Defense Bill Stops All Club Gitmo Transfers To The US For Civilian Trials

08 Jan, 2011 by William Teach

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Obviously, this has gotten Barack Obama all riled up

President Barack Obama forcefully declared his support Friday for U.S. civilian trials of Guantanamo detainees, pledging to overturn language in a sweeping defense bill that would effectively block such trials anytime soon.

“The prosecution of terrorists in federal court is a powerful tool in our efforts to protect the nation and must be among the options available to us,” the president said. “Any attempt to deprive the executive branch of that tool undermines our nation’s counterterrorism efforts and has the potential to harm our national security.”

Yes, he did make this whiny assessment while signing the same legislation. I’d love to hear the details in support of his deranged talking point.

The law prohibits the use of Defense Department dollars to transfer suspected terrorists held at the U.S. Navy prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the United States, where they could be tried in civilian court. That effectively prevents any such transfer during the period covered by the legislation – the 2011 fiscal year that runs through September.

And you can bet the GOP led House will do the same for fiscal year 2012, and 2013, with the 2013 one coming right ahead of the 2012 elections. Let’s see Obama attempt to complain about it then.

Obama’s comments drew a swift rebuke from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

“The American people strongly oppose the president’s goal of transferring these terrorists to the United States for trial and detention. And there is overwhelming bipartisan opposition in the Congress as evidenced by the legislation the president signed Friday,” McConnell said. “When it comes to terrorism, we should err on the side of protecting the American people.”

Obama could care less what the majority of Americans want. He wants his power for power sake, and he loves the idea of trying hardcore Islamic terrorists in civilian court, for whatever reason.

All in all, Obama learned that being president is haaaaawd! One of his first acts was to say they were going to shut Gitmo down within a year. He had a Democrat Congress to support him, and, almost two years later, it’s still open. Of course, this is pretty much what we said would happen, since Obama had no actual leadership experience.

Crossed at Pirate’s Cove. Follow me on Twitter @WilliamTeach.