By Matthias Gebauer in Berlin
It is still unclear when this trip will take place. The offices of these top EU officials have been trying since late last week to establish contact with their American counterparts. Although the US is without a doubt ready to accept such a mission, it will take a number of days to finalize the logistical details.
Nonetheless, the trip to Guantanamo would be a symbolically important step for the EU -- but only an initial one. Diplomats say that afterwards security experts would definitely have to examine each individual case. In Germany, intelligence agencies would form a task force consisting of experts from Germany's domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Germany's federal police, the BKA -- which is the equivalent of the FBI in the US -- and Germany's foreign intelligence service, the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND).
The debate in Germany is frequently animated by pithy slogans, usually led by domestic politicians at the state level and marked by squabbling in the coalition government in Berlin between Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU and the center-left SPD -- and it often shows a total disregard for the facts. Foreign Minister Steinmeier has been repeatedly criticized for racing ahead with an offer -- although no official request has yet been made by the US. This also remains the position taken by the German government, which says that it intends to "react" to such requests.
From an official perspective, this may seem like a correct position. But pragmatists like Steinmeier have known for months that the US will approach Europe on this issue. Shortly before the US elections, leading members of the Obama team spoke with a delegation from Steinmeier's Foreign Ministry and left little doubt about the intentions of the new administration. "We will need your help," said a man who is now a high-ranking official in the US government. Similar unofficial requests have also been received by the other EU countries over the past months.
Late last week, a spokesman for the Pentagon who is responsible for the prisoners confirmed the intentions of the US. Over the past few years, says Jeffrey D. Gordon, the US has spoken "with over 100 countries" concerning the transfer of former detainees -- yet not always with success. "We are hopeful the recent discussions with partner nations, particularly in Europe, will lead to help solve this shared problem."
Waiting for Munich
That's about as clear a signal as one can get that the US would like to see a rapid and focused debate within the EU. Not surprisingly, Steinmeier's indication that he is willing to help has been well received by the US Defense Department. As early as the next meeting at the ministerial level, perhaps at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 6-8, diplomats expect that the US will officially submit a request to Europe. That doesn't leave much time to prepare a European reaction.
The Pentagon has also openly answered the questions asked time and again by Germany and the EU -- namely, which prisoners the US intends to set free. All heated debates in Europe aside, there is little doubt about this in the US: The Americans are trying to find solutions for 60 prisoners. All these cases have been reviewed by the military over the past few years and the inmates are cleared for release.
But there's just one catch: Either their home countries don't want to take them in, or they could face torture. Some prisoners also don't want to return home because they fear reprisals.
According to military sources in the US, the 60 men, whose release has sparked such intense debate in Europe, come from China, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Chad, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Algeria, Tunisia and Yemen.
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