Jim Kouri
Obama's purchase of prison to house Gitmo terrorists angers lawmaker
FacebookTwitter
By Jim Kouri
October 7, 2012

On Thursday, the day after Obama's poor showing during his debate with GOP opponent Mitt Romney, Rep. Peter T. King (R-NY), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, slammed President Barack Obama over his Administration's decision to purchase a Thomson, Illinois, correctional facility where the Administration seeks to transfer the remainder of the incarcerated Guantanamo Bay terrorists.

In a formal letter to President Obama, Chairman King suggested five alternative uses for the estimated $165 million that the Obama Administration will spend to acquire the prison in Barack Obama's home state.

"Besides the obvious reasons for being against this latest attempt at closing Gitmo, I believe there should be a full investigation into Obama's choice for the location of a terrorist prison. It's no secret Obama is connected to some shady characters in Illinois and any purchase by this administration in that particular state should be investigated," said former police and corrections officer Eugene D'Amato.

King's suggestions include spending the money on replacing aging Coast Guard cutters; securing U.S. government information networks from cyber attack; protecting high-risk urban areas and transportation systems from terror attack; funding a national interoperable public safety wireless broadband network; or increasing the number of Border Patrol and Customs officers to facilitate commerce and travel.

In his letter, King wrote: "It is difficult to believe the claim that [the Obama] Administration intends to use the Thomson facility solely for housing criminals since the Federal government already owns four additional empty prison facilities that are awaiting activation."

On Tuesday, King had released a press statement in which he expressed his opposition and his commitment to continuing to work to keep Guantanamo terrorists from being imported into the U.S. Homeland.

"Why in the world would any sane person wish to take terrorists from a prison surrounded by water and separated from Americans and transfer them into the middle of the United States?" asked former terrorism task force member Detective Steven Burris.

And Rep. King agrees in his letter: "It is difficult to believe the claim that [the Obama] Administration intends to use the Thomson facility solely for housing criminals since the Federal government already owns four additional empty prison facilities that are awaiting activation."

According to Rep. King, on June 12, 2012, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder pledged under oath that the Obama Administration under no circumstances would transfer Guantanamo Bay detainees to the vacant Thomson prison.

"I assure you that I will make every effort to urge Congress to hold [the] Administration to that commitment," warned King.

© Jim Kouri

 

The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)


Jim Kouri

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police... (more)

Subscribe

Receive future articles by Jim Kouri: Click here

More by this author

September 10, 2017
Trump Justice: 'Dreamer' wanted for murder nabbed by feds in NJ and extradited


July 26, 2017
NJ 12-year-old's suicide a plea for cyber-bullying law: GOP candidate Heather Darling


June 12, 2017
Obama hampered law enforcement investigation of Iranian terrorism funding


June 2, 2017
Prez of Young Democrats and Mayor de Blasio staffer busted for kiddie porn; one victim 6-mos. old


May 29, 2017
The conservative approach to taxation and a healthy business climate


May 24, 2017
U.S. intelligence reports warn of cyber "Cold War"


March 3, 2017
Media attack Trump's terrorism expert Dr. Sebastian Gorka


December 23, 2016
Trump's border wall: The bill was passed and signed into law


December 22, 2016
Dem lawmakers demand commission to probe Trump-Russia conspiracy


December 14, 2016
Outraged Vets: VA hospital death touted as proof of Obama and Democrats indifference


More articles

 

Stephen Stone
HAPPY EASTER: A message to all who love our country and want to help save it

Stephen Stone
The most egregious lies Evan McMullin and the media have told about Sen. Mike Lee

Siena Hoefling
Protect the Children: Update with VIDEO

Stephen Stone
FLASHBACK to 2020: Dems' fake claim that Trump and Utah congressional hopeful Burgess Owens want 'renewed nuclear testing' blows up when examined

Cliff Kincaid
A CIA plot to kill Trump?

Linda Goudsmit
CHAPTER 40: The Art of Using Technologies to Alter Human Cognition

Linda Kimball
Prayer against hatred (cold hearts; lack of love; death wishing)

Michael Bresciani
‘That’s misinformation’ – The Left’s standby excuse for everything devious, dishonest, and demonic

Cliff Kincaid
Maryland sheriff warns of terror cells in America

Stone Washington
Book review: The innovative efficiency and competitive dynamism of biotechnology

Jerry Newcombe
Reading the Bible and human flourishing

Linda Goudsmit
CHAPTER 39: Cognitive Warfare and the Battle for Your Brain

Joan Swirsky
Heads up, liberal Jews––Don’t be Jews with trembling knees

Frank Louis
No pain, no gain: At least Mike Pence isn’t in the copilot seat moving forward

Robert Meyer
The real reason the elites loathe Trump

Paul Cameron
What can experts cure or prevent?
  More columns

Cartoons


Click for full cartoon
More cartoons

Columnists

Matt C. Abbott
Chris Adamo
Russ J. Alan
Bonnie Alba
Chuck Baldwin
Kevin J. Banet
J. Matt Barber
Fr. Tom Bartolomeo
. . .
[See more]

Sister sites