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J.D. Gordon shares his opinion on why there's no way for the President to close Guantanamo Bay.
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Welcome back everybody we're gonna take another look at an issue that came up during the first Obama administration.
And the one that's coming starting in January and that is the closing of Guantanamo Bay.
Originally the president had one position he changed.
Where it doesn't we don't really know whether or close or not.
But my next guest has written JD Gordon.
Former pentagon spokesperson in communications consultant a piece for foxnews.com.
-- let me put it up so people know that it's on our foxnews.com opinion page.
And they can read it is certainly way end.
You say you won't close.
Hey Jamie it's good to see it no I don't think it's gonna close I I think this is just Sosa were posturing by the Democrats in congress.
Senator Feinstein had commissioned -- report from the GAO basically looking at facilities in the United States in the mainland United States.
I think it possibly hold detaining you send and what the GAO report found is that that there are six military detention facilities and and about 98.
Federal -- facilities under the Justice Department that the handling detainees but you know it's it's really symbolic in a lot of ways I think because there -- so many laws.
That's up for bid to transfer detainees from Guantanamo under the US that I think it's it's it's it's just that the Democrats trying to.
Put an unpopular issue back on to that under the front burner instead of on the back burner where it is and ought to be.
Is it about cost.
Is it about security.
Why do you think it won't close and it's a better idea to keep the detainees where they are.
Well it is.
Definitely related to cost and security I think is better to keep the detainees in Guantanamo because if you move them -- -- mainland prisons in the United States.
Any judge could let them out essentially a particularly if they go into the the federal system.
A local judge a state judge -- federal judge they -- let these guys out onto main street USA.
And that there's a big piece of the other constitution and that's.
And that is out there are 48 detainees at Guantanamo of the 166 who have been determined by the end book by -- well first by the bush administration and then.
A solidified.
Codified by the Obama administration.
To be kept an indefinite detention that means we're not gonna let him go even if they have a trial because these guys are so danger but we don't have the evidence to convict them.
So if you send these guys into the the mainly -- states a lot of judges to just let him -- out.
And so that's very dangerous to last and so that's why don't think Guantanamo is gonna close but does senator -- said is bringing a point about about the money case.
At this point how bad -- the bad guys that are left to get my own.
Governor that I mean we have the 9/11 not co conspirators -- Khalid Sheikh Mohamed.
And up for others say they're going through military commission process which -- really been in the works -- The -- since it's been years now since 2008.
The summer I was there at the arraignment for them.
So it's been gone for quite some time of course it was put on hold by the Obama administration for three years over three years.
And so now that's.
Starting again but senator feinstein's point I think also is -- to -- the military over the budgets.
Because right now while we already have 480 billion dollars program -- defense cuts over the next decade.
Under the Obama administration's plan and under sequestration.
Which may kick off on January 2 -- -- -- some emergency deal that avoids it.
That's another half a trillion dollars.
So we're talking one trillion dollars in defense cuts for the military over the next decade and that's the -- -- out like during the 1970s.
And so I think senator feinstein's point is to say hey look.
But -- and low cost a 114 million dollars to -- a year now that's not nothing compared to what trillion.
But if she can make the point that we should just save money and and she -- -- the military on cost she's gonna do that.
I think a lot of people don't understand why it takes so long to bring those that get -- justice can you explain.
Sure I cannot well Guantanamo open up for detainee operations in 2002.
Military commissions were adopted by the Bush Administration just like we had him on wall -- to.
The civil war revolutionary war the Bush Administration started military commissions in that that.
In 2004 the process but what happened is so we ended up in the Supreme Court and that they were struck down in 2006.
We had to reconstituted it in 2007.
Every time we turned around at Guantanamo -- I was -- at the Pentagon as a spokesman for the Western Hemisphere everytime we turn around we were court.
Basically getting the process stopped.
So that's why it took so long for military commissions get going but you know we've had we have had some success there have been a number of detainees who have been found guilty.
-- military commission couple of -- served their sentences and they're already free so it's not like court system that's not fair according to some some of the folks on the left.
But basically we had so many legal challenges over the years.
I -- and I think they'll continue you see the uproar when it they're there's even talk about bringing one of those defendants to the United States for trial.
It basically can take over city and what about that prison that was -- by the federal government what will happen with that.
Well loved the Department of Justice purchase the at the Thompson facility in Illinois basically -- spare funds because congress and.
Prohibited from buying it for a specific purpose of putting detainees there but you know the Obama administration was pretty stubborn they're still pretty adamant about closing Guantanamo.
So basically the Justice Department bought Thomson which is -- not rural Illinois.
And we fear that they could try to put detainees there -- the senator feinstein's point is that if we had the political will we could do it but the problem.
Is.
I don't I don't think we should do it.
And we're not gonna have a political Willis as long as the Republicans maintain at least the house of the senate.
And right now fortunately at least they did they remain in charge of the house representatives so I can't see any way that the Republicans in congress wouldn't.
Allow allow Obama to put detainees at Thompson.
Or any other place in the United States I was really scary when they're trying to put Khalid Sheikh Mohamed in New York yes he -- you remember they're trying to do that essay that would have.
Yes that that would have cost.
This this city -- was something like 200 million a year -- security would have turned lower Manhattan into an armed camp.
It was a really bad idea and I want to give -- Khalid Sheikh Mohammed a megaphone.
To attack the United States in a very.
Very.
Prominent place where you could have these people that are crazies just come out to support Khalid Sheikh Mohammed because they're crazy and and no.
So viewed by the world since New York is considered by many this tenor of the entire universe.
JD great right -- I really encourage everyone to read your -- -- -- foxnews.com opinion page.
About why gitmo won't be closing during Obama's second term although that topic is certainly being bantered about by the administration.
JD always great to talk to thank you so much for joining us.
Thanks TJ thank you -- I appreciate it have a great weekend thanks -- -- -- item because.
