
Proposal: Fort Leavenworth could hold terror suspects
Here are recent headlines about the military in Kansas:Fort Leavenworth(Politico.com) Democrats Want Gitmo Prisoners Sent to U.S.: Key House Democrats plan to insist the Pentagon shut down the detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and are contemplating the relocation of many of the 385 or so remaining terrorist suspects to military brigs along the East Coast — including Quantico, Va., and Charleston, S.C. “It sets us back in the war on terrorism to be maintaining Guantanamo,” said Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), who’s heading an investigation of the facility for the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. … (A Democratic) official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Democrats are planning hearings in April or May to “build a record” that closing Guantanamo would be beneficial and that it would be legal, as well as logistically feasible, to bring its detainees to the United States. The hearings would start with panels of lawyers, some of whom are convinced the plan is workable and some of whom represent detainees now at Guantanamo. The Democratic official said the plan would be to relocate the terrorists to military brigs that have suitable courtrooms. In addition to Quantico and Charleston, many could go to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., or to the Norfolk Naval Station, which has four courtrooms. (Earlier: Fourth item) Is $100 million Guantanamo Courthouse Necessary?Fort Riley ¢ 1st Infantry Division(Topeka Capital-Journal) Special troop training to move: The training of transition teams headed to Iraq and Afghanistan will be shifting in the next several years from Fort Riley to another Army installation. Speaking at a Manhattan Chamber of Commerce luncheon Wednesday, Maj. Gen. Carter Ham, commanding general of Fort Riley and the 1st Infantry Division, said the training would remain at Fort Riley in the short term but eventually would be moved to another post. Transition teams consist of 12 to 20 soldiers who train in combat and cultural skills for 60 days before deploying to Iraq or Afghanistan. A transition team then embeds with Iraqi and Afghan security forces to train, mentor and advise those troops in core military concepts.(AP) $27,000 collected in a week for one last visit from troops: undreds of people and businesses have sent in $27,000 in a week to help South Carolina Army National Guard soldiers come home on leave before heading to Afghanistan this spring, supporters said Wednesday. “I am going to collect as much as I can,” said state Sen. Jake Knotts, R-Lexington, whose fund has collected $17,000. A total of 1,800 members of the 218th Brigade Combat Team were deployed, with about 400 of them sent to Fort Riley, Kan. It’s the largest Guard deployment from South Carolina since World War II. The Newberry-based unit will train members of the Afghan Army and police. Some also will deploy with Afghan military units in the field.