LEAVENWORTH, Kan. - Kansans are responding to reports the Obama administration is considering Fort Leavenworth as one of two sites being considered to house detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The military's U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth and a federal prison in Michigan are the two choices being reviewed.
Sen. Sam Brownback, 2nd District Rep. Lynn Jenkins, and Congressman Jerry Moran, along with local officials, held a news conference Monday morning to respond to the reports.
Brownback and Jenkins, both Republicans, have sponsored measures in Congress aimed at keeping the suspected terrorists from coming to Kansas. Both restated their opposition to moving the detainees to Leavenworth.
Brownback has said, "Enemy combatants should under no circumstances be housed at Fort Leavenworth. It makes no sense to spend millions and millions of dollars to build what we already have at Guantanamo. And it makes even less sense to try to force fit them at Fort Leavenworth which is not well suited for this purpose."
Moran also spoke against the transfer of terrorist detainees from Guantanamo Bay to Fort Leavenworth.
“Today, I stated once more that Kansas is the wrong place to house Guantanamo’s detainees. The Obama Administration’s consideration of Leavenworth as a destination for detainees is simply irresponsible and continues the pattern of the Administration’s poor and rushed planning on this issue. I will continue to stand in firm, steadfast opposition to this dangerous and irresponsible proposal,” Moran said. “The terrorist detainees held at Guantanamo present a serious threat to the security of the American people. The Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth is a medium-security facility for military prisoners and lacks the capability to house terrorist suspects.”
Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson released the following statement after Monday’s conference.
“Guantanamo detainees should not come to Kansas. This isn’t a matter of ‘not in my backyard’ or a xenophobic fear of foreign prisoners; this is a matter of safety, security, legality and logistics. First, the buildings at Fort Leavenworth – literally the structures themselves – do not meet the legal ‘separation and isolation’ security requirements for this level of prisoner. Second, the community airport is located at the Fort, as are rail lines and a river with barge traffic; increasing the security level of the Fort, and thus disrupting these economic infrastructures, would do untold damage to the region’s economy.
As Governor, my primary focus is always the safety and security of Kansans, which is why I will continue to communicate with the Pentagon and the Secretary of Defense to make sure that the safety of our state is never compromised.”
