May 17, 2009

NIMBY

President Barack Obama’s rush to fulfill a promise to ultra-liberals – to close the prison for terrorists at the U.S. Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba – recalls a 1902 article in Harper’s Monthly magazine titled “Monkey Paw”:

“Be careful what you wish for, it might come true!”

The administration plans to close the terrorist prison – deporting some inmates to their home countries, and relocating the worst of the worst to various prisons in the United States.

The outcry, far and wide, is NIMBY – “Not in my back yard!”

Five days ago, Obama reversed his decision to show purported abuse of prisoners at U.S military prison in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr. Obama decided the release could endanger U.S. troops in the Mid-east.

Mr. Obama said the release could endanger U.S. troops in the Mid-east.

PELOSI  CRITICIZED

Surprisingly, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)  has been severely criticized by many fellow Democrats for not speaking forcefully enough about “enhanced interrogation techniques” when she first learned of them.

The left-leaning “Democratic Caucus” -- which includes Pelosi -- has often criticized her for “weak responses” to President Bush’s home intelligence practices such as warrant-less wiretapping.

Republicans say Pelosi received briefings from intelligence officials in September 2002 about “water boarding” of the terrorist Abu Zubaydah.  The technique gives an impression of drowning.

During the water boarding of Zubaydah and other terrorist prisoners, valuable information was gleaned about terrorist plans.

Significantly, several planned terrorist attacks on homeland USA were thwarted by advanced information gleaned since the sneak attack of September 11, 2001, which killed 3,000 civilian Americans.

WHAT DID SHE KNOW?

Democrats say they passed legislation in the House banning torture after they took control of Congress in 2007.  Republicans insist they will not be “bluffed” by Democrats.

Sen.  Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)  threatens to call Pelosi as a witness in the Senate investigation of the prisoner interrogation program.

The “Hill” – the privately published daily newspaper for congressional members and political junkies elsewhere – reports criticism by Vincent Warren, executive director of the Center For Constitutional Rights.

“It looks like Pelosi knuckled under to national security and accepted Bush administration explanations.

“I am deeply disappointed to learn that Nancy Pelosi knew about what was going on at a time when Congress would have been in a position to do something about it.”

PARTISAN SNIPING

The American Civil Liberties Union was more hesitant to criticize Pelosi’s handling of the situation.

Spokeswoman Caroline Fredrickson says the available information “has been distorted by partisan sniping.”

“We don’t know what version of the briefing they were given. That’s why we need an independent investigation by a special counsel.”

CIA Director Leon Panetta challenged Pelosi’s accusations that the agency lied to her about interrogation techniques used against terrorist prisoners.

Panetta says that

“ultimately, it is up to Congress to evaluate all the evidence and reach its own conclusions about what happened.”

“We are an agency of high integrity, professionalism and dedication.  Our task is to tell it like it is – even if that’s not what people always want to hear.  Keep it up. Our national security depends on it!”

POLICY COMMITTEE JAUNT

Senate Republican Policy Committee Chairman John Ensign (R-Nev.)  flew with other Republican Senators to Guantanamo last week to assess the terrorist prison.  He says Republicans will try to block closing the U.S. prison there.

The “fact finders” say they will offer “three or four” amendments to the military supplemental, funding bill to be considered by the Senate this week.

Ensign – former chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee -- says he believes some of the proposals will pass because Democrat senators are unwilling to accept the possibility of detainees in the U.S.

He describes an “idyllic” picture of the prison at Guantanamo Bay.  He describes how prisoners have access to medical treatment from the American Red Cross, browse a library of DVDs, have access to U.S. and Arabic newspapers and follow a liberal exercise schedule.

Ensign said the food served at the prison is even better that what was served to him and fellow senators.

CLOSE GUANTANAMO

The Senate Appropriations Committee  approved a $91.3 billion supplemental funding measure on Thursday that includes $80 million to  close the Guantanamo prison, relocate the prisoners and investigate any abuses that may have been committed against them.

Ensign said “a lot of people are very nervous” about approving the supplemental measure and allowing the prisoners into the U.S.

“We’re dealing with people who would like to wipe out Americans,” said Ensign. “If these people get out, they are coming back to kill as many Americans as they can.  They hate us. They hate everything about our way of life, and they want to do as much harm as they can to our country. ”

PARTING SHOT

Let us all heed Abraham Lincoln’s wise words: “A friend is one who has the same enemies as you.”

By Lindsey Wilger Williams, retired newspaper publisher and syndicated columnist