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March 08, 2007
Democrats Want Gitmo Prisoners Sent to U.S.
Democrats Want Gitmo Prisoners Sent to U.S.
Key House Democrats plan to insist the Pentagon shut down the detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and are contemplating the relocation of many of the 385 or so remaining terrorist suspects to military brigs along the East Coast -- including Quantico, Va., and Charleston, S.C.
"It sets us back in the war on terrorism to be maintaining Guantanamo," said Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), who's heading an investigation of the facility for the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.
"It will enhance our reputation to close it down and to apply our system of justice to all of these detainees," he added.
After two trips to Guantanamo, Moran told The Politico that he's recommending Congress cut funding to the detention center at the end of summer 2008. The men held there should then be released, tried or moved to the United States, he said.
A Democratic official involved in developing the Guantanamo strategy said the Democrats, who control the new Congress, expect Republicans to object to bringing the detainees onto U.S. soil because their attorneys would surely argue they were entitled to myriad new rights.
The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Democrats are planning hearings in April or May to "build a record" that closing Guantanamo would be beneficial and that it would be legal, as well as logistically feasible, to bring its detainees to the United States. The hearings would start with panels of lawyers, some of whom are convinced the plan is workable and some of whom represent detainees now at Guantanamo.
And to make the measure more palatable to Republicans, Moran said he would suggest the detainees be transferred to military bases that would allow them to be tried in federal courts under the Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
"Republicans certainly could not consider that a mollycoddling, liberal bastion," Moran said. "The 4th Circuit is as conservative as you get. But the whole world would see that the United States stands for the rule of law. And I think the high-value targets would be shown to be people who undoubtedly should be detained and prosecuted.
"But you've got to distinguish among these people," he said. "We have to prove they actually did something that was designed to hurt American citizens."
A senior administration official, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, said he was puzzled by the Democrats' frequent discussion of closing Guantanamo.
"While we want to bring these guys to trial as quickly as possible, where do Democrats believe we should keep Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the 9/11 plot?" the official asked. "Which American city will they choose to place America's most wanted terrorists?"
The Democratic official said the plan would be to relocate the terrorists to military brigs that have suitable courtrooms. In addition to Quantico and Charleston, many could go to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., or to the Norfolk Naval Station, which has four courtrooms.
Still other possibilities include the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, S.C., and Fort Gordon, Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield, all in Georgia.
In the flush of taking control of the House in January, Democrats had talked about pushing to close Guantanamo immediately, perhaps as part of the emergency wartime funding bill that is now pending. But they had trouble settling on a strategy for that bill and now are considering a shutdown directive in the overall defense appropriations bill for the 2008 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
The prison camp at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay has been a constant headache for the Bush administration, which has been accused of holding innocent people there indefinitely. Hunger strikes, suicides and accusations of inappropriate interrogations have plagued the facility, home to what the White House calls some of the world's most dangerous terrorists.
U.S. allies abroad have complained about Guantanamo as well. And the president has said that he would like to close it down but that there is no other place to hold the detainees.
Asked about the furor that could erupt in local communities chosen to receive the detainees, Moran noted that the brigs were secure and that most of the detainees had not "been involved in any combat."
"Many of them have never engaged in any act of violence," Moran said. "Some of them hold beliefs that are anathema to ours, but we have a tradition that we don't punish people for their beliefs but rather for their actions."
Wild Thing's comment.......
How about if the Dems board them in their own homes! These SOB Dems know that once they touch US soil, they can find a court someplace to give them access to US civilian courts and trials. Next on their agenda I bet is to give them voting rights.
Moran is a moron and a punk. Moran is a traitor. He'd sell all of us out in a second for a few bucks for his next campaign.
Many of them have never engaged in any act of violence," Moran said. "Some of them hold beliefs that are anathema to ours, but we have a tradition that we don't punish people for their beliefs but rather for their actions."
What a crock of shit. I wish the Republican PR people would record these traitors for commercials next year. Then parade out profiles of these detainees these elected officials were proposing to dump on American soil. It would make the Willie Horton furloughs look like a Sunday School picnic.
