Guantanamo Mission Mitigates Global Risk, Mullen Says

American Forces Press Service ^ | Spc. Shanita Simmons, USA

[SandRat]

U.S. NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba, Jan. 14, 2008 – The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visited the naval station here yesterday to share his vision for the joint services and express his gratitude to those serving here.

Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, responds to a question at a “town hall” meeting at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Jan. 13, 2008. Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Billings, USN   
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen toured the new Expeditionary Legal Complex and the detention facilities, where he thanked servicemembers guarding detainees for their service. He also met with servicemembers in a “town hall” meeting, where he discussed goals for the military and Joint Task Force Guantanamo.

“JTF Guantanamo has performed extraordinarily well and has really delivered during a difficult mission,” Mullen said. “The naval station has also done great work to support the mission here. I am equally proud of what the naval station has done.”

During his visit, Mullen spoke favorably of the need to continue fostering the integrated capabilities that have allowed servicemembers to perform the JTF mission in a safe and professional manner.

“The world is focused on Guantanamo Bay. We’ve got to get it right every single hour. The consequences of getting it wrong could be global,” the chairman said.

Although Mullen acknowledged he’s gone on record in support of closing the Guantanamo Bay detention facilities, he said no decision has been made to do so.

“There is no decision to close Guantanamo Bay. Clearly, we have worked our way in the last several years through processes, which have allowed us to understand where we are and what we are doing in a very comprehensive way,” he said. “Guantanamo Bay is known to the world, and there are many who editorialize on the fact that Guantanamo Bay should be closed down. The decision to close it down would be made completely out of our purview, and I am not aware of anyone who is considering doing that.”

The Joint Task Force mission here plays an essential part in fighting the war on terror, Mullen said, and the operations here are necessary to help protect Americans against possible terrorist attacks.

“The joint detention operation is a part of mitigating risk,” he said. “We need to keep the detention facilities operating as best as they can be to protect Americans against individuals who have pretty bad backgrounds in terms of the war on terror. This facility helps mitigate that global risk.”

(Army Spc. Shanita Simmons serves with Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs.)

Biographies:
Adm. Michael G. Mullen, USN

Related Sites:
Joint Task Force Guantanamo

At a “town hall” meeting, Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, fields questions from members of the armed forces stationed at or deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Jan. 13, 2008. Photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Billings, USN   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

[SandRat]

You've read or heard what the MSM said, now read what was really said.

[SandRat]

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[hsalaw]

Although Mullen acknowledged he’s gone on record in support of closing the Guantanamo Bay detention facilities

I read yesterday that he wants to close it in order to "improve our global image." This must be why I'm not in charge: I think our global image should be one of strength, not one which is fearful of the world's opinion.

[DoughtyOne]

Although Mullen acknowledged he’s gone on record in support of closing the Guantanamo Bay detention facilities, he said no decision has been made to do so.

This is what I had already read, and it is still very problematic IMO. We do not want those prisoners on our soil where people can try to break them out, specifically terrorists and those who are useful idiots for terrorists.

[em2vn]

What a two faced SOB. He has gone on the record as favoring closing the Gitmo detention facility but there are no plans afoot to do so, bul^s(it. Who does he think he’s kidding. Either he’s a fool or he thinks we are. He’s the stalking horse for the administration on the Gitmo issue.

[SandRat]

We do not want those prisoners on our soil where people can try to break them out, specifically terrorists and those who are useful idiots (read ACLU) for terrorists.

[MEG33]

My MY MY..Context is everything!

[DoughtyOne]

Exactly. What are our leaders, nuts or sell outs? I am really sick of the subtrifuge. Oh I am tough on terrorism, but let’s float a balloon to see if the public will sucker for this idea. If not we can get them to sucker for another, I’m sure of it.

Guantamo is just fine like it is, and we don’t need to change it to please foreign nationals. End of story.

[BerryDingle]

This has been going on for years during wars. They coddled the prisoners during the Korean War to the point they took over the compounds. This kind of talk is doubley dangerous when you see it from a four star. That guy makes me nervous for some reason.

[HiJinx]

I don’t think Chairman Mullen is a two-faced SOB - I think the MSM reports from yesterday reported just enough of what he said to make the story match their world view.

I trust military journalists to give us the whole story a whole lot more than I do civilian journalists.

[jwalsh07]

“The joint detention operation is a part of mitigating risk,” he said. “We need to keep the detention facilities operating as best as they can be to protect Americans against individuals who have pretty bad backgrounds in terms of the war on terror. This facility helps mitigate that global risk.”

It does indeed Admiral. We've already seen more than 30 jihadists once housed at GITMO return to the battlefield with the purpose of killing American warriors. Whatever mitigates that is a good thing.

[DoughtyOne]

IMO, it’s not his pay grade to talk about policy. It’s his duty to implement and provide his opinion to the president when asked, or when there is a pressing matter.

The past Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs may have expressed opinions in public in the past. If so, I don’t care for it. It wreaks of something political and that’s not a military task.

In his defense, it seems to me that Bush likes to have his department heads float trial balloons. Powell, Condi and now this guy have shot their mouth off at times when I didn’t really agree with what they said or the idea they should be saying it.

That’s life. If Bush has a policy to sell, I wish he’d do it and take the heat.

[DoughtyOne]

BTW, BerryD., he kindoff makes my skin crawl too.