WASHINGTON, D.C. --The president has ordered Guantanamo Bay to close.
Where will Gitmo prisoners go? Some say Kansas. But our lawmakers are fighting hard to keep that from happening using every tool in their arsenal including threats to keep Senate in session over summer break and trying to block funds to move the prisoners.
Guantanamo Bay is set to close by early next year. The action was one of President Obama’s first moves after taking office.
But what to do with the prison's 240 plus detainees is still in question.
"I'll say this. Not in our backyard. Not in Kansas. Not on this senator's watch," Senator Pat Roberts said on the Senate floor Thursday.
He adamantly opposes a proposal that would move some of the prisoners to Ft. Leavenworth.
Roberts points to Khaled Sheikh Mohammad who beheaded Daniel pearl and is one of Gitmo's prisoners. Roberts says it’s proof the detainees are dangerous terrorists who should remain right where they are.
"There is still time for Americans to remember that there are men at Guantanamo who cannot be released and most certainly should not be on American soil," said Roberts.
Meantime, representative Todd Tiahrt on the house appropriations committee tried prevent funding to "transfer or release" the detainees, but was voted down 21 to 36 along strict party lines.
"They voted against my amendment and chose to allow the Obama administration the ability to transfer or release terrorist detainees on American soil with full knowledge that some will be released on our streets," Tiahrt said.
The action comes on the heels of several days’ worth of political maneuvering by Kansas lawmakers.
Earlier this week, representative jerry Moran argued that moving the prisoners to Ft. Leavenworth would interfere with the base's mission to educate military leaders from other countries. Plus, he says the fort is just not equipped for the caliber of prisoners that would be coming.
"The 3,000 residents who live on post as well as the residents of nearby communities would be living at a higher security risk," said Moran.
