President Barack Obama is moving forward on his pledge to close the controversial U.S. military detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The 44^th President issued a request to suspend all war crimes trials being conducted at Guantanamo. Obama’s request resulted in a judge calling a halt in the proceedings against a young Canadian in custody for many years as an “unlawful enemy combatant,” the term used for Al-Qaeda suspects captured by the U.S. military.

An Army judge, Colonel Patrick Parrish, issued a one-sentence written order for the 120-day continuance. The attorney for Toronto native Omar Khadr did not submit an objection to Parrish’s decision. The Khadr case has aroused great controversy in Canada, due to his young age at the time of his capture in Afghanistan.

Though there are complications involved in closing the Guantanamo detention facility, it is expected that President Obama will continue to move forward in phasing out the facility. Barack Obama has indicated on many occasions, including his inauguration speech, that the U.S. must not sacrifice its ideals in the struggle against Al-Qaeda and international terrorism.