As President Barack Obama seeks political support for his administration’s plans to close the detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, he doesn’t seem to care that previously-released detainees have already killed Americans.
A senior Defense Department official told lawmakers Wednesday that U.S. citizens have been killed by prisoners released from Gitmo.
The admission triggered sharp criticism from Republicans opposed to shuttering the facility in the wake of deadly attacks by the Islamic State group in Brussels and Paris — but it hasn’t stopped the Obama administration from moving forward with their plan.
Paul Lewis, the Pentagon’s special envoy for Guantanamo detention closure, declined to provide the House Foreign Affairs Committee with details on the killing of the Americans.
“What I can tell you is unfortunately there have been Americans that have died because of (Guantanamo) detainees,” Lewis said during an exchange with Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif.
“When anybody dies, it is tragedy and we don’t want anybody to die because we transfer detainees,” Lewis said.
Lewis testified before the committee along with Lee Wolosky, the State Department’s special envoy for Guantanamo closure.
Republicans and a few Democrats in Congress have repeatedly thwarted Obama’s effort to close the prison and blocked any attempt to move detainees to U.S. prisons in legislation the president has signed into law.
The Obama administration has released 144 detainees since 2008.
The committee’s hearing marked the first open exchange between the Obama administration and Congress over the utility and future of the prison since Obama sent his plan for shutting it down to Capitol Hill last month. The proposal was greeted with firm opposition from Republicans, who declared his proposal to deliver an unfulfilled campaign promise a non-starter.
Republicans see the prison at Guantanamo as more essential than ever. With the Islamic State group carrying out deadly assaults in Europe and expanding its base in Libya, they said, there needs to be a place to hold terrorist suspects. Republicans have refused Obama’s request that Congress change the law that prohibits moving detainees accused of violent extremist acts to U.S. soil.
The committee’s chairman, Rep. Ed Royce of California, and other GOP lawmakers have also criticized the Obama administration for moving detainees to countries that are probably unable to ensure they don’t resume the behaviors that got them locked up in the first place.
“Countries like Ghana and Uruguay aren’t typical security and intelligence partners, but they are being asked to shoulder a heavy burden and responsibility,” Royce said.
There are 91 men held at Guantanamo, down from nearly 250 when Obama assumed the presidency. Those left include 36 who are cleared for release if security conditions can be met in the countries where they will settle. Seven face trial by military commission, including five charged with planning and supporting the terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001. Three others have been convicted.
The Director of National Intelligence reported this month that 5 percent of Guantanamo prisoners released since January 2009, when the U.S. began using the multi-agency screening process, have re-engaged in terrorism and 8 percent are suspected of it. That compares to 21 percent confirmed and 14 percent suspected under the earlier system.
I want to state at the outset that this comment has nothing to do with this article in particular. I am interested in sharing some bipartisan thoughts about the topic, We Are The Party, and address it to both Democrats and Republicans alike.
This election cycle has focused my thinking about the process we go through in both parties to select a candidate to represent us in the November elections. During the Democratic primaries Democrats vote for their choice but the “Party” has super delegates who are not beholding to the rank and file Democratic voter. On the Republican side it is apparent that when they don’t like who the rank and file Republicans are voting for “they” the “Party” try to decide who is going to be the nominee over the choice of the majority of their members. In both cases the Democratic and Republican parties forget that in reality you and I “Are the Party” and we should be the ones that ultimately decide who represents us.
To this end I am suggesting a voter “Revolution” where people push back hard on their respective parties and remind those in charge that you and I are the party and we really don’t care for these rules that take the ultimate say away from those of us who are also registered Democrats and Republicans. I would urge those of you who agree to write and call your respective Congressional, State and Local representatives to complain about the “process” in addition to the DNC and RNC depending on your party affiliation.
I think its time that the people involved in the political process understand that they only derive their authority from the People when we give it to them and WE need to recognize that when we acquiesce and let them do as they wish we are abrogating our individual prerogatives to have them represent us as we would like to be represented.
Those of you who feel you agree with my sentiments are free to use this statement in any comments or letters or conversations you have. It is my intention to insert this statement in the comments of every article I read online and to hopefully start a movement that will hold both political parties accountable to their members.
Thanks for reading this whether you agree or not.
