The Department of Defense announced today that it transferred for release one detainee from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.This detainee came from the country of Sweden.   

 

            The decision to transfer or release a detainee is based on many factors, including whether the detainee is of further intelligence value to the United States and whether he is believed to pose a threat to the United States or whether the individual has committed offenses triable by military commission.   

 

            There is a process to review the status of detainees. A determination about the detention and release of a detainee is based on the best information and evidence available at the time.  The circumstances in which detainees are apprehended can be ambiguous, and many of them are highly skilled in concealing the truth. The process of evaluation and detention is not free of risk – at least five detainees have gone back to the fight.

 

            During the course of the War on Terrorism, the department expects that there will be other transfers or releases of detainees.  This release was not part of the recently announced Administrative Review Process; it was coordinated prior to that announcement. 

 

            Because of operational and security considerations, no further details can be provided.

 

            Previously, 134 detainees were transferred for release and 12 others were transferred for continued detention (four to the Saudi Arabian government, one to the Spanish government and seven to the Russian government). 147 detainees have now departed Guantanamo. As a result of today’s release, there are now approximately 594 detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.