ACLU Calls Gates Plans To Close Down Guantánamo An Important First Step

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; media@aclu.org

NEW YORK – A Pentagon spokesman said today that U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has ordered aides to draw up plans for closing down the prison camp at Guantánamo Bay.

The following can be attributed to Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union:

"The fact that Defense Secretary Gates is finally taking steps to close down Guantánamo and its unconstitutional military commissions is a welcome and encouraging sign that President-elect Obama intends to fulfill his campaign pledge. This is an important first step toward turning the page on eight years of shameful policies that allowed torture and violations of domestic and international law. We are confident that, once in office, President Obama will give us an America we can be proud of again and return to our tried and true established system of justice, which is the best in the world."