I have to agree with the truth! My solution is for everyone on both sides of the politics to rebel and withhold your votes. Give them to a third party candidate. If both sides do this, a new beginning will happen. All of them must feel this sting. Presidential, Senators and Representatives that are running for election or re-election. I doubt writing letters to the present elite politicians on either side will have any effect.
SO now we can ADD Body Bags to BARACKY the STUpID “LEGACY OF UTTERLY FAILED ACCOMPLISHMENTS”…..Like SHIL-LIAR-RY Creating BIDY Bags must a PROGRESSIVE PARTY MANIFESTO by HYPOCTRESTES
This is an amazing post, and I want to personally thank you for doing so. We The People must take a stand, and it has to happen now. I fully support this, and will do my part.
Thank you.
Spoken so eloquently. I couldn’t agree more!
Thank you I agree with everything you said and yes I will use this letter E.K.M.
It is evident that we are all fed up with the nonsense and bloodshed going on. This election is one of the most crucial ones in our history. We must stand united as a People against the powers that be. If they take our election away from us then it seems like a great time for another Boston Tea Party!
A good analysis. The public voters should set the agenda for both parties. They should also vote on the agenda.
Joe Pampel
Agreed.
I would love to see a voter revolution selecting Romney or Paul Ryan as an independent candidate.
Well said and well thought out! While we are all caught up in who we like him what reasons we like them for I think we tend to forget that there are forces out there that are trying to eliminate our choices. The power mongers are a type of dictatorship and they have to be closed out. If the will of the majority of the people actually make the choices then we all have to live with them.
Obama doesn’t care about how many Americans die at the hands of his friends. His goal is as many dead Americans as he can pile up. His legacy is going to be blood on h enough to swim in. And he has no mind set to care. He had no pride. No loyalty to those who voted him in. No morals. He’s actually punishing those who voted for him. God will take care of him for betraying the American people.
He wasn’t elected, he was installed, and he was put in the presidential position to “overwhelm America with change”. He bows to the very evil in the world who hate the Jewish people, Americans, and anyone else who doesn’t bow to them. He has acted like a dictator and Americans just sat back and let him do what he wanted to do. True Americans should get off their backsides, vote for men and women who reflect the mindset of our Founding Fathers when the established this country, and tell the present D.C. group of Anti-American Socialists to go live in countries that espouse Socialism, Communism, and brutal dictatorships.
I totally agree with you. I have told HUNDREDS the same….. OBlame-a was not voted into power, he was put in power to do exactly what he’s done and that is destroy OUR country, economically, militarily, our foreign policy, pitting one social group against another and various races against each other. When are people going to realize that he was not voted “into HIS POWER” by the majority of Americans the first or the second time.
His evilness was thought out years ago when he flunked out of college the first time, then he travelled over to the Middle East. Everything was set in place from that point on. Too many people have their head in the sand or up their butt.
Enough of this nonsense.
Let’s take back our country from Washington DC and those powerful individuals and/or countries who BELIEVE they’re going to rule and change the United States of America.
What happened to the backbone and the will of the American people?
So many have drunk the “Obama Kool-Aid” and/or they have become zombies……..
Obama is guilty of manslaughter and should be arrested an sent back to Kenya.
Exactly! We are the People in a government of the People by the People and for the People. The political parties only cause division among Americans. Their ranking members seem to only care about the power and money and have no concern for we the People. It’s tragic but They are employed by Us. Our tax dollars pay their salaries and they just keep wanting more. It’s like a Beast that is out of control ravaging and plundering the American People! We need leadership that works for all Americans not just a chosen few. It’s time we stopped hating each other because of party lines and come together to make America Work for All!! Throw the Political Hacks out and start over. United we stand divided we fall!
staying home from the polls plays into the hands of the class enemy.
voting “lesser of evils” is just as bad.
WE have a shot at “political revolution” with Bernie Sanders.
A confirm socialist! Are you out of your mind……. who he is, and what he stands for is totally NOT what the founding fathers of this country would have wanted. Hundreds of thousands of young men and women have died because of Communism and socialism trying to protect our country from that type of the government.
You have problems young man, you definitely have problems!
This makes one B. H. Obama and his REGIME Complicit in the slaughter of Americans.
American blood is the cost of Obama’s “legacy”
He must be held to account for this crap now and throughout American History
We should return the prisoners once we end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The prisoners can be turned over to those governments or the government in their home country. If we are lucky maybe they will be imprisoned once they return to their home country.
