Lindsey Graham: GITMO Is The Humane Choice

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) argued Wednesday that keeping the Guantanamo Bay detention facility open is a humane choice, given the alternatives.

Graham said that closing the facility would lead to U.S. forces being coerced into “killing people instead of capturing them, because there’s no jail.”

The Senator added that the other alternative would be extradition, which would open up entirely new difficulties.

“If you do capture them and you can’t put them in American control, you’re given the choice of having to turn them over to another country that would be less respectful of human rights,” Graham said.

Graham added that the U.S. would also not be able to keep detainees in Afghan prisons, such as the one located on Bagram air force base.

“The Afghan government can not be the jailer for the United States,” Graham said. “It would collapse the Afghan government.”

The remarks came during a press conference with fellow Republicans and Independent Senator Joe Lieberman on legislation to keep Guantanamo Bay open indefinitely.

Citing concerns over the role the prison plays in anti-American propaganda, the Obama administration has committed to shutting the facility down. However, in the face of strong political opposition, they have met with little success.

Graham noted Wednesday that although he was sympathetic to the desire to shutdown the facility, maintaining it is the only possible option for the foreseeable future.

About TRNS Washington Desk

View all posts by TRNS Washington Desk
TRNS Washington Desk
The Talk Radio News Service is the only information network dedicated to serving the talk radio community. TRNS maintains a Washington office that includes White House, Capitol Hill and Pentagon staffed bureaus, and a New York office with a United Nations staffed bureau.

Tuesday, May 21

Click on the date above for access to this exclusive TRNS feature. For Immediate Release is a daily compilation of [...]

Apple Avoids U.S. Taxes By Shifting Billions Offshore, Report Shows

Apple Inc. has been shifting billions of dollars offshore to avoid U.S. taxes, according to the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

Obama To Hold First Meeting With New Chinese President

Xi Jinping was confirmed as President in mid March, replacing Hu Jintao.

Military Offensive Tightens Assad Control Over Western Syria

Syria, Qusayr offensive, May 2013

The presence of Hezbollah militants fighting alongside Assad forces increases diplomatic complexity of two-year civil war.

Reporters Mock WH Over Fox News Probe

A number of political journalists took to Twitter to subtly criticize the administration for spying on Fox News correspondent James Rosen back in 2009.

Obama’s Chief Of Staff Knew Of IRS Investigation

The White House continues to say that President Obama was unaware of a Treasury-led investigation into alleged wrongdoing at the IRS.