Murtha OK with Moving Gitmo Prisoners to PA (Pittsburgh, Harrisburg: 2009, houses)

[DC Oldtimer]

Murtha Praises Gitmo Closing, OK With Moving Prisoners To Pa.

Thursday, January 22, 2009 – updated: 5:11 pm EST January 22, 2009

PITTSBURGH -- Rep. John Murtha praised the decision made by President Barack Obama on Thursday to sign executive orders closing the U.S. military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay and prohibiting the use of torture by U.S. personnel.

"We can abide by a rule that says we don't torture, but we can still obtain the intelligence we need," Obama said.

In a Thursday press release, Murtha said, "I applaud his judgment and I wholeheartedly support this decision."

Earlier, the Pennsylvania congressman said he would have no qualms about transferring Guantanamo detainees to a holding facility in his district.

One possible location for the prisoners could be the federal maximum security prison at Lewisburg, Pa. Another possibility is the Federal Correctional Institute in Loretto, Pa.

Murtha said so in an interview with Fox News. He is a Democrat who heads the House subcommittee that funds the military.

Officials at the State Correctional Department in Harrisburg said they were flooded with media calls, asking whether Pittsburgh's Western Penitentiary could be a possible Gitmo transfer facility. It now houses 1,600 low threat inmates.

The Obama administration will have to decide which detainees go to U.S. prisons and which ones get released or prosecuted.

However, Charles Stimson, who led detainee affairs at Gitmo for the Bush administration, said there are some prisoners you can't prosecute but also can't be safely released.

An estimated 245 men are held at the U.S. naval base in Cuba. They are believed to be al-Qaida, Taliban or other foreign fighters who pose a threat to the United States.

Murtha Praises Gitmo Closing, OK With Moving Prisoners To Pa. - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh

[RebelPhotog]

Are you suggesting this is good or bad for PA?

[bobsmith]

Who cares if they get moved here? They're going to be in special prisons, not even in regular military prisons, let alone wandering the streets.

[PeterRabbit]

Put them in a regular U.S. prison and let the inmates kill them. Better to let them out in Cuba. I hope Murtha chokes and dies.

[firefightermom]

I certainly don't want any terrorists housed in any sort of prison anywhere in PA. What if some group decides to try and "rescue" them? Much better to keep them out of our country...

[sr1234]

I am so ashamed that we have Murtha representing the state.

[Gerania]

Originally Posted by firefightermom

I certainly don't want any terrorists housed in any sort of prison anywhere in PA. What if some group decides to try and "rescue" them? Much better to keep them out of our country...

Just what I was thinking.