PARTISAN

GOP Wins Gitmo Showdown

Closing of prison delayed.

Most Democrats were for closing the detention center at Guantanamo Bay until they realized that the prisons in their constituents' backyards could end up holding any relocated detainees. Now, the Republicans have won a concession from Senate Democrats that will remove funding for the closing of the controversial prison in Cuba. The setback for the Obama administration occurs as the GOP has successfully waged a campaign to raise fears of whether the U.S. prison system can properly accommodate suspected terrorists. Some Democrats have also criticized Obama, who has not aggressively lobbied for the closing of Gitmo as he attempts to sort through the litany of challenges involved in bringing the prisoners to trial.