Reid Spokesperson Signals Wiggle Room On Guantanamo

[babylonsister]

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/terrorism/reid-spokesperson-signals-wiggle-room-on-guantanamo/

Reid Spokesperson Signals Wiggle Room On Guantanamo


A spokesperson for Harry Reid is signaling some wiggle room on the issue of Guantanamo Bay, opening the door for Reid to possibly support the imprisoning of detainees in America once Obama produces a plan, despite appearing to rule that out yesterday.

Reid’s spokesperson emails that Reid actually opposes the transfer to America “at this time,” adding that when the White House produces a plan, he will “evaluate it carefully and make a judgment at that time.”

Reid made big news yesterday at a press conference yesterday when he appeared to say he could never support the detention of Guantanamo inmates anywhere in America. “You can’t put them in prison unless you release them,” he said. “We will never allow terrorists to be released in the United States.”

Reid’s office later said he hadn’t meant to say that. But as The New York Times put it, Reid had been “unequivocal in insisting that the terrorism suspects never reach American shores.”

So I asked Reid spokesperson Jim Manley if this meant Reid was completely ruling out any future support for this, should Obama’s plan call for it. Manley emailed:

At this time, he opposes transferring detainees to American prisons. If the administration proposes a plan that recommends the transfer of some detainees to American prisons, he will evaluate it carefully and make a judgment at that time. He will always strongly oppose the release of any terrorists onto American streets.

The claim that Reid opposes the transfer “at this time” appears to leave the door open to possibly support it later, as does the promise to evaluate Obama’s plan carefully and “make a judgment at that time.”

It is, of course, unclear whether Reid will ultimately support such a move. But this statement leaves considerably more wiggle room on the issue than yesterday’s did.

[tridim]

1. Reid shows off his pink tutu and his rubber spine

Such leadership! :eyes:

Psst Harry, you're in the majority now. Act like it.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

2. If we persist in holding these "detainees"

Then we need to drop the whole "NIMBY" thing and take responsibility for our charges.

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. WTF does that mean? 'You can't put them in prison unless you release them'.

If they are in prison, HOW are they 'released'?

Isn't prison kind of the antithesis of being released?

[mmonk]

4. All worms need it I guess.