Washington - US President Barack Obama's plans to close the
Guantanamo Bay prison has prompted politicians from across the
country to declare their opposition to bringing any of the detainees
to their constituencies. But there is a small poor town in Montana
with welcoming arms open.
Hardin lies in the southeastern part of Montana known as Big Sky
Country and is home to about 3,400 residents. Two years ago the city
completed construction of a 27-million-dollar prison, hoping it would
create badly needed jobs and boost the local economy.
The facility built to hold 464 inmates has not seen a single
prisoner since, mainly because of a dispute between Hardin and the
Montana state government.
But Obama's election and his quick announcement to close
Guantanamo within a year brought new hope. Hardin's officials offered
use of the prison for housing all or some of the 240 detainees
remaining at Guantanamo until they could be transferred or tried.
So far, though, the offer has fallen on dead ears. The city's
director of economic development, Greg Smith, said that Hardin has
not heard back from the federal government. Worsening their case is
the refusal of Montana's three representatives to support the idea.
Smith said the medium-security prison could be upgraded to handle
the Guantanamo detainees and that any shortcomings could be made up
with added manpower. While Hardin wants to do its part to help close
Guantanamo, Smith says, the prison could pump millions of dollars
into the economy.
'It would be better than hitting the lottery,' Smith said in a
telephone interview.
The White House has not commented on what it plans to do with the
Guantanamo detainees. Few countries have stepped forward to take some
off the Obama administration's hands, and Obama has run into fierce
Democratic and Republican opposition in Congress over the prospect
that some of the suspected terrorists could end up in the United
States.
Montana's lawmakers in Washington are no exception. 'I understand
the need to create jobs, but we're not going to bring al-Qaeda to Big
Sky Country - no way, not on my watch,' Democratic Senator Max Baucus
said, according to Time.
Congress last month blocked 80 million dollars in funding
requested by Obama to begin closing Guantanamo, demanding that the
president first outline his plans for housing the detainees. Obama
could do that next month, when the task force he assembled to come up
with a plan is due to report.
After the congressional defeat, Obama held firm, saying he intends
to bring some detainees to the United States and accused members of
Congress of preying on the public fear for political gain.
For the city of Hardin, the long wait to determine the fate of the
prison continues - although some residents are not thrilled about
transferring dangerous Guantanamo Bay detainees to their
neighbourhood.
Clara Eshleman, who lives 'kitty corner' to the prison with
husband William, wants to see the prison filled, but not with
Guantanamo inmates.
'I am not in favour of it, neither of us are in favour of it,' she
said when reached by telephone. 'I don't think it's a good idea.'
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