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October 16, 2009
DEMOCRATS Vote to Allow Gitmo Detainees Into USA For Trials
Dems vote to allow Gitmo detainees into US for trials
Handing Barack Obama a partial victory in his effort to close the Guantanamo Bay prison, House Democrats on Thursday repelled a Republican effort to block transfer of any of the detainees to the U.S.
Instead, by a 224-193 vote, the House stood by a Democratic plan to allow suspected enemy combatants held at the controversial Guantanamo facility to be shipped to U.S. soil — but only to be prosecuted for their suspected crimes.
The Guantanamo restrictions were attached by House-Senate negotiators on a $42.8 billion homeland security appropriations bill.
Barack Obama has ordered the facility closed in January but has yet to offer a plan to meet his deadline. cm-bd
Democratic leaders had to push hard to win the vote because many Democrats two weeks ago had cast a nonbinding but politically safe vote against any Guantanamo detainee transfers. But several Democrats from swing districts said they saw little political risk on Thursday’s vote.
“It’s a non-issue. Inside the beltway stuff,” said first-term Rep. Dan Maffai, D-N.Y. “People care about jobs, the economy, health care.”
“I haven’t had one person ask me about Guantanamo,” said Rep. Baron Hill, D-Ind. He added that he does “not in the least” fear it as an issue in next year’s elections.
Permitting Guantanamo prisoners to be transferred to U.S. soil to stand trial had been a bipartisan compromise earlier. It mostly tracks current restrictions put in place in June and is similar to a version backed by Republicans earlier in the year. In fact, Republicans such as top Appropriations panel Rep. Jerry Lewis of California helped fashion the compromise.
But in the absence of a plan from the administration for closing the facility, Lewis has toughened his talk, calling the administration’s plan misguided and potentially dangerous.
“Terrorists should not be treated like common criminals in federal court,” Lewis said. “These detainees are enemies of the state, and should be treated as such by being held and brought to justice right where they are — in Guantanamo Bay.”
Democrats say that Republicans are simply seeking a political opening.
Wild Thing's comment.......
They just won't stop with this. Any way the left can get terrorists on our soil they will try to do.
Posted by Wild Thing at October 16, 2009 06:47 AM
Comments
Vigilante!!!
Posted by: Jack at October 16, 2009 10:09 AM
I don't know which is worse, these detainees or the thousands of Hamas "refugees" obama is bringing to the States. obama is also offering entrance to another batch of Somalians.
Keep buying ammo.
Posted by: TomR at October 16, 2009 01:24 PM
I even think those in power are more of
our enemy. We can shoot a terrorist
and only tsarget practive with photos
of the politicans. haha
Posted by: Wild Thing at October 17, 2009 12:03 AM
