Holder: Gitmo Detainees Not A Threat To U.S. Or Allies

By Mickael Combier-Talk Radio News Service

U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder told the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday that the Department of Justice is working with U.S. allies to assure them that there is no risk in accepting Guantanamo Bay detainees.

“By sharing information about who [the detainees] are, responding to the questions that are posed by our allies…we can ensure them that they will not pose a danger to their countries and will not pose a threat to us. I think we will be successful,” Holder stated.

Holder said that these detainees will be judged “with due process consistent with the laws of war..and with the assurance that what we are doing is consistent with our values and with our commitment to due process.”

Holder made it clear during his testimony that our allies will not be able to host all of the detainees and that, therefore, the U.S. will have to take its share of the task.

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chair of the Committee noted “our criminal justice system handles extremely dangerous criminals, and more than a few terrorists, and it does so safely and effectively. We are the most powerful nation on hearth, we got to be able to handle the worst criminals.”

The hearing was held in front of a full audience. There were two protestors who accused the U.S. of torture and called for the closing of Guantanamo Bay.