‘We’ve made progress’
At a communal camp for those given privileges because of good behavior, bearded detainees in white frocks, flip-flops and skull caps quietly lingered near lawmakers, although from behind fences. Later, the detainees played soccer.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, is one of many Democrats who have called for an independent commission to investigate abuse allegations and have said the facility should close. She said she stood by that position, but acknowledged, “What we’ve seen here is evidence that we’ve made progress.”
The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., questioned the criteria for determining when a detainee can be released. “Perhaps the standard’s been too liberal,” he said, noting that some of those released have returned to the battlefield. |
