Update on Guantanamo Bay Detainees

I’ve written previously in this newsletter about my efforts to learn more about the people at the Justice Department who are advising the Attorney General and the President on Guantanamo detainee issues.  These are public officials making high-stakes decisions about national security.  They hold a public trust and the American people have a right to know who they are and what their background is.

After the administration failed to answer my questions from November (they just responded in February), I wrote a second letter to the Attorney General asking for answers to the questions that weren’t answered as well as several further questions.  You can read that letter and my previous correspondence by clicking here.  

The administration has made many highly questionable decisions when it comes to national security, chief among them the decisions related to the Guantanamo detainees.  First, they want to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay and bring terrorists to U.S. soil.  Then, until today, they wanted to try the mastermind of the deadliest attack against our country on U.S. soil in our civilian courts.  The American people are legitimately concerned.   

Today’s news that the administration is considering trying Kalid Sheik Mohammed in a military tribunal is welcome news, if it’s indeed true.  The administration has had a difficult time justifying the rationale for giving the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks on America more rights than our men and women in military, fighting to protect our homeland, who are court marshaled.  The question remains where these tribunals will be held.  There are additional press reports that say all the detainees could be moved next door to Thomson, IL and the military tribunals would be held at the prison.   

It appears that the consequences of having these trials on U.S. soil weren’t properly thought through before the original decision was made.  This should be of great concern to the American people.