Two More GITMO Detainees Transferred, 176 Remain

The Department of Defense recently announced that two more Guantanamo Bay detainees have been realeased.

As directed by the President’s January 22, 2009 executive order, the interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force conducted a comprehensive review of these cases.  As a result of that review, which examined a number of factors, including security issues, the detainees were approved for transfer by unanimous consent among all the agencies involved in the task force.

According to a press release, the two prisoners are set to be transferred to Spain and Latvia, respectively. However, due to privacy concerns and at the request of the receving governments, the identities of the former GITMO prisoners are being with held at this time.

Since 2002, more than 600 Guantanmo detainees have departed the facility for other countries and only 176 remain.

Travel To Gulf Coast Will Lose $22.7 Million

It has been projected that the effects of the BP Oil Spill on Gulf Coast travel will last up to three years and cost the area $22.7 billion.

“History and current trends indicate a potential $22.7 billion economic loss to the travel economies of the Gulf Coast states over the next three years,” said Adam Sacks, managing director of Oxford Economics USA. “One of the most cost-effective ways to mitigate these damages is to immediately fund strategic marketing to counter misperceptions and encourage travel to the region.”

The U.S. Travel Association is requesting $500 million from the government for a marketing program to help tourism in the region. For more details click here

Biden Calls It A Day

Since the signing of the Wall Street reform, Vice President Joe Biden said the “heavy lifting is over.” The VP believes that all of this year’s legislative priorities have been completed. With the stimulus act and healthcare reform also under Obama’s belt, Biden wants to promote these accomplishments with the midterms rapidly approaching. However, with issues such as climate, immigration and campaign finance reform still up in the air, maybe it’s a bit early to clock out…

Pentagon To Honor McChrystal Tomorrow

The Pentagon has just announced that there will be a retirement ceremony for Gen. Stanley McChrystal tomorrow at Fort McNair in Southwest Washington, D.C. McChrystal, earlier this summer, was forced to resign from his position as Commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan over remarks he made in a Rolling Stone article…

President Signs Unemployment Extenders

The White House released the following statement from President Barack Obama shortly after he signed into law a measure to continue providing benefits to unemployed Americans:

“Today, I signed the unemployment insurance extension to restore desperately needed assistance to two and a half million Americans who lost their jobs in the recession. After a partisan minority used procedural tactics to block the authorization of this assistance three separate times over the past weeks, Americans who are fighting to find a good job and support their families will finally get the support they need to get back on their feet during these tough economic times. 

Now it’s time for Congress to act on more proposals that support our economic recovery, including passing critical aid to our states and support to small businesses. Small businesses are the engine of job growth, and measures to cut their taxes and make lending available should not be held hostage to partisan tactics like those that unconscionably held up unemployment insurance.”