WASHINGTON, May 14 (UPI) -- The Obama administration's national security policies are causing growing unease among congressional Democrats, political observers say.
Problems especially have arisen with what appears to be an open-ended commitment in Afghanistan and with what to do with prisoners when the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, is closed as scheduled next year. The New York Times said Thursday.
House leaders pulled $80 million that President Obama requested in an emergency military spending bill to close the detention center, citing an insufficient plan for the future of the more than 200 detainees.
Senate Democratic leaders say they plan to include the money to close the prison in their version of the supplemental military spending measure, but with a ban against any of the detainees being transferred to the United States.
It appears virtually certain that Congress will approve $96.7 billion in spending for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and for other military operations, the Times said.
But some Democratic leaders warn they may give the administration one more year to show progress before beginning to lose patience, observers say.
