Bond: Some Promises, Best Broken

Press Release

One Year Later, Administration Misses Self-Imposed Deadline for Closing GTMO

U.S. Senator Kit Bond, Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, today marked the passing of the self-imposed deadline set by the Obama Administration for closing the terrorist prison camp at Guantanamo Bay.

"This is one campaign promise the President made that is best broken," said Bond. "The terrorists housed at Guantanamo Bay remain some of the world's most deadly. It's well past time this Administration start prioritizing the safety and security of the American people over the so-called rights of these terrorists."

Despite signing an Executive order one-year ago today ordering GTMO closed, President Obama has failed to present Congress or the American people with a detailed, coordinated plan for what to do with the deadly terrorists housed there. Rather, the President continues to make piece-meal decisions to empty the prison, including ordering 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheihk Mohammed be tried in a New York City civilian court, just blocks from ground zero.

"The pre-9/11 mentality this Administration demonstrates time and time again is astounding," said Bond. "Treating terrorism as a law enforcement problem, the same way you would treat a car thief, is not only naive, it is extremely dangerous. Has this Administration learned nothing from the lessons of the 1990s and September 11, 2001?"

Additionally, the President has continued the dangerous practice begun by the Bush Administration of returning some GTMO detainees to their home countries. The most recent public Pentagon report estimates that at least 27 detainees have returned to the battlefield and 47 more are suspected of doing the same. However, press reports indicate the number is much higher -- that as many as 1 in 5 released GITMO detainees are confirmed or suspected of returning to terrorism. Unfortunately, the Administration refuses to release an updated report, despite repeated requests from Bond. While the Senator appreciates the President's decision to halt the transfer of detainees to Saudi Arabia and Yemen following the failed Christmas Day plot, the Senator believes further steps must be taken to ensure detainees are not being released to their home countries simply to return the battlefield.

"Since we now know that releasing or transferring these hardened terrorists amounts to an all expenses paid trip back to the battlefield, the Administration should abandon its flawed and dangerous plan to close GTMO," Bond said.

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