Coalition advises against closure of Gitmo, transfer of detainees to the US

(Washington, D.C.): Today, the Coalition for Security, Liberty and the Law – consisting of dozens of former generals, admirals, and security policy professionals – sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging, as a matter of national security, that detainees held at Guantanamo Bay (“Gitmo”) not be transferred to the United States, and that Gitmo be kept open until a more permanent and secure alternative is found.

The release of this letter comes as the City Council of Standish, Michigan – where the “Standish Max” state prison facility is under serious consideration as a destination for the transfer of Gitmo detainees – prepares to vote on a resolution that would authorize the housing of federal prisoners at Standish Max.

The letter cites numerous national security and public safety risks associated with transferring Gitmo detainees to the United States, among them:

• The prisons and nearby civilian populations would be turned into high-probability terrorist targets;
• Prison staff would be exposed to unique threats and legal liabilities;
• High-value prisoners would contribute to the radicalization of prison populations – a concern previously raised by FBI Director Robert Mueller;
• Once inside the U.S. prison system, detainees would sue for the removal of special restrictions;
• The U.S. government would be forced to choose between revealing classified evidence to secure a conviction in court and setting detainees free;
• According to the Department of Defense, many detainees released from Gitmo have returned to committing terrorism against the United States.

Among the signatories of the letter were scores of retired flag officers who previously served in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, as well as R. James Woolsey, former Director of Central Intelligence, Bradford A. Berenson, former Associate Counsel to the President, and Andrew C. McCarthy, former Chief Assistant United States Attorney.

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., President and CEO of the Center for Security Policy (which sponsors the Coalition) said:

Shutting down Guantanamo Bay and transferring its detainees to the United States will clearly jeopardize national security and put the American people at risk.  The collective judgment of these military leaders and national security professionals to that effect should prompt President Obama to abandon his effort to bring Gitmo detainees to American soil.

Such a step is not in the national interest, period.  The people of Standish, Michigan – and indeed, every American – need to be fully informed of the dangers of bringing Gitmo to America and spared that potentially catastrophic plight.

An electronic copy of the letter can be found at securitylibertylaw.org