Posted on 12/17/2009 9:08:27 PM PST by Free ThinkerNY
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Congress will probably be able to stop the Obama administration from bringing Guantanamo Bay detainees to U.S. soil, the Republican leader in the U.S. House of Representatives said on Thursday.
Representative John Boehner said at least at least two pieces of legislation would have to go through Congress before the U.S. government can move any of the detainees to an Illinois prison -- and he doubted either bill would pass.
"I wouldn't want to bet on when those two pieces of legislation will pass, if ever," Boehner told reporters.
The Democrats have a majority in both houses of Congress, but lawmakers in both parties are nervous about President Barack Obama's pledge to close the prison camp at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba that houses foreign terrorism suspects.
This week the administration said it planned to buy an Illinois prison and move some Guantanamo detainees there.
But current U.S. law bars Guantanamo detainees from being brought onto U.S. soil unless they are going to be prosecuted. Boehner suggested that provision would need to be changed.
The Ohio Republican said the administration would also need to get congressional approval to fund the prison project.
The White House, responding to Boehner's comments, said President Obama would work with Congress to close Guantanamo.
"Our military leaders -- many who also served under the previous administration -- have said that closing Guantanamo will help our troops in the fight against al Qaeda," said White House spokeswoman Amy Brundage.
"President Obama will work closely with Congress until we have closed Guantanamo and removed the deadly recruiting tool for al Qaeda that it has come to be," she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Did anyone else hear that caller phone in to Rush the other day and say that JUST 20 miles south of the prison where they want to ship Al_Queida is a NUCLEAR POWER PLANT!
Did anyone else hear that caller phone in to Rush the other day and say that JUST 20 miles south of the prison where they want to ship Al_Queida is a NUCLEAR POWER PLANT!
Did anyone else hear that caller phone in to Rush the other day and say that JUST 20 miles south of the prison where they want to ship Al_Queida is a NUCLEAR POWER PLANT!
What are you (and your two clones) afraid of, that the prisoners will grow extra arms, or that they’ll break out and run to the plant and press the “EXPLODE” button that nuke plants have in movies?
I bet he doesn't do well in Vegas. Remind me, how much has the usurper NOT gotten passed. And in record time.
I don’t want them in the US, that wasn’t my point. My point was the nuclear plant thing.
Speaking as one who lives about that much further south of said nuke plant my fear isn’t that they’ll go China Syndrome on us, but that they might be tempted to try a suicide bombing there to create a press event. In spite of their doubtless good security innocents could be hurt there. And God only knows what collateral damage could occur via liberal media coverage of such an event. At least the terrorists would be safely locked up, but having hundreds of free range media types in the area would be a major mental health threat.
7 days and 6 nights at beautiful Club Gitmo in the restful Caribbean. Swimming lessons available. Round the clock food service. All you can eat! Dine with the sheiks! Pray with the imans!
You will be required to attend a one hour presentation on time sharing and information gathering.
[Well, I guess this kind of thing can't go on for ever...]
How about we just toss them all into the reactor? :)
Doesn’t Congress also have to approve a purchase of that magnitude regarding the prison?
The bombers or the reporters? ;)
Come on, do you even have to ask? Reporters aren’t covered by the Genoa Salami Conventions! :P
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.