Move America Forward, the nation’s largest grassroots pro-troop organization that supports our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan is calling on Obama to immediately halt all plans for transfer of GITMO detainees pending a full review of the prisoners there and the Administration’s assessment of the danger posed by each one.
Move America Forward expressed concern earlier this week about Obama’s approach to American security after Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to blow up Northwest Airlines flight number 253.
“We know that President Obama has ordered several reviews of our airport security practices, but we are calling on him not to forget the other side of this story, which is the fact that two conspirators in the plot were former GITMO detainees that had been released. They should never have been allowed out of GITMO, much less walking around freely in Yemen, consorting with Al Qaeda.” Said Shawn Callahan, the group’s executive director.
Only just days ago, the Obama administration released at least 6 more detainees back to Yemen and more released to Afghanistan and Somalia as well. Earlier this month he also released detainees to Kuwait, and has released many more since taking office. Move America Forward has been warning for months that these detainees are returning to terrorism and recent events prove that security officials need to be much more thorough in who they deem as non-threatening.
Previously the administration has stated they even have 75 more detainees that they have apparently determined to be cleared for release and are simply awaiting a suitable country to be transferred to and for the arrangements to be made. Many of these, at least 26 of them, are reported to be Yemenis and are likely to return there.
“There is a huge danger here and we fear that Obama, in his fervor to empty out GITMO so he can close it, is overlooking the dangers.” said Callahan. “That’s why we are calling on him to immediately halt ALL transfers of GITMO detainees and really take a look at who is dangerous and investigate how detainees are slipping through the cracks.”
