Survey: Most want trials or release for Gitmo detainees

A little more than half of Americans think the remaining 61 detainees at Guantanamo Bay should be released or face trial for terrorism, according to a new YouGov survey.

The survey comes on the heels of Monday’s transfer of 15 detainees to the United Arab Emirates, the largest single transfer by the Obama administration to date.

{mosads}Republicans slammed the transfer as reckless, while human rights groups hailed them as a show of President Obama’s commitment to closing the facility.

The YouGov survey, in which 2,064 people were questioned, was conducted live online Tuesday.

Respondents were divided on their views about Monday’s transfer. Overall, 36 percent said they either strongly approve or somewhat approve, while 35 percent said the somewhat disapprove or strongly disapprove and 29 percent weren’t sure.

But, of Republican respondents, 65 percent somewhat or strongly disapproved. For Democrats, 51 percent strongly or somewhat approved.

There was more agreement on what should be done about the remaining detainees. Overall, 52 percent said they should either face trial for terrorism or be released.

Meanwhile, 20 percent said the remaining detainees should continue to be held without charge, while 28 percent were not sure.

Releasing the detainees or having them face trial received strong support from Democrats, at 61 percent.

The views of Republicans were more split, with 33 percent saying they should be released or face trial, 40 percent saying they should continue to be held without charge and 27 percent not sure.

Respondents were also split on whether detaining suspected terrorists at Guantanamo was a good idea in the first place. Thirty-four percent said it was a mistake, 37 percent said it wasn’t a mistake and 29 percent weren’t sure.

Republicans were strong in their belief it wasn’t a mistake, with 66 percent saying so.

For Democrats, 34 percent said it was mistake, compared with 21 percent who said it wasn’t.

Of the detainees still at the facility, 20 have been cleared for transfer. Another 10 have been charged or convicted in the military commission system. A couple more detainees are awaiting a review board’s decision on whether they can be transferred out, and the rest have been deemed too dangerous to release but have not been charged with a crime.

President Obama’s plan to close the facility, which hinges on bringing some detainees to a facility in the United States, is unlikely to come to fruition because of strong opposition from Republicans. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has said she supports the plan, while Republican nominee Donald Trump has said he would keep the facility open.