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PA Republicans React to President’s Gitmo Plan

GitmoToday, President Barack Obama held a news conference to announce his plan to close the Guantanamo Bay prison before his term is up.

Over the last few hours, various Republican members of Congress from the Keystone State have reacted to the President’s plan.

It’s fair to say they are not enthusiastic.

Their statements are included below:

Sen. Pat Toomey

“Eight years later the President is trying to make good on an ill-conceived campaign promise in spite of bipartisan opposition over the years and the risks to the American people. The fact is President Obama has signed multiple bills prohibiting the transfer of dangerous terrorists to U.S. soil, and I oppose the White House’s plan to now lift this ban and unnecessarily compromise our security.”

Rep. Lou Barletta

“It is already against federal law to transfer Guantanamo Bay detainees to American facilities, which is exactly what a key element of President Obama’s plan will require.  Another problem area is his plan to hand over prisoners to other nations, where we will necessarily be uncertain about their secure confinement and ability to move and rejoin their former terrorist comrades.

“Perhaps the news has yet to reach the White House, but the terrorists have not declared a cease-fire.  The Islamic jihadist terrorist war against the United States and the civilized world continues, and the prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay are among the most treacherous.  I think we all understand that President Obama wants to show the terrorists that we are an understanding nation with appropriate sensitivities, but to take such action would gift-wrap a propaganda triumph for Muslim extremists in their relentless drive to wipe out western civilization.  The president’s view seems to be that if only the United States were nicer to the detainees, then suicide bombers would stop flocking to their violent cause.  He is wrong.  Opening the door for the release of terrorists into stateside facilities, and perhaps even eventually into the general population, is a most dangerous proposal.  In addition, the terrorists’ war is ongoing, meaning that it is probable that new detainees will continue to come into our custody, further complicating the president’s plan.   This is a bad idea, and Congress should stop it.”

Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick

“The president’s plan to relocate terrorist-prisoners into the U.S. poses a direct risk to our national security, and is opposed by a bipartisan majority of the House, the Senate and the American people.

Not only does Guantanamo Bay hold some of the most dangerous combatants, it supports important law enforcement efforts and war crimes investigations. These operations have assisted in the prevention of terrorist attacks, the apprehension of enemy combatants and the saving of American lives. The installation has proven critical to our defense and security and must remain in place as we continue our mission to defeat the violent extremists who threaten our lives and liberty.

As President Obama nears the end of his second term, I understand the window is closing to act on the goal he announced his first day in office, but it is easy to see it remains as unpopular, impractical and ill-advised today as it was in 2008.”

Rep. Pat Meehan

“Bringing terrorists held at Guantanamo Bay to the U.S. is against the law,” said Congressman Meehan. “A bipartisan defense bill, signed by President Obama in November, states clearly that taxpayer dollars cannot be used to transfer detainees from Guantanamo Bay to our shores. It’s not ambiguous. President Obama may not like it, but he is bound by it. Moving the detainees to the United States further complicates their legal status. It’s a misguided attempt to fulfill a campaign promise in violation of federal statute and heedless of our own security needs.”

Rep. Bill Shuster

“I’ve visited Guantanamo Bay, and I have seen firsthand the national security benefits this facility provides our nation. In order to check off a campaign promise President Obama has been trying to convince the American people for seven years that the terrorists held there should be transferred to American soil. He couldn’t be more wrong, and the law requires him to provide a plan to Congress on how he would close the facility and where he would transfer the detainees. All the administration released today was regurgitated old talking points lacking the details required by law.

The terrorists held at Guantanamo Bay are some of the most evil people in the world, and many of the individuals this administration has released have gone on to become members of ISIS. I remain strongly opposed to any attempts to close Guantanamo Bay and to transfer them to a different facility.”

12 Responses

  1. Obama has a plan? That would be a first in his administration! Congress passed a law that he and any other president cannot close Gitmo by their own hand. The law also states he cannot release Gitmo prisoners to any US state. This president should be impeached for his activities and policies that endanger national security!

  2. Come on, what can you expect from Iran and Russia? There are already three terrorists incarcerated at the super max prison in Colorado. Where are the people who want to cut Government spending when we need them?

  3. Morocco loves Obama. But, I just visited Iran and Russia, and they don’t respect us at all any more. 100% disrespect is about right.

  4. Force – please allow me to second you with a hearty AMEN!

    Pthoams – have you ever been outside of the country? Pres. Obama has helped restore our country’s reputation around the world. To say otherwise demonstrates a profound ignorance likely born of a steady diet of ridiculous, right-wing propaganda from conspiracy nutters like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. Go outside for a little while and then come back in and find a real news source.

  5. Has the United States become a nation of cowards, so afraid of some 60 or so “detainees” that we cannot countenance them on US soil, even as we urge other nations to take as many as possible? Look, I served at GTMO, as well as Iraq and Afghanistan and other places where instantaneous death by enemy hand was always a possibility. I and thousands of PA vets will pick up a weapon and stand a post if required to close a propaganda camp costing the US $545 MILLION A YEAR! Tell you what: we’ll do the job for half that amount.

  6. If the Gitmo prisoners hired a lobbyist to have sex with Bill Shuster, he’d be in favor of letting them out.

  7. Barletta is standing up for our national security…something this president refuses to do.

  8. Toomey: “risks to the American people”
    Please name one. We have real criminals in super-Max prisons all over the US.
    Admit that the reason for Gitmo is extra-legal (as in beyond legal, rather than more legal than usual) confinement of human beings without due process.

    Mike Fitzpatrick:
    It doesn’t support law enforcement or prevent attacks. These people have been there for years and have zero knowledge of any current attack plans.

    Bill Shuster:
    Bush released more prisoners. ISIS didn’t exist when these guys were captured. The existence of Gitmo itself is a recruitment tool that has spawned far more fighters than the total number of prisoners there.

    Pthoams:
    I think you have confused Obama with Bush. Bush wrecked the economy, ran up trillions in debt, destabilized the mid-East.

  9. Obama continues to prove that arrogance is no substitute for accomplishment! Obama is and has been more corrupt than Nixon and more incompetent than Carter! His disdain for our Nation’s values is only exceeded by the total disdain most Americans have for him- and how he is so disliked and not respected in most other Nation’s- he disgraces both himself and our Nation on a daily basis- we can all rejoice when this jerk leaves Office

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