$100M Gitmo Courthouse Plans On Hold

Pentagon Plan Ran Into Congressional Opposition Over Building A Second Gitmo Trial Facility

(CBS)  CBS News has been told that Defense Department plans to seek funding for a $100 million courthouse to try terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have been put on hold. The Pentagon has officially withdrawn its original "emergency funding" request after encountering opposition from both Democrats and Republicans in Congress.

There is already a courthouse at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, but the military has said that it needs more space to try the high-value detainees held there.

However, on Wednesday U.S. Navy Spokesman J.D. Gordon told CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson the Department of Defense does not want a lack of facilities to delay the process.

Gordon added, "Only those detainees who will be charged with law of war violations and other grave offenses, estimated at between 60-80 unlawful enemy combatants, will be subject to commissions."

The proposed $100 million building would have housed more than courtrooms. The Pentagon anticipates a lot of observers and press for detainee trials. The building's plans call for accommodations for up to 1,200 people. There would also be a dining facility for 800 and a garage big enough for 100 vehicles.

Gordon said trials will move forward in June without the new building. Pre-trial activity likely starting up soon, he said.

As Attkisson reported in December, the Pentagon originally asked for money to build the courthouse with an emergency funding request — which would not have required a Congressional vote. But there was enough skepticism on Capitol Hill that the Pentagon had to put the project through the formal budget processes.

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Editor's Note: This story has been modified from its original posting to clarify comments from U.S. Navy Spokesman J.D. Gordon.

[pakaal]

My first question is that since the US doesn't seem to be trying any of these folks anyway, what do they need a new courthouse for? Better they sink the money in more solitary confinement cells, it's the only thing the US ever lets the detainees use.

[grumpas]

It's about time someone put a stop to such a waste of money! What do they need a $100 million dollar courthouse for? It's going to be the same farce of a trial it was with Saddam Hussein anyway! Anything for George to put on a show! They could hold it in the parking lot and be just as legal! The last I knew most of them had not been charged with anything!

[observantx]

Unfvcking believable.

I bet dollars to donuts that Haliburton has the contract on this massive slab of pure pork.

[mdc76082]

Talk about Fraud, Waste and Abuse! Maybe the Inspector General should keep tabs on this baby for a while incase it resurfaces, unless of course the IG's Office has been bought. What a waste of my tax dollars!

[rharrin1]

They don't need a new courthouse, what will it be used for after = nothing.

Stop throwing our money around.

[consciousnes]

Talk about a waste of money, if the media wants to hype the news they don't need a $100M court house to do it in. The Army is just looking for a way to delay hearings a little longer.
Besides, let the media pay for it.