Eric Holder Testimony: GOP Lawmakers Blast the Obama-Holder Terrorism Plan
Republican Ranking Members yesterday demanded answers to questions posed over the past 10 months about the Administration’s ill-advised decision to close Guantanamo Bay, according to a congressional report submitted to the 14,000-member National Association of Chiefs of Police.
In a letter to President Obama, the Ranking Members outlined the national security concerns posed by the decision and insisted that the Administration provide responses to the American people before any terrorists are imported to the U.S. for detention or prosecution.
Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas), Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Buck McKeon (R-Calif.), Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Peter Hoekstra (R-Mich.), Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Peter King (R-N.Y.) and Appropriations Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee Ranking Member Frank Wolf (R-Va.) released the letter at press conference yesterday in Washington.
“Throughout this year, a bipartisan majority in Congress has listened to the American people and voted against importing these dangerous terrorists into the U.S.,” the Members said in the letter to President Obama. “Republicans want to work in a bipartisan way on a comprehensive plan to keep America safe, but we will not stand by as your Administration defies the will of the American people and brings these terrorists to U.S. soil.”
The members also introduced a discharge petition to force a vote H.R. 2294, the “Keep Terrorists Out of America Act.” Republican Leader Boehner introduced the bill earlier this year, along with 169 Republicans, to require the President to notify Congress 60 days before the transfer or release of a Gitmo detainee occurs and to certify that such a transfer or release will not result in the release of any detainee into the U.S., adversely affect the prosecution of any detainee, or otherwise pose a security risk to the U.S.
Also, following the testimony of Attorney General Eric Holder regarding the terrorist trials scheduled in New York City, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) yesterday criticized testimony by Attorney General Eric Holder, saying:
“The Administration continues to insist that the prosecution against Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the other 9-11 conspirators is a shoo-in. Unless the Attorney General has suddenly developed ESP, there is no way that the Administration can guarantee that these prosecutions will be successful. If anything, bringing terrorists to the U.S.—and granting them additional constitutional rights—undermines our ability to ensure that justice is served.
“The 9-11 conspirators are enemies of war, not common criminals. This Administration has banned the terms ‘war on terror’ and ‘enemy combatants.’ Maybe the Obama Administration doesn’t see the distinction between terrorists and common criminals, but the American people do. The only way to keep Americans safe and to ensure justice is served is to try these non-citizen terrorists in military commissions at Guantanamo Bay.”
Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and he’s a columnist for The Examiner (examiner.com) and New Media Alliance (thenma.org). In addition, he’s a blogger for the Cheyenne, Wyoming Fox News Radio affiliate KGAB (www.kgab.com), Kouri also serves as political advisor for Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor Michael Moriarty.
He’s former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed “Crack City” by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He’s also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. He’s a news writer and columnist for AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he’s syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. Kouri appear regularly as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Fox News Channel, Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, etc.
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