President Obama said he will push to close the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and confirmed that his plan is to empty it as much as possible, then argue that it’s not worth spending the money to house a small group of detainees.
At a Thursday press conference in Laos, Obama said if the population of inmates becomes too small, closing it entirely might be seen as the only economical choice.
If the country gets “to the point where we’re looking at 40-50 people” remaining in Guantanamo, “I think the American people should be asking the question: Why are we spending this kind of money when could be spending it on other things?” he said.
It’s not clear his plan will work, but Obama stressed that he would fight to close the detention center until his last days in office in January.
“I am not ready to concede that it will remain open,” Obama said.
“I expect to work very hard … over the next four-and-a-half months” on closing it, he added.
