Harry Reid Continues To Push Plan Bringing Gitmo Detainees To U.S., Ignores Fellow Democrat Senators

Monday, 18 May 2009 12:47

WASHINGTON ? In an appearance on ABC News? This Week yesterday, U.S. Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) joined the growing numbers of Senate Democrats who oppose sending Guantanamo detainees to the United States.

Webb, a Vietnam veteran and former Secretary of the Navy who is considered an influential Democrat voice on military matters, told ABC?s George Stephanopoulos, ?We spend hundreds of millions of dollars building an appropriate facility with all security precautions in Guantanamo to try these cases?.These aren't people who were in the United States, committing a crime in the United States. These are people who were brought to Guantanamo for international terrorism. I do not believe they should be tried in the United States.?

Despite hemorrhaging support from members of his own caucus, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) continues to press on with this week?s supplemental war spending bill that includes $80 million to close the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay and move the prisoners to United States soil.

?With his determination to pass a bill that would put some of the world?s deadliest terrorists in American neighborhoods, Harry Reid is very clearly out-of-step with not only the American people, but also an increasing number of Senators from his own political party,? National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Brian Walsh said today. ?Despite recently saying Congress should wait until there is a firm plan for the current prisoners before Congress should appropriate money to shut down Guantanamo, Reid is pressing on this week with a supplemental bill that would close the prison camp with no plan in sight for the detainees.?

?Harry Reid may be in charge of the Senate Democrats, but he should follow the lead of his colleagues opposed to Guantanamo prisoners coming to America if he hopes to represent the views of his constituents,? Walsh concluded.?

In addition to Senator Webb, several Democrats have announced their strong opposition to detainees coming to their states. As U.S. Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) bluntly put it, "I wouldn't want them, and I wouldn't take them? I don?t see a solution.?

U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) recently said, ?no way, not on my watch,? while his Montana colleague U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) added that he is ?against any proposal to bring Guantanamo detainees to Montana.?

U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), whose state is under consideration to be among the first to receive Guantanamo prisoners under the Obama administration?s plan, said he was ?deeply concerned? about the prospect of detainees coming to a Virginia Marine base due to its location ?in a very populated area in the greater capital region.?