Let some Guantanamo Bay detainees live in U.S., advocates say

latimes.com ^ | January 15, 2009 | Julian E. Barnes and Peter Nicholas

[Free ThinkerNY]

Reporting from Washington -- Human rights advocates are urging the incoming Obama administration to allow some detainees from the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to resettle as U.S. residents as part of any plan to close the controversial facility.

Taking such a step would go beyond plans outlined so far to close the prison and transfer detainees to other countries or to military prisons on the U.S. mainland. But allowing a small number -- perhaps only two or three -- to live freely in the U.S. could help persuade other countries to accept some of them as well.

"If we want European and other countries to feel comfortable taking at least some of the prisoners off American hands, the U.S. will have to show it is OK by taking some itself," said Tom Malinowski, the Washington advocacy director of Human Rights Watch.

President-elect Barack Obama's transition team is considering the option, but a Democratic official said there has been no conclusion that the resettlement option is necessary to Obama's plans.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

...to live freely in the U.S. could help persuade other countries to accept some of them as well...

Absolutely delusional.

[IbJensen]

This is a fantastically great idea.

While we're at it, let's suck more Africans out of Africa and relocate them to small towns in Maine, Massachusetts, New Yarkansas and New Jersey.

(But only if they're practicing Muslims.)

[AuntB]

YES

[KingNo155]

Move them into Tom Malinowski's neighborhood.

[Waco]

Cape Cod, Hyannis Port. East end of L.I.

[devistate one four]

It would be hard to capture one of those s**tbirds knowing they would get set loose on the world again.

[Vaquero]

In this photo from June 4th, 1913, a young man named Antonio Echazarreta is executed by Mexican revolutionaries for his role in defending a major outpost.

[navyguy]

This is just the beginning folks...

This country is now being run by Leftist activists.

[Dixie Yooper]

Now I realize just how bad an idea it was to bring anyone from Afghanistan or Iraq to Guantanamo. These terrorist/prisoners never should have been taken any further than Antarctica. We could have released them to the wild after we were done interrogating them.

[Vaquero]

East end of L.I.

better make that the south fork of LI and while your at it, do it during the summer when they are actually there.

Vermont would be a good place also.

[dartuser]

The US should pay to just send these people to their country of origin. Fly them there courtesy of the US. When they get to the country of origin, make them get off the plane, from 30,000 ft, without a parachute.

[5thGenTexan]

I hear that there is a nice house with lots of room coming available in the Chicago area 1/19/2009. It has an empty lot next door where more housing could be built.

[gakrak]

Yes great idea, put one of the sob’s in a house next to Barnie Frank in massatoo$hits, put one in Connecticut next to Chris Dodd and the third can reside in NY next to Chucky Schumers house. Amen.

[CholeraJoe]

I’ll volunteer to sponsor two for 25 years, or however long they manage to last.

[LibLieSlayer]

ONLY IF THEY PUT THEM UNDER HOUSE ARREST INSIDE OF ONLY HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS HOMES.

LLS

[Personal Responsibility]

I live pretty close to the east end of LI (About 10 minutes due south of the Port Jefferson / Bridgeport CT ferry).

Put ‘em somewhere else please. Thanks.

[madison10]

Only if they live in Congresscritters’ neighborhoods.

[hermgem]

Let ‘em loose in Chicago, as this Obama home town already has the highest homicide rate in ‘08, even above those of LA and NY City.

[chs68]

Perhaps a couple of the current residents of the prison at Guantanamo could move to Washington, DC.

There are several really nice houses right across the street from Sidwell Friends School.

[momincombatboots]

If your sponsor- ship includes a shovel and some form of water- boarding, it does not count.