[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 192 (Thursday, December 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E3056]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          TERRORISTS BELONG AT GITMO, NOT A NEIGHBORHOOD JAIL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LAMAR SMITH

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 16, 2009

  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, the Obama Administration has 
announced its plan to transfer 75 Guantanamo Bay detainees to the 
United States.
  The Administration claims that transferring these detainees from 
Guantanamo Bay will somehow lessen al Qaeda's desire to attack America. 
But a change in location of detainees is not going to reduce 
terrorists' hatred of America.
  However, the transfer of any Gitmo detainee to the U.S. will give 
them additional constitutional rights, making it harder for prosecutors 
to obtain convictions.
  The Administration claims that it can detain these terrorists 
indefinitely. But many agree this is an impossible goal. Civil 
liberties groups were quick to point out that indefinite detention 
inside the United States without a trial is little more than a change 
in zipcode.
  It is clear to all but those in the Administration that this decision 
will likely result in the almost immediate challenge to detention as 
soon as these terrorists arrive in Illinois.
  The Guantanamo Bay facility in Cuba, not a prison in America's 
heartland is the right place for terrorists.

                          ____________________