Despite President Barack Obama's campaign promise to close Guantanamo Bay, the removal of prisoners from the United States military prison is at a crawl as the Pentagon slowly approves transfers.

According to The Associated Press, the only prisoners removed from the prison in Cuba this year were the five members of the Taliban that were exchanged for U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Berghdahl and one other man who was sent back to Algeria in March.

Under the law, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, rather than President Obama, has the final say in transferring the terrorist suspects out of the prison. According to Pentagon officials, because some prisoners have resorted back to terrorism on release, every case must be carefully scrutinized.

The White House, on the other hand, argued that the Pentagon must weigh the risk of detainees returning to terrorism against the dangers of keeping the prison open. Obama has stated that the military prison hurts the U.S.' reputation in other countries and is used to lure people into terrorism.

"The president would absolutely like to see more progress in our efforts to close Guantanamo," said Lisa Monaco, Obama counterterrorism adviser. "He wants it closed. He's pushing his own team very hard, raising it weekly with me, with Secretary Hagel, with Secretary [of State John] Kerry. He also wants Congress to act to remove the restrictions in place that are making it even harder to move forward."

In May 2013, Obama appointed special envoys at the State and Defense departments dedicated to removing prisoners from Guantanamo Bay "to the greatest extent possible." Congress changed rules so that prisoners could be transferred once Hagel confirms that proper protocol was taken to diminish chances of prisoners continuing terrorism after release.

"My name goes on that document, that's a big responsibility," Hagel said earlier this year. "I'm taking my time. I owe that to the American people, I owe that to the president."

According to administration officials, the State Department is nearing completion of agreements with other countries to accept about 24 prisoners. An official said that 11 of those deals have been waiting for Hagel's signature for months.

Paul Lewis, the Pentagon's envoy for Guantanamo closure, said Hagel is "absolutely committed" to closing the prison.

"Many countries are willing to help, but willingness is not everything," he said. "We're being careful and deliberative."

Another obstacle lies in the prison's most threatening detainees, who Congress has banned from seeing detention or trial in the U.S.

According to Brigadier General Patrick J. Reinert, a group of foreign nationals from around the world being held by the U.S. in a prison in Afghanistan could be sent to Guantanamo Bay, Reuters reports.

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Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @ScharHar.

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