Definitely return them to their country of origin. You don’t even have to land just push them out of a plane with a parachute. Put a big USA logo on the chute. We can then see how good their ground forces can shoot.
Just drop them out with No shute Idot!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love this!
How about just stand all of them before a firing squad and execute them now. Why keep them alive? They are combatants against United States of America and should be executed immediately. The ONLY decision we should make it what big hole to drop ALL of their scumbag bodies into!!!
Oh, by the way, we should video the entire execution and the dumping their bodies into a hole and air it on all stations, in every country, to let them know we have had enough of their crap. It is time for us to play hardball, just as they have been doing.
Can we Expect that Baracky the STUPID will Include the Count of Body Bags of Americans when he gets some one to Write his “LEGACY OF UTTER FAILURS” Three Page Black Leather BOUND book???… and Where might he RUN as he plans another “LEGACY” Vacation when another iSIS BOMBING action in a City in Europe or HERE Occurs????
Before I give any credence to this story I want to see the evidence which was lacking.
From the most transparent administration in history you want evidence. Here’s an idea,enlist in the military and serve 20 and retire,that’s when you’ll see the evidence.
What needs to be done is those in charge of Gitmi need to get the evidence to prove or disprove a detainees guilt or innocence and if found guilty then they need to be eliminated for terrorist crimes against the World and those found innocent should be returned to their Country of origin and let their Govt deal with them as they will! We do not need to keep innocent people in prison and we do not need to keep paying to house those who should be put to death! The same could be said of our own prison systems, those on death row should be given a 5 year term in order to appeal or be put to death, it is ridiculous to pay for 20 years the upkeep of prisoners who have been sentenced to death. But we do not just let them go free because of some Fraud who our Congress has let hijack the Presidency!
Jeffrey you have some very valid points.
I agree! The Death Penalty should really be DEATH penalty. Five years is long enough to allow for any alternate decisions. Why would we even thing of keeping anyone for 20 years.? DEATH should mean DEATH.
Two things:
1. I totally agree with the person writing that we must revamp our electoral system.
This “Super Delegate” crap denies the public from having a say in whom to put
up as a candidate. Why have caucuses at all? Why ,even, have people vote?!!
2. If Obuma were held accountable for the American deaths he caused by releasing
prisoners, and then imprisoned himself on charges of abetting said murderer then
justice would be served!
I have the answer to the Gitmo problem. First we load all the prisoners on a ship for transport to the Middle East. Then during the voyage this ship is hijacked by Somali pirates. And those no good bleeped-bleeps sink the ship because we won’t pay any ransom. Sounds like a plan to me!!!
send hussien obama to gitmo
I think ” WE THE PEOPLE ” need to make this perfectly clear. These Terrorists Detainees
did not kill Americans by themselves. Let’s put the blame where it belongs and that would be on the Backs of Obama, Obamas Kiss Butt Cronies, and all Democrats AND Republicans, Homeland Security Heads plus all others that approved of the Release. There are a lot of Americans that have been noted to want to close this Base from the gitgo, BLAME THEM ALL. Publish their names, Telephone Numbers and Addresses and let their Neighbors take care of those ” people ” . TSgt., USAF Retired.
First Sir, I want to thank you for your service to our country and its citizens. GOD bless and keep you and your family always. Secondly, I want to say I’ve never been one to even think about revenge, but I like the way you think. Sir you deserve my, and all true American’s, love and respect.
Call you say the word TREASON? Obama is no friend of the United States. He’s been undermining our rule of law and our Constitution from day one in office. This man is a Manchurian President. He still has not been impeached as all members of Congress are aware that Obama is illegally holding the office of POTUS. Maybe this is why there are no impeachment proceedings forthcoming. Members of Congress will be embarrassed by the fact that they have been given information about Obama. He’s ever been vetted properly. Only when enough press was given concerning Obama’s birth certificate, did the White House put a Certificate of Live Birth on it’s website. A CLB is not the same as a BC. Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his Cold Case Posse have investigated Obama’s past. They’ve determined that the CLB Obama showed on his website had many layers to it. In other words, it was not simply copied and put on the website. Upon investigation, it was determined by document experts that the CLB was a fraud. It’s been reported that the Hawaii officials have said they have no BC for one Barack Hussein Obama. And, of course, Obama’s lapdog media were only too eager to label people looking into Obama’s records as ‘Birthers’ a derogatory term used to describe people who have shown concern about Obama’s past and his records. It’s my understanding, the very first executive order signed by Obama after taking office was to hide his records from public scrutiny. What is one to assume when such an EO is signed? I’ll let the readers make their own determinations.
