Blog - President's Latest Move on GITMO Poses New Problems

Statement

Over this past weekend, the Obama Administration quietly released six more terrorists from the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, sending them to the country of Oman. This is just the latest step in the President's dangerous and short-sighted plan to close down GITMO -- a plan that puts politics above national security and personal priorities above the interests of the American people.

Who were the six terrorists that were released this weekend? Well, let's take a look:

Emad Abdullah Hassan, who is suspected of being one of many bodyguards to al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and of being part of a group planning to attack NATO and American troops after the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan.
Idris Ahmad 'Abd Al Qadir Idris and Jalal Salam Awad Awad, both alleged bodyguards to bin Laden.
Sharaf Ahmad Muhammad Mas'ud, whom the U.S. said fought American soldiers at Tora Bora, Afghanistan, before his capture in Pakistan.
Saa'd Nasser Moqbil Al Azani, a religious teacher whom the U.S. believes had ties to bin Laden's religious adviser; and
Muhammad Ali Salem Al Zarnuki, who allegedly arrived in Afghanistan as early as 1998 to fight and support the Taliban.

Given former GITMO detainees' propensity for returning to the battlefield against Americans, I believe their release presents a grave national security concern. Yet, according to recent reports, the Administration intends to move forward with transferring up to 10 detainees from the Guantanamo detention center this month alone, which means an additional four prisoners could be turned loose within the next two weeks. This is what Administration officials are reported to be saying:

"We are working feverishly to transfer each of the 51 detainees [at Gitmo] currently approved for transfer," said one official.
"We are taking all possible steps to reduce the detainee population at Guantanamo and to close the detention facility," said another.

If only the President was this zeroed in on addressing the extended wait times and delays that our veterans face at the VA. If only the Administration was "working feverishly" and "taking all possible steps" to provide our heroes with the care they deserve and have earned.

Terrorists at GITMO? Put them on a wait list. The men and women who have sacrificed and served this nation? That is who our government should be "working feverishly" to care for and support.

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