Posted on 02/16/2011 1:49:24 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Panetta: If captured, bin Laden would be held at Guantánamo By Jordy Yager - 02/16/11 03:57 PM ET
The head of the CIA told senators on Wednesday that Osama bin Laden would be held at Guantánamo Bay prison if he were captured.
CIA Director Leon Panetta was asked by the ranking Republican on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Sen. Saxby Chambliss (Ga.), what would happen to the heads of al Qaeda — Osama bin Laden or Ayman al-Zawahiri — if they were captured.
“The process would obviously involve — especially with the two targets that you just described — we would probably move them quickly into military jurisdiction at Bagram [air base in Afghanistan] for questioning and then eventually move them, probably to Guantánamo,” said Panetta.
Chambliss agreed with Panetta and said that while it might not be the most politically viable decision, moving bin Laden or al-Zawahiri to Guantánamo would be the best way to handle their capture from a security standpoint.
“We haven’t moved anybody to Guantánamo in years now, and obviously there has been a move toward closure of that facility, and I would tend to agree with you that’s probably the best place for anybody to go right now, the safest place from a national-security standpoint,” said Chambliss.
“Politically, it might not be popular ... I appreciate your honesty and straightforwardness about what you would do.”
President Obama ordered the Guantánamo Bay prison closed in 2009 after the facility was criticized for violating prisoners’ human rights. But the move toward closure came up against a torrent of political opposition, as many Republicans argued that the Cuba-based detention facility was the most secure and best-equipped place to house suspected terrorists.
Many members balked at the idea of housing the detainees at prisons in their districts. And in December, much to the disappointment of the Department of Justice (DoJ), Congress prohibited the use of any funds to transfer detainees from Guantánamo Bay to the U.S. The issue has subsequently been moved to the backburner for the White House, although in Obama's recent budget proposal he included nearly $67 million to reopen a closed Illinois prison — a move that could be the first step toward relocating Guantánamo detainees.
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper seemed less sure on Wednesday that such “high-value targets” would find their way to Guantánamo so easily if captured. Instead, he told the senators that many of the U.S.’s intelligence and homeland security agencies would have a say as to how they should proceed.
“If we were to capture either one of those two luminaries — if I can use that term — I think there would probably be a matter of some interagency discussions … and whether they would be tried or not,” he said. “I’m sure if we did capture them that would be a subject of some discussion.”
Clapper said there were about 172 detainees at Guantánamo, most of whom are from Yemen.
If captured Bin Laden should be shot while trying to escape.
There is absolutely no proof Osama is still alive. None.
Why not Berkeley?
“Yes, John King, go ahead.”
“General, can you explain how Bin Laden received over two hundred bullet wounds while trying to escape? It seems excessive.”
“Does it? Yeah, well the gun jammed.”
If captured, bin Laden would be put up in the Waldorf Astoria in New York City and members of the Administration would muster at 1000 and 1400 to kiss his butt and to ask for guidance. Each night his sexual desired would be supplied by a suitable chosen person.
Obama would bow down and lick the floor where he walked. So much for reality. In fanasy he would be shot trying to escape and be burried with his head sewed in pigskin.
So Leon is busy trying to find a dead guy?
Wait. I thought Guantanamo was closed.
I would prefer never to hear the words “captured” and “Bin Laden” in the same sentence again.
I knew I was right. Here is the Executive Order: January 22, 2009
The detention facilities at Guantánamo for individuals covered by this order shall be closed as soon as practicable, and no later than 1 year from the date of this order. If any individuals covered by this order remain in detention at Guantánamo at the time of closure of those detention facilities, they shall be returned to their home country, released, transferred to a third country, or transferred to another United States detention facility in a manner consistent with law and the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States.
Yep…so it was closed over a year ago.
/s
“Why not Berkeley?”
If he ever got loose in Berkeley,he’d blend in so well that we would never find him again.
My bet is on the EAST WING!!!
If captured, he should by held dangling from a window near the top of the Empire State Building...for about 10 seconds.
Build a hut on kaffeklubben island (google it)
Leave him there.
Why does the mention of the name Panetta remind me of Mike Dukakis in the tank picture?
“Why not Berkeley?”
...I’d bet he’s already IN Berkeley working at a Starbucks.
False assertion to start the story.
We need never worry that the decision will ever come up with these folks running the country.
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