Virginia’s Fourth District U.S. Congressman J. Randy Forbes (R), along with Reps. Frank Wolf, Bob Goolatte, Rob Wittman, and Eric Cantor, appealed to Gov. Tim Kaine to join them, Sen. Jim Webb, Sen. Mark Warner, and others in opposing the transfer of detainees to Virginia.
Yesterday, the Senate voted 90-6 to deny Obama $80 million to close the facility, but that doesn’t end the discussion on whether the detainees should be transferred and where they might be transferred to, even though the legislation also precludes the transfer of detainees to the U.S.
According to FBI Director Robert Mueller, the potential move of detainees into the U.S. creates cause for concern.
“The concerns we have about individuals who may support terrorism being in the United States run from concerns about providing financing, radicalizing others,” Mueller said, as well as “the potential for individuals undertaking attacks in the United States.”
Forbes, who has brought forward legislation opposing any transfer into Virginia, said:
“Our primary responsibility is to protect and defend the United States of America. Many of the detainees at Guantanamo still have connections with terrorist organizations, raising significant security questions about moving these suspects to facilities within the Commonwealth of Virginia as many of the facilities are within miles of neighborhoods, military bases, and schools. I encourage Governor Kaine to stand with us in opposing the relocation of these detainees to Virginia.”
In one of his first moves in office, President Obama signed an executive order stating that the Guantanamo Bay facility will be closed, which has generated the debate over what to do with the detainees. Two facilities in Virginia at the Norfolk Naval Station and Marine Corps Base at Quantico have been identified as possible locations for the prisoners.
The debate also has generated a response from Reps. Cantor, Goodlatte, and Wittman:
“Governor Kaine’s first priority should be the safety of all Virginians. Simply put: Bringing known terrorists from Guantanamo Bay to our Commonwealth poses a real danger and is irresponsible. I would hope that the Governor and other elected officials would recognize this and act in the best interest of those we represent,” said Congressman Cantor.
“I strongly urge Governor Kaine to join us in asking the Obama Administration to not relocate the terrorists who have been held at Guantanamo Bay to any community in Virginia. There is simply no need to put Virginia families and communities at risk when we already have a high security facility for these terrorists in Guantanamo Bay,” said Congressman Goodlatte.
“I am absolutely opposed to the Guantanamo Bay detainees coming to Quantico, the Commonwealth of Virginia, or the United States. I believe that there needs to be a national policy that clearly states these terrorists shall not be placed in the United States before closing down the Guantanamo Bay detention facility,” said Congressman Wittman.
