Topeka — Topeka — U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., said Thursday that he won’t release a hold that is blocking President Barack Obama’s nominees until the White House says it won’t transfer Guantanamo Bay detainees to Fort Leavenworth.
Brownback and Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., have blocked 10 nominees for posts at the Pentagon and Justice Department after the Obama administration announced its intention of closing Guantanamo.
Brownback said he wants a public statement from the administration that the detainees won’t be brought to Leavenworth.
Until that happens, the blocking maneuver remains, he said. One of those appointments being held up is Rep. John McHugh, R-N.Y., who is waiting to become secretary of the Army.
Gov. Mark Parkinson, a Democrat, also opposes moving Guantanamo detainees to Kansas, but also says it’s not going to happen because military prisoners and detainees legally can’t be co-mingled and because Leavenworth isn’t equipped to hold them.
In a blog, Parkinson wrote, “As a result, you won’t see me leading a chorus of protesters against moving GITMO detainees to Kansas. Instead, I will be quietly working with the White House, the Department of Defense, Homeland Security, and the Attorney General’s office. And in the end, reason will prevail. The GITMO detainees will not come to Kansas on my watch.”
Comments
Chris Golledge 7 years ago
So, who is in the prison already, and are they more or less dangerous than the detainees?
This is a thinly veiled attempt to block whatever the Democrats want to do simply because it's the Democrats who are trying to do it.
Jimo 7 years ago
"Brownback and fellow Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts have placed holds on several nominees for the justice and defense departments, including President Barack Obama’s choice for Army secretary."
So, Brownback is holding up the appointment of a Secretary of the Army IN A TIME OF WAR for months on end so he can get attention?
Alexander Neighbors 7 years ago
I think Brownback is holding up everything because he is trying to figure out what to do about this.
http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-323660
KansasVoter 7 years ago
What are Brownback and the republicans so scared of? Are they just scared of everything, or is there something specific that they're scared of?
charleskhyter 7 years ago
We're fighting in two wars he voted for and is blocking the appt of the Sec of Army, whatever happened to national security?
63BC 7 years ago
The US has a Secretary of the Army, this is just the next Secretary. The incumbent will serve until his replacement is confirmed. It will be seamless whenever it happens.
If this is so all-fired important, why doesn't the Administration just answer the question? Leavenworth or not?
infidel 7 years ago
What is the problem with Leavenworth, it is equipped to handle these people. It has many very high profile dangerous convicted people in it. Detainees are just people that haven't been convicted or charged with any crime as yet. I believe this is a large part of the world hates us. Do as I say, not as I do.
Me thinks someone is attempting to gather media attention for the run for Governor much like that witch from Wichita did a few years back.
rbwaa 7 years ago
Grandstanding to keep his name in bright lights while he's running for governor.
BigDog 7 years ago
This is a thinly veiled attempt to block whatever the Democrats want to do simply because it's the Democrats who are trying to do it.
I guess Democrat Kathleen Sebelius and Democrat Mark Parkinson are also trying to block Democrats because they expressed the same opnion as Brownback on this Gitmo prisoners being sent to Leavenworth.
http://www.ksdp.org/node/5589
http://www.governor.ks.gov/News/Blog/…
BigPrune 7 years ago
Come on Sam! Bring the Gitmo prisoners to Lawrence! Build it in Lawrence on KU's campus!!!!!!
Let's have a letter writing campaign in favor to Obama. Let's get the local "move on dot org" people fired up and get to writing!
I want to hold a candle light vigil to draw attention to this great idea!
Won't anyone on here join me?
lounger 7 years ago
Brownback is an A*s
Cooky_the_Cook 7 years ago
Please, everyone, look up USP Leavenworth and USDB. These are two different prisons. One is a federal prison. The other is the only maximum security military prison in the United States. Nobody ever suggested housing enemy combatants at the federal prison in Leavenworth with folks like Michael Vick. They would be sent to the military prison. It doesn't matter, though. They are staying in Cuba forever.
Scott Tichenor 7 years ago
It was OK housing Germans here during WWII, but now we've become a state of wimps with Brownie representing us. That somehow the Taliban will show up in Leavenworth is comical. This is a pure political stunt.
BigPrune 7 years ago
Bring 'em to Lawrence! Build a new prison, and put it here on our little island (on West Campus, of course).
Please write Obama with this wonderful suggestion!
hipper_than_hip 7 years ago
Keep 'em at Gitmo.
Richard Heckler 7 years ago
Bringing them to Leavenworth would bring of ton of our tax dollars to Kansas. The Leavenworth economy would get a huge boost.
How will they escape maximum security?
Most may not belong in prison.
And the torture would end because of visibility.
Richard Heckler 7 years ago
How effective can Brownback be? This is one of the guys that sat back and watched BUSHCO take our economy down the tubes.
Yes the republicans(RINO) could have stopped the fraud IF they would have told GW and Cheney no way boys this is illegal.
