The entrance to Camp 1 in Guantanamo Bay’s Camp Delta. (Wikipedia Kathleen T. Rhem)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
The Pentagon announced over the weekend it is halting a controversial plan to offer coronavirus vaccinations to detainees at Guantánamo Bay after it caused an uproar among Republicans in Congress. It was reported last week in various media the Pentagon planned to begin vaccinating detainees on a volunteer basis. U.S. Department of Defense press secretary John Kirby confirmed via Twitter the Pentagon is reversing course on the vaccination plan.
No Guantanamo detainees have been vaccinated. We’re pausing the plan to move forward, as we review force protection protocols. We remain committed to our obligations to keep our troops safe.
— John Kirby (@PentagonPresSec) January 30, 2021
Republican lawmakers were quick to pounce on the Pentagon plan
‘Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to get COVID-19 vaccine in Guantanamo’
It is inexcusable and un-American that President Biden is choosing to prioritize vaccinations for convicted terrorists in Gitmo over vulnerable American seniors or veterans. https://t.co/wx52bPYeoO
— Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) January 30, 2021
Detainees at the base include Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, or KSM, the suspected mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks.
