Italy to Accept Guantanamo Detainees

Things are looking up for President Barack Obama's plan to shut down Guantanamo Bay. Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi has agreed to allow three of the detainees from the American prison in Guantanamo Bay onto its soil.

Italy's commitment, Obama said was "is not just talk. Italy has agreed to accept three specific detainees." The announcement comes on the heels of an announcement by the European Union earlier this month that following months of deliberation, it had agreed to terms to allow some 60 detainees from Guantánamo Bay. The Guardian noted that "individual countries were split between political leaders keen to show willing with Obama and security establishments worried about taking in the detainees." Italy appears eager to show America its support and perhaps more obviously, to cozy up with Obama. The identities of the prisoners are not yet known, although Italian papers have reported that they are Tunisian. The American pressure on the EU to accept Guantanamo inmates amounted to calling Europe's bluff. Member states had long voiced concern and their disagreement with Guantanamo. Now they are expected to be part of the solution. While the announcement comes as a boost to the goal of shutting down Guantanamo by early next year, problems remain. There are still some 220 detainees in the American prison, dozens of which cannot be returned to their home country for fear of mistreatment. While the individual EU member states will accept some 60 detainees, other countries, including Canada likely will not accept any. Domestically, Obama is also facing strong resistance from those who don't want any of the detainees released on American soil. Further, The Financial Times reported that despite Italy's gesture, it is already causing problems for Berlusconi. His anxious attempt to create a good relationship with the new American administration has created tensions within his centre-right coalition government. Whether or not Obama can succeed in closing down Guantanamo's detention facility remains to be seen, but surely the attitude is that every contribution, however small, helps.