Dan Burton: “over the past week or 10 days, we have heard a lot of haranguing about what is going on down at the Guantanamo detention…”

“over the past week or 10 days, we have heard a lot of haranguing about what is going on down at the Guantanamo detention facility regarding the prisoners who were involved in terrorist activities and opposed our troops over in Iraq and elsewhere in the world. And some people in the Congress have even equated what is going on down there with Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, and what happened in World War II and the concentration camps. And it is reprehensible that that comparison is even being thought about, let alone being expressed by one of my colleagues. So I wanted to come tonight and give to the American people who may be paying attention back in their offices some facts about Guantanamo and what is going on down there. Forgive me for reading this to you, but I think it is extremely important. I want to put everything in context. Our men and women down there are serving with honor and dignity. Since September 11, 2001, more than 70,000 detainees have been captured in the global war on terror in Afghanistan and in Iraq. Some 800 suspected members of al Qaeda or the Taliban have been sent to GITMO, no one under 18 years of age. Approximately 520 remain. Approximately 235 have been released, transferred to other countries, and 61 are awaiting release or transfer right now.…”