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Sen. Inhofe: Obama Move to Close Gitmo Will 'Embolden Terrorists'
Monday, December 22, 2014 05:44 PM
By: Cathy Burke
Sen. Jim Inhofe has ripped President Barack Obama for the latest release of Guantanamo Bay detainees, warning the move will "embolden terrorists."
"The four detainees the White House released last week have reported ties to the Taliban or Al Qaeda, yet are now being sent back to Afghanistan where we have men and women serving in harm's way," the Oklahoma Republican and ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee said Monday, The Hill reports.
"This release will only serve to embolden terrorists in the region and around the world to continue the fight against America and its allies, overseas and here at home."
The four were transferred to Afghanistan, their homeland, on Friday.
"The president's intent to solidify his legacy on closing Guantanamo Bay is putting politics ahead of the security of our service members, the American people, and our nation," the senator charged.
Inhofe asserts there's been 104 confirmed and 74 suspected cases where former detainees have returned to the fight.
"It is in our nation’s best interest not to increase risk by releasing more terrorists when our nation is involved in two wars," he said.
Inhofe's outrage comes as the president reportedly is ready to announce a new round of transfers from the detention facility.
A few Republicans, including Arizona Sen. John McCain, support closing the facility — which Obama has vowed to do — but most in the party, including Inhofe and New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, are adamantly opposed, The Hill reports.
Guantanamo now has 132 detainees, 64 of whom have been cleared for release, The Hill reports. Some detainees, including suspected 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed, are being prosecuted at Guantanamo by the military for terrorism-related charges.
