It's Official: Obama Moving Guantanamo Bay Detainees to Illinois

Out of the corrupt, socialist frying pan and into the corrupt, socialist fire.

The critical step toward fulfilling President Obama's pledge to shut the Guantanamo detention center will be announced Tuesday, said the official, who reported that Obama has ordered the acquisition of the eight-year-old Thomson Correctional Center, about 150 miles northwest of Chicago.

Obama made the move despite the objections of Illinois Republicans, who fear the transfer of prisoners -- some for indefinite detention, some for trial -- could make the state a target for terrorists. Rep. Mark Kirk has called the move "an unnecessary risk."

In telegraphing the announcement, the official said closing the detention center at Guantanamo Bay "is essential to protecting our national security and helping our troops by removing a deadly recruiting tool from the hands of al- Qaeda."

Oy. How far up Obama's butt do you think that guy stuck his head? 'Cause sure as shit, it's not going to give Al Qaida a recruiting tool to hold terrorists in "Thomson Correctional" instead of Guantanamo Bay, right?

Note the line: "some for indefinite detention, some for trial." If by "indefinite detention" you mean, "release sooner rather than later" because now they're on U.S. soil and entitled to greater due process protections than they otherwise would have been, then, sure, their detention is "indefinite."

Oh, but there is a sticking point. Obama is announcing this like it's a done deal. It's not:

Before prisoners can be moved, Congress must vote to allow detainees to be housed on U.S. soil for reasons other than trial.

The administration envisions the prison grounds in rural Thomson, close to the Mississippi River, where the former prisoners can stow away on a riverboat before taking a slow boat to north Africa.

I may have altered that last bit. Maybe.

No this is not a double post. This is so important I thought I'd mention it twice. Once for the early risers and once for those of us who sleep 'til noon. Except today I was up before noon. Really.

posted by Ace at 01:25 PM

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