Illinois draws the short straw:
Officials said the government will buy the Thomson Correctional Centre in northwest Illinois, which was completed in 2001 but has never been used because of a shortage of funds.
The decision has been months in the making, as the president has sought to close the controversial Guantanamo facility in Cuba to fulfill one of his major campaign promises.
“Closing the detention centre at Guantanamo is essential to protecting our national security and helping our troops by removing a deadly recruiting tool from the hands of al-Qaeda,” said a senior administration official.
“Today’s announcement is an important step forward as we work to achieve our national security objectives.”
Sources close to the White House said that between 35 and 90 detainees will be transferred from Gauntanamo, which has been a lightning rod for criticism of America’s conduct in campaign against terrorism. It is believed they will include detainees who are not yet facing trial, due to be transferred to another country, or scheduled to be sent home. They will be housed in a “super-max” security wing, while another 1,600 prisoners will occupy other parts of the complex.
All that this window dressing will accomplish is move these suspects into the United States. They will not be automatically released. This will just be a new Guantanamo in a somewhat colder climate. But this will not end well for America. Remember the names of the politicians who are pushing this. People like Dick Durbin, once my Senator – and a complete waste of oxygen. They have brought this to Northern Illinois. Remember that when it goes bad.
And it’s a big target for any other radical group to spring their mentors…
Close to a major population center, and only a few hours away from the largest Middle Eastern community in the United States – Dearborn, MI.
Smooth move, Ex-lax…
Well, isn’t Hawaii just wiping the sweat from their brow? Lucky for them Obama picked THIS home state for his Gitmo projects as opposed to the tropical paradise.
Too damn bad he didn’t pick to run for high office in one of his other home countries instead of this one …
One wonders, if you follow the money, do Obama cronies profit from this?
feeblemind, you nailed it. Millions of (our)dollars will be poured into this. I’m sure Zero and Rahm’s cronies will be more than happy to help. This is a consolation prize for Zero’s failure to get the Olympics
Anybody seen what this place looks like from the air?
It’s perfect fodder for crazies of all kinds.
Aiming point on a MOA target.
It’s a bit misleading to say Thompson CC is in northwest Illinois. Although Thompson is in the NW quadrant, a more accurate description would locate Thompson directly West of Chicago on the Mississippi River, opposite Clinton, Iowa.
I’m a stickler for geography, and usually keep an Atlas within arm’s reach.
“Closing the detention centre at Guantanamo is essential to protecting our national security and helping our troops by removing a deadly recruiting tool from the hands of al-Qaeda,” said a senior administration official.”
HUH? Just how does moving prisoners from one prison to another prison accomplish that? Are the prisoners being released? No. Will there conditions get any better? It’s doubtful – they had it pretty darned good at Gitmo; excellent food and medical care, extra sensitivity to their ‘religious’ needs, etc. From the terrorist point of view, it’s no different than moving a horse from one stall to another.
So, just what does this accomplish? First, it wastes huge amounts of taxpayer money. Millions went into making Gitmo the most secure detention facility in the world. That money might as well have been flushed down the toilet because we are now going to spend multi-millions more of money we don’t have to purchase and staff the new facility. Second, it creates a huge target, on American soil, for terrorist activities. Gitmo, because of it’s location and military staffing was almost impossible to assault with the resources usually available to terrorists. Not so this new facility. It is right there in the heartland of America. No ocean separates it from the rest of the world. There are no impediments to travel in and around the vicinity of the new prison. Might as well paint a big red bullseye on the prison.
You have to wonder what goes on in these peoples’ fevered brains. It certainly isn’t any form of logic. Every decision they make seems designed to make the American Homeland and our people less safe. It couldn’t worjk out any better if they were deliberately TRYING to destroy our national security. It has to make one wonder if these liberals truly hate this country so much that they are deliberately and conciously planning America’s destruction.