The real reason why GOPers oppose transfer of Gitmo detainees to Illinois
November 16th, 2009 at 01:16pm Pat Cunningham
(NOTE: This post has been updated yet again to reflect new developments, one of which includes a Rockford angle.)
As everyone knows by now, the Obama administration is considering the federal purchase of a vacant state prison (above) in rural northwestern Illinois to house about 100 suspected terrorists who have been held for years at a facility in Cuba that eventually will be shuttered for various geopolitical reasons.
The folks who live in Thomson, Ill., the site of the prison in question, generally seem to be in favor of the idea. So does Gov. Pat Quinn, who relishes the prospects of as many as 2,000 new jobs and the inflow of hundreds of millions of federal dollars.
But I’ve yet to hear of any prominent Republicans boosting the proposal. On the contrary, U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo, whose district includes Thomson, is against it. And his fellow Republican Congressman Mark Kirk is circulating a letter of opposition among other GOP politicians.
The objections raised by Manzullo and Kirk, however, are nonsense.
Will the detainees attract hordes of terrorist sympathizers to tiny Thomson? That hasn’t happened in other U.S. locales where Islamic terrorists are imprisoned, including downstate Marion, Ill.
Might not the detainees escape? Nobody’s ever escaped from a federal supermax prison.
Won’t this plan make Illinois in general, and perhaps Chicago in particular, a likelier target for future terrorist attacks? No more likely, it would seem, than any of the other U.S. states or locales where Islamic terrorists currently are imprisoned.
Well, if these Nervous Nellie Republicans can’t come up with any logical arguments against the Thomson proposal, why do they refuse to go along with it? What’s the real reason for their opposition?
The answer is simple: They’re against it because it’s Barack Obama’s idea. To side with Obama on anything, especially if it relates to terrorism, is to invite the wrath of the wingnut base of the Republican Party.
UPDATE: Steve Benen is even HARDER than I on Manzullo and Kirk.
UPDATE II: Hold on! I stand corrected! There are, in fact, some prominent rightwingers who support the Thomson prison proposal.
In THIS NEWS STORY, three of them take a swipe at the poppycock peddled by the likes of Manzullo and Kirk.
”The scaremongering about these issues should stop,” the trio declare in a joint statement, noting that there is “absolutely no reason to fear that prisoners will escape or be released into their communities.”
UPDATE III: The letter from Mark Kirk to which I referred in the main body of this post suggests that federal trials of any detainees held in the Thomson prison might be held in Rockford.
The text of the letter is HERE.
Entry Filed under: Thomson prison, Mark Kirk, Don Manzullo
28 Comments Add your own
1. Roger | November 16th, 2009 at 8:35 am
“Won’t this plan make Illinois in general, and perhaps Chicago in particular, a likelier target for future terrorist attacks? No more likely, it would seem, than any of the other U.S. states or locales where Islamic terrorists currently are imprisoned..”
If I was going to worry,I’d be more worried about the three Nuclear power plants that are close by, more than I would Chicago.
These would be much more bang for the buck.
2. carl | November 16th, 2009 at 9:37 am
What is the problem with keepingthem at Gitmo? why do they need to be moved. Isn’t Gitmo good enough for them?
The only reason I see to move them is political as Obama and the left don’t like it.
What makes Thomson or any other State side Prision better than Gitmo?
3. realfoxnews | November 16th, 2009 at 9:47 am
When this prison was built they were promise all these new jobs. Well Thomson may get them now. Too bad it comes in this form.
4. tex | November 16th, 2009 at 9:59 am
Roger
The containment buildings at the nuke plants were constructed to withstand a direct impact of a 747 Jumbo jet. Next question.
5. realfoxnews | November 16th, 2009 at 10:04 am
texs Do you want to be the one to find out if that’s true or not?
6. Roger | November 16th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Tex I said IF I was worried.
So I did not say I was or I wasn’t.
You talk on here like your some know it all tough a** .
sarcasm is your first,last and middle name aye tough guy.
7. echo4charlie | November 16th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Let’s see if they even find the site suitable, first. Then announce that this IS where they intend to move the detainees before people come unraveled.
There are targets in the area that were/are targets long before this. At one time, wasn’t Rockford “ID’d” as a nuclear target should Russia have attacked during the “Cold War”?
Anyone anywhere is a potential target for a terrorist attack.