I’m not the expert, but I know the Obama name was not used until he was in college. His original name was something like Barry Santoro. Actually, I’d be most interested in Obama’s college records (which were also hidden). He may have enrolled as an Indonesian-maybe for a scholarship spot or for money reasons. But they are certain this man was born in Hawaii, like it or not. It’s time to stop beating this dead horse.
The terrorist captured in Europe should be shipped to America (in Gitmo) so that they will get fair trials.
Do you read me?
Those prisoners should never have been released from Gitmo it was pretty evident Obama is one of the Muslins and he should have been put in Gitmo w/them. The only thing they were going to do was go back and kill more and more Americans after so many of them lost their lives just capturing them. I think the American people have no common sense and if there are any government officials that do why can’t they band together and counterman the president’s orders. What good are our politicans when they sit by to me they don’t belong in public office. Let’s do some Fall cleaning of all parts of government and see what the next new politicians can do to keep our men/women and country safe.
Obama has gotten away with never having to prove he is even a US citizen. What a farce this country has become. Once respected for its position of important issues now we are known for pandering based on ignorance and skin color. Ronald Reagan where are you when we need a real American?
I find it strange that the establishment wanted a true conserative . Why did they not pick Ted Cruz from the very beginning? I hope Trump and Cruz band together for the American people.Hey guys quit arguing and think about We The People.
They are prisoners of war. The war on terror is still on. Brussels and Paris. It would seem to be treasonous to be releasing prisoners before the war is over.
As long they dont kill any of his family I guess is ok with him
They have to clear out all of the terrorists before they can turn the base over to the Cuban government. What do you think the plan is all about in the first place?
Our government officials have become so corrupt and money hungry they are not concerned with our country or our people. They have forgotten about we the people put them where they are. We the people paid their extravagant salaries and now they have give our jobs away to refugees and companies have taken jobs to other countries so we the people have lots jobs millions of jobs. So many of our officials are in bed with Big Company’s like big pharmaceutical company’s and other company’s favors for money. We can’t afford med. You can”t afford insurance thanks to Mr. Killer Obama who is bringing anyone in the country that wants to come and gives them home, food, money to spend,free medical care, insurance, and thinks he is a golf pro instead of president. And now people want to put either Killary Clinton or Ted Cruz which remember he was not born herè, he is a senator he already knows the ropes and how to play the game,and I would not trust him on anything. He acts and looks stupid. They don’t care about our seniors, our vets or anything about the USA period
We need a Hugh house cleaning in Washington with fresh smart people who know what it is to work for a living and be honest and true to America. I pray God will see the evil removed from this country.
Another part of Obama’s war on America!
The one and only way America will ever get “THE COUNTRY” straightened out is for “WE THE PEOPLE” speak out and let the Democrats, Republic and and Independents know we are fed up! Then stay on them now, tomorrow and from now on until we see things going in the right direction and getting done. Do not let up after “THE ELECTION”, keep letting them know we are not going away! Take the time to write letters, send emails and post on the open forums and let them know how we feel. There are some good ways to get the thought out by posting on Facebook, U-tube, Twitter and any other of the Forums. Keep on keeping on and remind others to do the same. We MUST be heard, our ancestors built this “GREAT COUNTRY, THE USA” with sweat, blood and life!!! We can not let them or our future generations down, we may be the last generation to know just how GREAT AMERICA has been, I sure hope we are not the last generation to live in a “GREAT AMERICA!!!” We must get GOD back in the lives of EVERYONE “GREAT OUR COUNTRY!!!”
Once again I am flabbergasted, not one condemnation of the press. Why are you all ignoring the main source of this problem. From day one the press sided and protected this traitor problem. Every American, Dem or Republican should boycott all media, let them feel the financial pain and maybe they WILL DO THEIR JOB!
Just a couple more murders to lay at the feet of osama
Gitmo was started by the Bush clan who should have known better than amassing people in a prison. Psychologists and sociologists have known the consequences of prisons since the Stanford Prison Experiments since Philip Zimbardo conducted them in 1971 and who had to halt the experiment because it got out of hand. An American president should have known better having been surrounded by people and advisors in the knowing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_prison_experiment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XN2X72jrFk