thedrifter
03-12-09, 06:05 AM
Posted on Wed, Mar. 11, 2009
Obama issues reassurances on Guantanamo prisoners
By DAVID GOLDSTEIN
The Star’s Washington correspondent
WASHINGTON | President Barack Obama said Wednesday that he would never put communities such as Leavenworth at risk in deciding where to relocate prisoners once the Guantanamo detention camp is closed.
Leavenworth — “where my mother was born, by the way,” Obama said — is the home of Fort Leavenworth, site of a military prison and one of several places under consideration as a replacement for the camp.
“We would never put people into a situation that elevated the risks for surrounding communities,” Obama said in an interview with The Kansas City Star and other regional newspapers. “That would obviously be something we would take very seriously as we make these decisions.”
The U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth is one of several military prisons being talked about as a replacement for the Guantanamo Bay detention center. The others include the U.S. Marines’ Camp Pendleton near San Diego, Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and the U.S. Naval Consolidated Brig in Charleston, S.C.
The drive to shut down Guantanamo within a year gained momentum this week. The Obama administration is expected to name Dan Fried, an assistant secretary of state for European affairs, as a special envoy to oversee the closure. Among his tasks would be persuading other countries to accept some of the prisoners.
The Obama administration could face a similar struggle at home. Guantanamo holds about 250 suspected terrorists. Some could be shipped to their home nations, if they will accept them.
An undetermined number will remain in U.S. custody. But solid opposition to moving them to Fort Leavenworth has formed among local members of Congress and civic leaders.
The opponents include Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, nominated to be secretary of health and human services.
Among the critics’ reasons: Fort Leavenworth is a medium-security prison with just one maximum-security wing. Obama pointed out that federal prisons already hold prisoners with terrorist backgrounds.
“They are a serious risk,” he said, but securing them is not much different than securing other violent offenders.
“I recognize why people are concerned,” the president added. “I have every confidence we can determine the ultimate fates of those in Guantanamo in a way that’s consistent with our values … our ideals, and keeps us safe and secure.”
To reach David Goldstein, call 202-383-6105, or send e-mail to dgoldstein@mcclatchydc.com. | The Associated Press
Ellie
Obama issues reassurances on Guantanamo prisoners
By DAVID GOLDSTEIN
The Star’s Washington correspondent
WASHINGTON | President Barack Obama said Wednesday that he would never put communities such as Leavenworth at risk in deciding where to relocate prisoners once the Guantanamo detention camp is closed.
Leavenworth — “where my mother was born, by the way,” Obama said — is the home of Fort Leavenworth, site of a military prison and one of several places under consideration as a replacement for the camp.
“We would never put people into a situation that elevated the risks for surrounding communities,” Obama said in an interview with The Kansas City Star and other regional newspapers. “That would obviously be something we would take very seriously as we make these decisions.”
The U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth is one of several military prisons being talked about as a replacement for the Guantanamo Bay detention center. The others include the U.S. Marines’ Camp Pendleton near San Diego, Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and the U.S. Naval Consolidated Brig in Charleston, S.C.
The drive to shut down Guantanamo within a year gained momentum this week. The Obama administration is expected to name Dan Fried, an assistant secretary of state for European affairs, as a special envoy to oversee the closure. Among his tasks would be persuading other countries to accept some of the prisoners.
The Obama administration could face a similar struggle at home. Guantanamo holds about 250 suspected terrorists. Some could be shipped to their home nations, if they will accept them.
An undetermined number will remain in U.S. custody. But solid opposition to moving them to Fort Leavenworth has formed among local members of Congress and civic leaders.
The opponents include Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, nominated to be secretary of health and human services.
Among the critics’ reasons: Fort Leavenworth is a medium-security prison with just one maximum-security wing. Obama pointed out that federal prisons already hold prisoners with terrorist backgrounds.
“They are a serious risk,” he said, but securing them is not much different than securing other violent offenders.
“I recognize why people are concerned,” the president added. “I have every confidence we can determine the ultimate fates of those in Guantanamo in a way that’s consistent with our values … our ideals, and keeps us safe and secure.”
To reach David Goldstein, call 202-383-6105, or send e-mail to dgoldstein@mcclatchydc.com. | The Associated Press
Ellie