WASHINGTON — Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. said Tuesday that the Obama administration would probably not meet its Jan. 22 deadline for closing the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and that the fate of more than 220 foreign terrorism suspects being held there might remain up in the air for months longer.
"It's going to be difficult" to make the self-imposed deadline, Holder told reporters during a rare question-and-answer session at the Justice Department.
But, he added, the administration is still trying to meet the goal President Obama set on his second day in office and remains committed to shuttering the facility -- whose existence has become a recruiting tool for terrorist organizations around the world -- as soon as possible.
Holder also downplayed one controversial sticking point in the Guantanamo debate, saying the Justice Department and its Bureau of Prisons have proved that the most hardened terrorists can be housed safely in the U.S. His comments came a few days after the House voted to prohibit the transfer of terrorism suspects from Guantanamo to face prosecution in this country.
Many lawmakers say the detainees pose a threat to national security.
The measure, if it becomes law, would complicate the administration's plan to empty the widely criticized prison by early next year.
Some human rights activists said they were less concerned about the actual closing date than about indications that the administration would continue to keep several dozen prisoners in some kind of indefinite detention.
"If you are just going to move people to the United States and hold them without charge here, it will continue to be a source of outrage. We think it's crucial that Guantanamo be closed in a meaningful way," said Joanne Mariner, terrorism and counter-terrorism director at Human Rights Watch.
In the last week, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates also expressed doubts about being able to close Guantanamo by the January deadline.
But Holder said that two Obama-appointed task forces have made substantial progress in determining what to do with 223 men still being held there.
The interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force, which has completed its initial review of all the detainees, recommended transferring "a significant number" to foreign nations, with others brought to the United States to stand trial.
