elections are held.

PACIFIC RIM: North Korean Arms Cache Seizure

The Thai government says it will request (GlobalTimes) money from the United Nations to destroy the cache of weapons seized from a plane arriving from North Korea, as governments linked to the incident deny involvement.

Myanmar: Myanmar's junta allowed (AFP) detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to meet with three senior members of her party who are in poor health.

SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: Pakistan Graft Ruling

Pakistan's supreme court is due to rule (al-Jazeera) on the legality of an amnesty deal that immunized Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and hundreds of other Pakistani politicians from graft charges.

Afghanistan: German commanders face an inquiry (Independent) into the circumstances surrounding a German-ordered NATO air strike that killed as many as 142 people, increasing calls for the resignation of German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg.

AFRICA: African Countries at Copenhagen

At the Copenhagen climate summit, African countries, along with other members of the G77 and China, continued to insist (ThisDay) that developed countries commit to implementing the Kyoto Protocol.

Guinea: Guinea's military junta vowed to fight (DailyNation) any deployment of troops to the country by the international community, calling such action a "declaration of war."

AMERICAS: U.S. Iran Sanctions

The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation (AP) to impose new economic sanctions on Iran, doubting that Iran would curb its nuclear program even under international pressure.

EUROPE: Russia-U.S. START Treaty

The United States and Russia could sign (Guardian) a replacement for the countries' existing strategic arms reduction treaty as early as this week.

EU: The longest trade dispute between the European Union and Latin American countries, focused on EU import tariffs on bananas from Latin America, has been resolved (DeutscheWelle).

TRANSNATIONAL: Developing-Country Funding for Global Warming

In the New Republic, Bradford Plumer examines the difficulties in creating the right incentives for the private sector to fund developing countries' adjustments to global warming.
 

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