Panel Clears Kuwaiti 'forever Prisoner' For Repatriation From Guantanamo - Middle East - Stripes

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, who had a representative on the parole board, must separately evaluate the transfer decision and must notify Congress of whether he approves of the release with a minimum of 30 days notice. Hagel hasnt done that. Only six detainees are known to be in the Congressional-notice transfer pipeline all destined for release to Uruguay no sooner than Aug. 10 under the 30-day notice scenario, according to U.S. officials who discussed Hagels notices to Congress on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly. Odah would come after that. But as of Friday, Congress had not yet received a notice, one Obama administration official said. But his transfer approval is noteworthy on two counts: First, his lawyers were among the earliest and most persistent challengers of President George W. Bush's right to lock him up as an enemy combatant at Guantanamo Bay.