Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement after the Department of Defense announced it will transfer suspected al-Qaeda associate Shaker Aamer to the United Kingdom:
"I support the administration's decision to transfer Shaker Aamer to the United Kingdom. Aamer was first cleared for transfer out of Guantanamo in 2007 by the Bush administration and again in 2010 by the Obama administration. The British government has strong counterterrorism laws and highly competent intelligence, security and law enforcement services, and I'm confident they can prevent Shaker Aamer from harming U.S. and British national security.
"I've met with numerous British Members of Parliament and government officials over the years, most recently in May with four Members of Parliament and representatives of the British Embassy. It has become clear that Aamer's continued detention at Guantanamo was complicating the relationship with our most important foreign partner.
"In June, I received a letter from the British ambassador to the United States highlighting procedures that their policymakers and security services have developed to identify and stop Shaker Aamer from engaging in future terrorist activity.
"Ambassador Westmacott wrote: "The British police and Security Service have established procedures to identify any re-engagement in terrorist activity at an early stage. They have a range of investigative options based on the nature and extent of the threat they judge any individual to pose. We remain confident in the ability of our police and the Security Service to deal with any such threats.'
"In order to finally close Guantanamo, we'll have to deal with troublesome detainees like Shaker Aamer. I thank Secretary Carter for approving this transfer and appreciate the willingness of the British government to accept responsibility for keeping Aamer from engaging in future terrorist action."