I would say this, though. US prisoners of war have the right to send and receive mail, so I would not issue nametags to the guards. Only numbers. There are some personnel safety concerns to determine and iron out, and classes on personal security to undergo for prison employees, etc.
There is more to consider. I just hope this plan is all of the way thought through, and carried pout in a proper and secure manner and not a hasty appeasement to please Gitmo opponents.
8. Pat Cunningham | November 16th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
echo4charlie: Funny that you would mention that theory that Rockford was high on the list of potential Russkie nuclear targets during the Cold War. I did a little research on that kind of stuff many years ago, and I found that almost every city of any size was rife with reports that their town was high on the list for one reason or another. It was almost a matter of civic pride. These reports were invarably based on a theory that some local industry or another was of such vital importance to America’s military preparedness or to the social or economic fabric of the country that the commies would be especially eager to knock it out. However, if all these reports were true, the Russian list must have been a mile long with thousands of locales tied for spots in the top 10.
Mind you, I’m not saying that the Russians didn’t have a list, but it couldn’t have included all the American cities in which the local folks took pride in the likelihood that they were on it.
9. echo4charlie | November 16th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
I did base that comment on heresay, as it was a prevalent local rumor in my youth. I guess I just took for granted it was true. Your outlook makes sense.
10. hokumboy | November 16th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
local rumor has it that “ground zero” for Rockford was at E.State & 6th Street - - - Golden Touch Health Spa !!!
11. Shannon Ferguson | November 16th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
What is with all the bruhaha about bringing them here and/or trying them here? OF COURSE they should be brought here! OF COURSE they should be tried here! Carl, the problem with keeping them in Guantanamo is that OUR president made a campaign promise to shut down that shameful and questionably legal facility. God forbid he not be working toward that promise lest he be unfaily attacked some more. Don\’t you knuckle draggers believe in the American Justice System? Would you rather we just \’take \’em out behaund the woodshed\’ and kill them without a trial? Sure, that\’s the American way…patriot!
12. gowader | November 16th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
The real problem has nothing to do with an attack. It has to do with how the area will change.
The city of Dixon has changed for the worse since the prison was opened there. Thousands of family members have moved there to be close to the prisoners. That equals a whole lot of gang bangers and riff raff that live the lifestyle. Dixon used to be a nice quiet little town. Now it is just like Rockford.
So what is going to happen to Savannah when a huge herd of muslem’s and terrorists sympathizers come to town? It won’t be the quiet little river community anymore, that’s what.
13. LD | November 16th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Exactly gowader, why just look at what happened when Noriega was put in the prison in Marion. The entire town is now made up of his Panamanian drug dealer buddies. Or am I think of John Anthony Walker and now the town is made up of Russian spys? Whatever.. I’m sure you’re right though.
14. Mr. Funfsinn | November 16th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
I can’t wait until the next administration cuts this state off.
15. Art | November 16th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Well, if their terroist buddies come to visit, it could make it easier to catch a few more of them. They can’t really visit them at Gitmo.
16. snuss | November 16th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
FYI……..
Paterson, like GOP, would rather not have terror trial in NYC
November 16, 2009 at 3:12 pm by Rick Karlin
Gov. David Paterson has been butting heads with fellow state Democratic senators lately over the state’s budget deficit, and last night, he voiced his disagreement with national Democrats on the upcoming trial of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in New York City.
For the most part Democrats have defended holding the trial in New York where the attack took place while Republicans say it should remain in the confines of a military tribunal in some other locations.
Last night on an interview with WBLS radio’s Gary Byrd, Paterson said he’d just as soon not have the trial in New York due to safety concerns but admitted that Attorney General Eric Holder told him a while ago that it would probably take place here.
“I would prefer that they not be trying the terrorists in New York City,” he told Byrd. “It raises a threat in our area.”
Source: http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/20085/paterson-like-gop-would-rather-not-have-terror-trial-in-nyc/
17. Richard C | November 17th, 2009 at 1:50 am
The trials in New York will end in not guilty or hung-jury, and they will walk. All the evidence from Gitmo will be thrown out, then the blame game will start.
18. snuss | November 17th, 2009 at 7:06 am
I see these trials as Obama’s attempt to discredit the Bush administration and the CIA, by having their policies dragged into these public trials.
This will also hurt our future intelligence-gathering capabilities, as the methods used to apprehend these terrorists, and the people involved, will also be revealed, as part of these trials.
