After four Afghanistan prisoners held at the United States military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, were released, President Barack Obama said during a CNN exclusive interview he will do everything he can to shut the prison down in his presidency.
Emphasizing that the prison "is something that continues to inspire Jihadist and extremist around the world," President Obama also added that the U.S. is spending millions for each detainee that is held there.
If Obama is able to close down the prison in his last two years, he would be fulfilling on a promise he made when he was elected six years ago, according to Slate.com.
With the release of the four former detainees back to Afghanistan today, the number of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay is down to 132, or "more than two dozen fewer than a year ago," according to the Miami Herald's Carol Rosenberg, Slate reported. More prisoners are planned for transfer over the next few weeks.
Since November, a total of 13 prisoners of other nationalities have been successfully transferred to other locations, like six who were sent back to Uruguay earlier this month, Reuters reported.
During the CNN interview, Obama said the prison was "damaging America's image around the world," and said he had not been able to close thus far because of the United States Congress.
"I'm going to be doing everything I can to close it," Obama said on CNN's "State of the Union with Candy Crowley," program in an interview taped on Friday.
"It is something that continues to inspire jihadists and extremists around the world, the fact that these folks are being held," Obama said on CNN. "It is contrary to our values and it is wildly expensive. We're spending millions for each individual there. And we have drawn down the population there significantly."
Guantanamo was opened by George W. Bush after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in order to track down terrorism suspects, specifically Afghans, according to Slate.
The prison is criticized for reports of extreme interrogation methods, which Obama banned when he became President in 2008, Slate reported.
"The Guantanamo detention facility's continued operation undermines our national security," Obama said in the interview. "We must close it."
Among one of the four detainees released on Saturday was Khi Ali Gul, 51, who was accused of being a Taliban intelligent officer shortly after being arrested in 2002, according to Reuters
