Thomas Rooney
U.S. Rep. Thomas Rooney (R-FL) joined a congressional call on Wednesday for President Barack Obama to immediately halt the transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees to the Middle East.
Rooney, a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, joined a group of 13 committee leaders who made the request in a letter to the president.
“(Obama’s) justification for emptying Guantanamo, despite the significant known risks, are not credible,” the letter states. “Nearly one-third of detainees released from Guantanamo have reengaged in terrorist activities; the costs associated with maintaining the facility have not significantly diminished because of the transfers; and the facility does not feature prominently in terrorist propaganda or recruitment efforts.”
The president’s actions have increased the risks faced by U.S. forces, the letter continues, and any injuries and deaths that result will be the president’s responsibility.
U.S. Reps. Joe Heck (R-NV), Mike Turner (R-OH) and Devin Nunes (R-CA), the chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, were among those who signed the letter.
“With his last-gasp effort to fulfill his senseless campaign promise to close the Guantanamo Bay facility, President Obama is putting American lives at risk, particularly those of our servicemen and women,” Nunes said. “These detainees are in GITMO for a reason – they are among the most dangerous terrorists we have captured. About one-third of previously released detainees have already resumed terrorist activities, and there is no reason to think this new group will be any different. It is preposterous to continue releasing dangerous terrorists who will try to kill Americans as soon as they have the opportunity to do so.”