Gitmo Inmate Policy Chief Bails

The Pentagon official tasked with closing the Guantanamo Bay detention center has quit the Obama administration after seven months on the job. Phillip Carter, the chief official in charge of detainee policy, cited personal reasons. His resignation comes in the wake of the administration's announcement that it will miss its January deadline for closing the detention center, the New York Times reports.

Carter "provided sound policy advice on all aspects of detention operations during his tenure" and "greatly contributed toward the president's goal of closing Gitmo," said a Pentagon spokesman, adding that Carter's departure will not set back plans to close the center. Analysts say Carter, an Iraq war vet who worked on President Obama's campaign team, will be difficult to replace. (More Phillip Carter stories.)