These terrorists committed acts of war against this country, and they are not just everyday criminals, so military tribunals are still the most appropriate venue for bringing them to justice.
19. Quentink | November 17th, 2009 at 9:37 am
Man most of you people really hate the United State’s legal system. Maybe you should move to a nice fascist country where no one cares about anybody’s rights. I bet some of the detainess ARE guilty as charged but I also know some of them to NOT be guilty. But does anyone here use the term ‘accused’ ? No you just call them terrorists and assume it so. The facility at Thomson is a great place to house them. Close the attrocity Gitmo and bring them here.
Awww, Ronnie Reagan’s perfect little racist version of Mayberry Dixon has had to adapt to the modern multi-culturist world that we live in. Good.
20. Mike Carroll | November 17th, 2009 at 10:16 am
Quentink
“…but I also know some of them to NOT be guilty.” Explain, if you would, how you know that?
“Awww, Ronnie Reagan’s perfect little racist version of Mayberry Dixon has had to adapt to the modern multi-culturist world that we live in. Good.”
Huh
21. Quentink | November 17th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Mike Carroll
“…but I also know some of them to NOT be guilty.” Explain, if you would, how you know that?
“Awww, Ronnie Reagan’s perfect little racist version of Mayberry Dixon has had to adapt to the modern multi-culturist world that we live in. Good.”
Huh
The uighur’s illegally detained by the US at Gitmo have been declared innocent and NO charges are being filed against them. They simply have no place to go since they will persecuted if released to China.
There is some really warped fantasy version of small town values a la mayberry. As a teen I drove down to Dixon in my ‘74 Nova with my girlfriend, Before I even hit town center I had a cop tailing me and after a few miles they pulled me over. He checked out the car and the only thing he could give me a ticket for he did. My ‘too loud’ thrusher pipes which were legal and stock. We ate at a diner and I received more than a few remarks about my ‘hippy’ hair. That is an example specific to Dixon but I remember many times being confronted with that ‘conform’ mentality. I always imagine how a spanish or African American must feel when confronted with these great old small town American values. If this is the America that the right strives for I reject it 100%.
22. Mike Carroll | November 17th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Quentink
The Uighurs were captured in a camp in Afganistan.Think they were there on a Boy Scout expedition. It may not be possible to find them guilty but they sure as hell are not innocent.
Your Dixon story is interesting but hardly probative regarding your charge of racism.
23. gowader | November 17th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Quentink: I quess I am a racist because I don’t like gun fire on my street. I am a racist because I don’t like to see hookers on every corner. I am a racist because I want to raise my kids up in a community that actually cares about each member. Well Quentink I will have to admit I am a racist and will always be one.
24. Neftali | November 17th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
The REAL GUANTANAMO BAY!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtrzcBMbVXs
25. Quentink | November 18th, 2009 at 8:14 am
Since I live downtown and enjoy the hell out of urban culture I can assume you’re not talking about me. We had a great concert downtown Sunday night that isn’t being covered by anyone. There were pop bands, funk bands, a couple of real good rappers, poets and street dancers. There were several hundered people through there in the course of the evening about half black and half white. No shootings, no fights just a GREAT night of arts enjoyed by all. the stuff that makes downtown and Rockford great.
I do believe evil exists, it has many, many names. Cheney and Fox news are just two of it’s many guises.
26. Roger | November 18th, 2009 at 8:16 am
Q you left out MSNBC the worst!
27. Quentink | November 18th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Live a little Dick. Churchill Grove may not be actually downtown but close enough to walk to as I often do. When I get up in the morning and look down National Ave. I know there is no other place I would rather live. i wouldn’t say I have ‘all’ the toys but there aren’t any other possesions I want either. Life is good.
Sunday’s party was huge and we probably had more than a few gang bangers through there but without incident. It was a great show and was packed most of the night. No security except Bar 3’s usual bouncer. We had Paul logli, Doug Mark and the Mayor himself in as announcers. It seemed klike they had a blast even if I couldn’t get Doug to rap. It was a benefit for YouthBUild, a fantastic orginization who are located in the 600 block of South Main. Drop by the salvage shop down there for a visit.
28. Craig Knauss | November 18th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Could someone please tell me why Manzullo is against bringing jobs to his district? And putting a vacant facility to use? I would think he’d be jumping at the chance to bring a little pork (jobs) into his district. It’d make him look like a hero. Now he just looks like a chump.
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