Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise to support the Levin-McCain amendment, and I have added my name as a cosponsor. I would also like to speak in support of provisions authored by Chairman Levin that are in this year's National Defense Authorization Act, which provides more flexibility that the President and Secretary of Defense need in order to move detainees from Guantanamo. I strongly support the Levin-McCain-Feinstein amendment. Here is what it would do: It would clarify that Guantanamo detainees transferred to the United States for law of war detention do not have any additional rights or benefits such as the right to claim asylum. So it limits it. It would clarify that Gitmo detainees transferred to the United States may not be released from law of war detention into the United States. Finally, it would require a detailed plan to be submitted to Congress on how to close Guantanamo, including the specific facilities intended to be used to hold detainees inside the United States. I have heard Senator McCain talk about this, request it, and I believe it is a very valid need. It has been 12 years since the attacks of 9/11 and the United States invasion of Afghanistan. In the ensuing years 779 people were brought to Guantanamo without charge, and for many of them, simply for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Most of the 164 left have been held for more than 10 years. Those transferred to Guantanamo from CIA custody in black sites have been there now for 7 years.…”