It will enhance our reputation to close it down and to apply our system of justice to all of these detainees," he added.
To the Marxist Dimocrats it is all about appearances. Wanting every one to love us, and favoring those that want to kill us.
They can build an encampment on the Pelosi Vineyards. There's also a mansion in Chappaqua where inmates can be housed. Then there is Kerry's compound on Martha's Vineyard and the Kennedy Compound at Hyannis Port where these folks can be sequestered. I would just feel badly for the innocent and good people that live in the various areas of these people. So maybe that isn't such a great idea, but it would stick them on the soil of the actual enemy within like Kerry, Pelosi and Kennedy etc.
Posted by Wild Thing at March 8, 2007 12:55 AM
Comments
What in the world? Why would we want to bring them here? So some liberal pantywaste of a judge can set them free? So they can run amuck and cause all sorts of other problems?
No--they're best off where they are--they are getting better treatment, better food, better health care than they've ever had in the lives and it's a safe environment. There are Americans who don't get the kind of treatment these terrorists get, so it's time to shut up about Guantanamo and work on helping those in our country who are less fortunate and who's kids go to bed hungry every night or are running the streets (and causing mischief and mayhem). That's wha's important. The American family. Not some terrorist who whines because he's in the lockup.
The Dummycraps don't have their priorities on straight!
Maybe if they showed they cared about the American Family more, we might be more intuned to listen to what they have to say.
Posted by: Lynn at March 8, 2007 06:18 AM
"In addition to Quantico and Charleston, many could go to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., or to the Norfolk Naval Station, which has four courtrooms.
Still other possibilities include the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, S.C., and Fort Gordon, Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield, all in Georgia."
Hey, we're moving to VA and my daughter is based at FT. Stewart! I don't think so...
I watched the debate about this on CSPAN between Specter and Graham. Graham was great! Specter should be put out to pasture for being clueless or at least make him an official Dem.
I know, I know! Send them to San Francisco! Oh no ~ Wait! They'd set them all free.
I like them down in Castroland. Or Ethiopia...
Posted by: yankeemom at March 8, 2007 08:59 AM
You had some great ideas WT of destinations for these moslem terrorists. Democrap homes such as Kerry's, Pelosi's, Kennedy's and the quaint little estate of ambulance chaser John Edwards.
My first thought was to put them in the swampy hell of Ft Polk, Louisiana, but the Dem lawyer bunch would consider that cruel and unusual punishment. Ft Polk was only good enough for Americans going to Vietnam, not good enough for shakers and movers of the religion of Peace.
I just hope our troops are aware of what is going on back here and are taking fewer terrorists alive.
Posted by: TomR at March 8, 2007 01:23 PM
Posted by: Jack at March 8, 2007 01:25 PM
Tom:
I have similar memories of Fort Gordon in summer, but I've heard Polk is worse.
Be that as it may, Moran is a lying, traitorous, POS. Anything he recommends is suspect from the start.
Posted by: Rhod at March 8, 2007 06:11 PM
Ummm, I vote no. I like right where they are. Not true. I prefer them at the bottom of the Florida Straights.
Posted by: raz0r at March 8, 2007 08:56 PM
Lynn, this is very scary to me. ONce thoey get here will they one day be free to walk around here in our country? Just the whole thing is scary.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 8, 2007 11:22 PM
Yankeemom, thank you so much for the info. about the debate on C-Span. I had not seen it.
I agree with you too about Specter, what a waste he is and has been for a long time.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 8, 2007 11:23 PM
Tom I hope so too. that is exactly what I would want to do if I was in the military. Just stop taking prisoners and kill them on the spot. Why save them for the dems plan against America.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 8, 2007 11:25 PM
Jack, good one, thanks for the link.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 8, 2007 11:26 PM
Rhod you described him perfectly that is just what Moran is.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 8, 2007 11:27 PM
razOr, haha I can only hope they meet their demise and not a pat on the back from the dems. augh!!!
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 8, 2007 11:28 PM
