Posted on 12/06/2009 5:23:23 AM PST by tellw
CHICAGO - Despite opposition from congressional Republicans, the Obama administration is signaling that a state prison in rural Thomson, Ill., will probably become the new home for scores of terrorism suspects now housed at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Officials from the White House, Defense Department and U.S. Bureau of Prisons spent two hours last week briefing more than a dozen members of the Illinois delegation in the office of Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill. To reassure skeptical Republicans, they emphasized security.
Although the officials left open the possibility that another site could be chosen, participants emerged from the session convinced the U.S. government will buy the largely unused $145 million Thomson Correctional Center, which was built in 2008.
If all goes as planned, administration sources involved in closing the Guantanamo Bay prison anticipate a handover of the Thomson facility by late winter. It would then take several months to prepare the prison to a level "beyond supermax" and put the staff in place, according to federal estimates.
In Thomson, a town near the Mississippi River, popular support is strong for a federal purchase of the prison. Unemployment in the area is 10.5 percent, and the White House suggests that as many as 3,000 jobs could be created -- some going to local hires, others to people who would move to the area.
"Everyone around here thinks it's a done deal, but I'm waiting to see it in writing." said Jerry "Duke" Hebeler, the Thomson Village board president, who proposed the idea to Democratic Gov. Patrick Quinn in October.
"It's an unnecessary risk, both to our legal system and our security," said Rep. Mark Steven Kirk, R-Ill., who attended the briefing and fired questions.
Kirk, a candidate for Barack Obama's former Senate seat, is leading the opposition to the prison move.
Yes we can!
Dick Durbin should be the first inmate.
We have a perfect example of Obamao security.
Gate crashers at a State Dinner at the White House.
How very reassuring.
Good! Maybe this will sober the state up a bit. Some of BO’s biggest fans are from Illinois.
How's that hope and change in IL?
Democrats are so stupid ~ it's not the security of the prisoners we should be concerned with. Rather, it's the safety of the American people from their friends that's the real issue.
“”White House suggests that as many as 3,000 jobs could be created — some going to local hires, others to people who would move to the area.””
What better place for terrorists than in the land of corruption? Think of the payoff to the unions for prison guard jobs. Guess they figure they’ll become as powerful as the prison guard union in CA where everything is just ducky!
0 needs to make it appear as tho’ he’s creating jobs even if he has to do favors for the terrorists and the unions - not much difference between the two.
Rev Wright will give him Obama’s seat at his church. After all, they all feel the same way about the USA.
the U.S. government will buy the largely unused $145 million Thomson Correctional Center, which was built in 2008.
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How many private businesses would build a $145 million dollar building and allow it to sit “unused”?
Also...Will the combatants be mixed with the general criminal population? If so, I see plenty of opportunity for Muslim proselytizing, and even more homegrown style terrorism from U.S. criminal converts to Islam.
Finally,...I bet the enemy combatants themselves would rather enjoy the safety and comfort of Guantanamo under the care a supervision of our highly professional military than in a U.S. based prison.
Ping!
Must have been a criminal void in IL after Obama and his gang went to DC.
This nearby Iowan is not amused.
Obama’s ACLU get rich quick plan.
From what I have heard of Supermax prisons, prisoners never see each other at all. It would be like hell on earth, especially compared to the relatively open confines of Gitmo. In one very real sense, if the lefties think the terrorists’ rights are being violated now, wait until they find out how they’re treated at a Supermax. There are no beatings, no torture, nothing like that, but it’s definitely NOT a good place to be.
I’ll just BET that there are others anxious to move to the area to work as guards. No doubt about it.
They’ll love the Obama Rostenkowski Federal Prison and it will conveniently serve Chicago as well.
Just release several hundred terrorists to create mayhem all over the world then spend 145 million and who know how much more on a prison near a US population center and then house terrorists in it.
Just does not get any better. Stimulus at its finest hour!
Isn’t the Sears tower, the largest building in the country in illinois, just a short distance from Thomson?
Just a thought.
ROFLMAO!!! They are so EFFING naive. It's not what the terrorist do to get out of prison; it's what they can do while IN it, e.g., recruiting for their cause, drawing other radical muzzies to the area, etc. I guess the good people of Thomson, IL will welcome the surge of new al-Qaida sympathizers to their midst.
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