Kuwaiti sent home after 13 years at Guantanamo Bay detention center

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Washington Post

Kuwaiti sent home after 13 years at Guantanamo Bay detention center
November 5 at 8:20 PM


GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA

Kuwaiti detainee sent home after 13 years

A Kuwaiti held at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for nearly 13 years was sent back to his homeland Wednesday, the first release based on the determination of a review panel that has been re-evaluating some men previously classified by the government as too dangerous to release.

Fawzi al-Odah had been told his release was imminent but did not know the date until shortly before he boarded the flight to Kuwait from the base in Cuba, his attorney, Eric Lewis, said.

Odah, 37, had been the focus of a battle for his release, which was supported by the Kuwaiti government. Lewis, who talked to Odah recently, said the prisoner just wanted to get on with life.

“There’s no bitterness, there’s no anger,” Lewis said. “There’s just excitement and joy that he will be going home.”

Under a transfer agreement, Odah faces a minimum of one year in a militant-rehabilitation center at a Kuwaiti prison. After six months, he will be eligible to leave for part of the day to work or see family, Lewis said.


Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/kuwaiti-sent-home-after-13-years-at-guantanamo-detention-center/2014/11/05/b306cffa-64ae-11e4-836c-83bc4f26eb67_story.html

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. It's about time he got out of there.

Granted he's going back into another such place, but not for nearly as long and he can see his family eventually.

[mackerel]

2. A third of his life there, why was he at Guantanamo in the first place?

[Archae]

3. The CIA under Bush said he was a terrorist.

And that's all those bastards needed.

[Sunlei]

4. The President renewed repatriation negotiations.

In July 2013 Cynammon said the Obama administration was renewing repatriation negotiations after "years of radio silence"

[lsewpershad]

5. Funny how US can imprison people

for years without a trial. Wonder if any other country can hold an American for any length of time without a trial.

[christx30]

6. Good point.

Even the level headed people in North Korea have a trial for Americans caught breaking their laws. It's a fake show trial, but they at least go through the motions.