|
|
| Terrorists in U.S. prisons pose no threat |
| By startribune.com |
| Published: 10/02/2009 |
|
If President Obama reneges on his promise to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in January, an important reason will be the hysterical opposition in Congress to transferring some inmates to the United States. The obstructionists should pay attention to some common-sense comments by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who noted in a television interview that there are maximum-security prisons in this country from which no one escapes. She added that she has no objections to imprisoning some detainees in California. Some might object that it's easy for Feinstein to endorse the idea of relocating detainees here because the government would send them only to the "supermax" federal prison in Colorado. But that's not necessarily true. If Guantanamo detainees were transferred to the United States proper, the federal government could contract with state prison officials to hold suspected terrorists at maximum-security facilities, such as Pelican Bay State Prison in Crescent City (though prison overcrowding in California would make that a long shot). Regardless of whether detainees might be held in California, Feinstein's larger point is indisputable. Even so, in May, the Senate voted 90-6 to block the transfer of detainees to the United States and denied the administration $81 million it had requested to close Guantanamo. Some in the majority, including Feinstein, cited the administration's lack of a detailed plan for the closure. But many senators uncritically echoed the fears of some of their constituents that transferring detainees would put U.S. citizens in danger. Read More. |
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think