Joe Hyde 7 years ago
Send 'em all home. They've each been held captive for years without trail. Two reasons why that happened: 1) We know we don't have enough evidence against them to gain a guilty verdict in a real court setting, and; 2) The Bush administration cast aside the legal concept of habeus corpus.
Let 'em go. Send 'em home.
Richard Heckler 7 years ago
Send them home and Bring Our Troops Home!!
rhd99 7 years ago
Apparently, no liberal here is reading this correctly. Parkinson doesn't want detainees in Kansas either. Wake up folks, this is a bi-partisan issue in Kansas. As far as the SecArmy position, wake up, they have outstanding leadership with or without McHugh.
50YearResident 7 years ago
Merrill says, "How will they escape maximum security?"
Escaping is not the problem, it's when the Government decides to release them and they walk out the front door. That is when they become the problem. Their first task will be to apply for U.S. citizenship so they can stay in Kansas.
Jimo 7 years ago
"when the Government decides to release them and they walk out the front door."
How stupid can some people be?
KEITHMILES05 7 years ago
Brownie is a huge dyck and embarssing himself. Talk about using politics as an obstructing tool!
Jimo 7 years ago
"They are terrorists!"
Must have missed that trial. Was it on C-span or something?
Look, the Pentagon itself admits that it has little evidence against many of these fellows and believes that few have any connection with al Qaeda. Few were captured on any "battlefield." Indeed, over one-half aren't even accused of fighting against the U.S. or any ally. The Pentagon has even admitted to holding prisoner for years individuals openly admitted to be "innocent."
Terrorists are not Marvel Comic superbeings. Stop fearing their superpowers.
50YearResident 7 years ago
Jimo says "How stupid can some people be?"
I don't know but keep posting and we will find out!
georgiahawk 7 years ago
In the words of an idiot, "You're doing one heck of a job Brownie." Hey all you right wing patriots, where is your patriotism when your country needs you? Do we need to call your mommy to see if its all right? What exactly is your fear based on?
Jimo 7 years ago
So 50Year, you have something to add or are you just blowing raspberries?
jonas_opines 7 years ago
Snap: Isn't your pervasive use of NIMBY going to make an appearance here?
Paul R Getto 7 years ago
Overall, this can help Senator Sam's run for president, which is the only reason he wants to 'save' Kansas. His cult told him to save the world. We just got over one president who heard the voices; do we need a Governor running for President who thinks the same way?
jimmyjms 7 years ago
"Yeah, right! They are terrorists! "
And you know this...how, exactly?
This is why righties are so exasperating. They don't even understand the principles of the laws that this country, that they pretend to love so much, were founded upon.
He's brown! He's guilty! Kill 'em all!!!
Now...why do so many people in the middle east hate 'Merica? I jus caint figgur it owt. Hmmm.
You're a moron. And so is Brownback.
50YearResident 7 years ago
Jimo, maybe I misunderstood your reply to this post as I thought you were directing it toward me. So I threw one back. I said: “when the Government decides to release them and they walk out the front door.” You said: How stupid can some people be?
Maybe you were referring to the Government.
mm123 7 years ago
All who want the prisoners, should have them kept in their basements!!!
tomatogrower 7 years ago
Go ahead and build a high security prison here in Lawrence for the detainees. We aren't a bunch of wimps. We'd welcome the soldiers who come here to work. It would be great for our economy.
Also, did you ever think that if we bring the detainees to Fort Leavenworth, that there would be no way that the Fort would ever be shut down if they need to close any bases? If the Fort ever shut down it would do a lot more damage to that area than a terrorist could. And the person who thinks that when they are released that they won't be deported to their country of origin hasn't a clue about real life. Get an education.
Ralph Reed 7 years ago
This sorry behavior is little more than political grandstanding for Brownback's gubernatorial campaign, which is in turn simply a notch in his experience belt for his run at the White House. In essence, Brownback is holding the country hostage for purely personal political gain.
I apologize for the cut and paste. This is from the 2 Sep Wichita Eagle. It shows our one state senator and the candidate for governor as both holding the government hostage. The Eagle is a conservative rag much like the LJW.
"But three months to the day since Obama nominated McHugh — and with two tough wars going on — it's hard to argue with a recent White House statement "that Congressman McHugh is being held up for partisan purposes." The Washington Post editorialized Sunday that the Kansans "have unjustly delayed" McHugh's confirmation. A commentary in Foreign Policy argued that "holding apparently qualified defense and judicial appointees hostage during a time of war is not really the best way to make your point."
Even the conservative Washington Times, while agreeing with Brownback and Roberts that Gitmo detainees should stay where they are, editorialized that the senators' method "is the wrong way to keep Kansas or the country safe" or "register discontent with President Obama's policy direction."
Brownback and Roberts can and should let McHugh and the others get to work." (http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/story/953967.html)
Unfortunately, Brownback will be elected KS governor; I see no one to oppose him. This is an example of the lengths to which he will go to further his own political gain. Slimy and disgusting. I place him in the same camp as Phil Kline.
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