From [HERE] The largest single transfer of Guantánamo detainees during the Obama administration reduces total population to 61.

The Pentagon disclosed Monday that it had sent 15 detainees from Guantánamo to the United Arab Emirates this weekend, part of an ongoing, dramatic downsizing that could see the prison population dip to fewer than 50 war prisoners in Cuba by summer’s end.

A single U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo plane whisked the 15 captives from the remote outpost Saturday night, administration sources said, in the largest single transfer of the Obama administration. It reduced the detainee population to 61.

Now, 20 of Guantánamo’s last 61 detainees await resettlement or repatriation through agreements that satisfy Secretary of Defense Ash Carter — and the so-called State Department “closer” predicted that most of those 20 will be gone soon.

“We expect to substantially complete our mandate to repatriate or resettle all approved-for-transfer detainees in the coming weeks,” said Ambassador Lee Wolosky, soon after the Defense Department disclosed the release.

In Congress, Republican Rep. Ed Royce of California criticized the release even before the Pentagon announced it. “In its race to close Gitmo, the Obama administration is doubling down on policies that put American lives at risk. Once again, hardened terrorists are being released to foreign countries, where they will be a threat,” said Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Four of the Yemenis, including the oldest, Mohammed Khusruf, 66, were represented by human rights attorney David Remes, who said “they were never a threat to the United States and that the U.S. should never have held them.

“The U.S. took 14 of the best years of their lives from them without cause,” Remes added. “I am confident that they will restart their lives and put Guantánamo behind them.” [MORE]