Debate continues on Guantanamo's fate

HELENE COOPER and WILLIAM GLABERSON New York Times News Service

WASHINGTON - The White House acknowledged Friday that its top officials once again were debating recommendations about how and when to close the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, but officials said they thought it could be weeks or months before a decision was made.

A central recommendation would be to move the terror suspects from Guantanamo to military prisons in the United States, the officials said.

The United States also is helping expand a prison in Afghanistan to take some detainees from Guantanamo Bay. The Afghan site is not meant to be a substitute, the White House said Friday.