WASHINGTON--There are now 198 detainees left at the Guantanamo Bay military prison, the White House told me. On Sunday, the Justice Department announced 12 suspected terrorists were sent to Yemen, Afghanistan and the Somaliland region.
On Tuesday--today--the State of Illinois is holding a public hearing on President Obama's order for the federal government to buy the nearly vacant Thomson Correctional Center in northwest Illinois to house detainees--estimated to be between 50 and 100.
The tally
198 detainees left as of Dec. 22
5 detainees to be transfered to New York City for federal trial
5 detainees to be tried in other U.S. venues.
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188 detainees remaining to be sent to another country or sent to a U.S. city for a federal trial, or sent at some point to Thomson for a military trial or sent to Thomson for an indefinite period without charges.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2009
WWW.JUSTICE.GOV
UNITED STATES TRANSFERS 12 GUANTANAMO BAY DETAINEES
TO AFGHANISTAN, YEMEN AND THE SOMALILAND REGION
WASHINGTON -- The Department of Justice today announced that 12 detainees have been transferred from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to Afghanistan, Yemen and the Somaliland region.
As directed by the President's Jan. 22, 2009 Executive Order, the interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force conducted a comprehensive review of each of these cases. As a result of that review, which examined a number of factors, including potential threat, mitigation measures and the likelihood of success in habeas litigation, the detainees were approved for transfer. In accordance with Congressionally-mandated reporting requirements, the Administration informed Congress of its intent to transfer the detainees at least 15 days before their transfer.
Over the weekend, four Afghan detainees, Abdul Hafiz, Sharifullah, Mohamed Rahim and Mohammed Hashim, were transferred to the Government of Afghanistan. In addition, two Somali detainees, Mohammed Soliman Barre and Ismael Arale, were transferred to regional authorities in Somaliland. Finally, six Yemeni detainees, Jamal Muhammad Alawi Mari, Farouq Ali Ahmed, Ayman Saeed Abdullah Batarfi, Muhammaed Yasir Ahmed Taher, Fayad Yahya Ahmed al Rami and Riyad Atiq Ali Abdu al Haf, were transferred to the Government of Yemen.
These transfers were carried out under individual arrangements between the United States and relevant foreign authorities to ensure the transfers took place under appropriate security measures. Consultations with foreign authorities regarding these individuals will continue.
Since 2002, more than 560 detainees have departed Guantanamo Bay for other destinations, including Albania, Algeria, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Belgium, Bermuda, Chad, Denmark, Egypt, France, Hungary Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan, Palau, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom and Yemen.
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Lynn Sweet is a columnist and the Washington Bureau Chief for the 
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Over or under 6 mos before these released terrorists try to attack us again? Great move dummies.
Joe, How do you know they are terrorists since they were sold to the U.S. forces in Afghanistan for bounties and they have never been charged or brought to trial under the principles of Habeas Corpus, the Magna Carta, the U.S. Constitution and all the fundamentals of a modern justice system.
Or maybe you're just another simpleton who believes everything the criminal government of the United States tells him.
560 so-called Detainees were proven innocent and let go home after being subjected to imprisonment ant torture! what a blow to US DEMOCRACY!