Island paradises are the new Gitmo

An obscure Pacific island nation, Palau, and popular tourist destination, Bermuda, are now receiving former Gitmo detainees. Residents of Palau aren't too happy about it, and neither is Downing Street as Britain provides for Bermuda's defense and foreign affairs and wasn't consulted about the detainee transfer.

Why would Palau and Bermuda accept unwanted terror suspects from Gitmo? For Palau to welcome the Uighurs into their land, the U.S. has pledged $200 million in aid to the country. That's $200 million taxpayer dollars to send unwanted terror suspects to an island paradise in the Pacific.

One question remains: Does the tour package include cocktail beverages with tiny umbrellas in them?

Al-Qaeda used webmail, simple codes

It's been revealed that al-Qaeda terrorists in the 9/11 attacks used no sophisticated hardware or software, and employed simple codes to communicate. They depended on pre-paid calling cards, public phones, webmail, and search engines to plan and execute attacks. These items and services are what everyday Americans use in their daily lives.

So just think about the administration's plans to shutdown Gitmo, relocate its prisoners, and the possibility that these terrorists may end up in the population with easy access to these services again.

Terrorists release imminent

The White House has overridden FBI and DHS in a decision to release Chinese Uighur detainees from Gitmo. That's right, the Obama administration is welcoming terrorists onto our homeland instead of keeping them as far away from us as possible.

Do you feel safe already? It's no wonder gun sales are up.

Have you noticed that ever since Obama entered the White House, it's all about gaining more power. Just look at how he's "helping" the economy. The government taking control of banks, insurance agencies, automakers, etc. And how many czars do we have now reporting to the President? Probably more than old Russia. Now when it comes to national security, he's assuming to be the expert and brushing off recommendations from the FBI and DHS, two federal agencies responsible for America's safety.

We're fading fast as a republic. Soon we may no longer even recognize America as a democracy. Let's pray that it's not turning into a dictatorship!

Enemy combatants coming to a neighborhood near you

Attorney General Eric Holder says to expect some suspected terrorists in your friendly neighborhood:

Attorney General Eric Holder said some detainees being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, may end up being released in the U.S. as the Obama administration works with foreign allies to resettle some of the prisoners.

Mr. Holder, in a briefing with reporters, said administration officials are still reviewing individual cases of the approximately 250 detainees to determine which will be put on trial and which may be released to comply with plans to close the detention facility by next year.

Get that warm and fuzzy feeling about your government yet? I bet somewhere in Congress there's a Democrat thinking up a bill to provide government-subsidized foreclosed housing to these detainees, and wrap that in a fancy economic stimulus package.

Actually, I have no problem with this if these Gitmo detainees are released into the neighborhoods of Pelosi, Reid, etc.

America's moral leadership has never faded

People keep talking about America's "moral leadership" in reference to President Obama's executive order to close Gitmo. By shutting down this detention facility outside of the United States, many liberals like Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) are claiming America being moral again:

In a season of transformational changes, these are among the most meaningful, because they send a powerful message that America's struggle against terrorism will once against honor some of the most cherished ideals of our republic: respect for the rule of law, individual rights, and America's moral leadership.

He writes about America as if it's a communist state devoid of laws and human rights. The fact that these suspected terrorists are detained in a comfortable military facility in sunny weather reading their Qurans already shows America's moral leadership. We could've shipped them off to some God-forsaken remote camp where they never see the light of day and wake up every morning wondering if they'd live through the night. That's how some countries treat their enemies, Sen. Kerry.

I have seen televised footages of Gitmo. Barbed wires surrounding the perimeter, of course, and steel cages throughout. Prison guards holding their rifles standing at the gates. I have noticed the prisoners dressed in their own seemingly comfortable attire and not some rag. They walk about, some are kicking a ball, some are just sitting, catching some rays. I dare say that their living condition may even surpass that of some prisons on U.S. soil.

The prisoner abuse uncovered at Abu Ghraib was shameful and tarnished our image. But that was promptly addressed by the Bush administration from the top down. Those who were responsible answered to the law and received punishment. The U.S. did not just let that slide. What greater demonstration of respecting the rule of law and human rights?

America, to me, has never lost its moral leadership. People like Sen. Kerry are focusing on the wrong side of the coin.

Where would Gitmo prisoners go?

Okay, so President Obama has chosen closing Gitmo as a top priority. Any logical leader would actually understand that before such a daunting task should come a plan as to where to put the prisoners. No Congressman except Jack Murtha (D-PA) has publicly voiced accepting them to his state of Pennsylvania (without approval from his constituents, I'm sure), and no U.S. ally has made gestures to keep them. What's going to happen to the detainees?

Obama already misplaces priorities

The economy is in shambles. Unemployment rate is rising. Home values are plummeting. Loans are defaulting. Banks are imploding.

And what does President Obama do during his first days in office?

Obama issues an Executive Order to close Guantanamo Bay ("Gitmo") Naval Base and review each of the detainee's case to determine whether prosecution is possible in the U.S. He's also ending waterboarding as an interrogation technique.

Frank Beckmann writes in The Detroit News:

The argument for closing Guantanamo and ending tough interrogation methods has been that the world thinks less of us because of these issues.

But the attacks of 9/11 and earlier -- the bombings of the World Trade Center, African embassies and Marine barracks in Lebanon -- all occurred before Guantanamo became an adjective and when waterboarding became a U.S. practice. The terrorists attacked anyway because of their religious hatred of the West and its way of life.

He hits the nail right on the head. Why does Obama care so much what the world thinks of America? The administration's priority is to protect Americans at home and abroad. By moving to close Gitmo so promptly, he is sending the wrong message to our enemies.