Well, the closing of Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba seems to be hitting a few snags…from Democrats?
–spits out orange juice–
Say what!
The New York Times reported May 19 that Democrats are blocking the spending of $80 million to close Gitmo, which would fund the moving of Gitmo detainees to U.S. prison facilities.
The goal is to pressure President Barack Obama into releasing more details as to what he wants to do with the over 240 detainees from former President George W. Bush’s War on Terror. However, this puts a crimp in Obama’s plans to close the last best hope for Cuban cigars by 2010.
It’s frankly sad that the Democrats are more outraged than the Republicans, but I digress.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had a great conversation with a reporter during a recent press conference, the transcript of which can be found on Wonkette.
(A conservative blog linking to Wonkette? There have been stranger things know to happen)
“REID: I’m saying that the United States Senate, Democrats and Republicans, do not want terrorists to be released in the United States. That’s very clear.
“QUESTION: No one’s talking about releasing them. We’re talking about putting them in prison somewhere in the United States.
“REID: Can’t put them in prison unless you release them.
“QUESTION: Sir, are you going to clarify that a little bit? …
“REID: I can’t make it any more clear than the statement I have given to you. We will never allow terrorists to be released in the United States.”
This man is the leader of the U.S. Senate by the way. Both him and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have gone further off the deep end and I would humbly suggest that Congressional Democrats change out leaders.
My operating theory is simply this: I don’t think Congressional Democrats really want to close Gitmo. They were also very supportive of torture, it seems, behind the scenes while crying foul in public.
The dirty secret is this: just about every administration has endorsed torture. Publically? Of course not, but activities, such as torture, rendition, etc., have been done by every administration. The only difference is the Bush administration in their infinite wisdom (sarcasm) decided to let the information leak.
Democratic leadership are going to have to either be for Gitmo or against it; for torture or against it. This being for it in private and against it in public isn’t flying with the general public and they smell the bullcrap.
Shoot, I can smell the steamy pile of bull droppings from my hotel, within eyesite of the Capitol.
The campaign promise that Obama made to close Gitmo was one of the least thought out ideas ever.
He promised to close the place without even considering where he would put the detainees which have been arrested because of their connection with terrorists.
Perhaps he could move them into Blair House across the street from the White House. I know as a parent I don’t want U.S. prisoners anywhere near my home, much less international terrorists who have ties to the world’s worst terrorists.
He continues to act and do things that make this country less safe.