Veterans Descend on DC to close GITMO

In addition to Veterans and Military Families marching on Washington in the Spring to protest the continued occupation of Iraq, Obama’s SURGE in Afghanistan, how our troops and Veterans are treated when they come home, and to close Guantanamo Bay (GITMO) prison, there has been a more recent effort by military Veterans and families to close GITMO that occurred this month.

If efforts by VoteVets prove successful, that will be one less issue for Veterans and Military Families to protest in the spring.

Check out this video Matt Alexander Gives Some Common Sense on Gitmo, then read the articles courtesy of VoteVets.  Matt represents a coalition of activists groups called New Security Action that is dedicated to closing the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Matt is a VetVoice front-pager, author, former interrogator, and Iraq War veteran.

Close Gitmo

Posted By: ROBERT L. HANAFIN, Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired

# Former Congressman Tom Andrews blogs about torture and closing GITMO.

# Matt’s op-ed in today’s New York Times on the anniversary of the President’s executive order on ending torture.

The efforts of Matt Alexander, Richard Allen Smith, John Stotz and others from New Security Action, VoteVets, and VetVoice led to:

A Successful GITMO Lobby Day by: Richard Allen Smith

On January 21, 2010, VetVoice had an outstanding and successful lobby day in Washington, DC speaking with members of Congress and their staffs on the importance of closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay.  Richard Allen was working on a wrap up piece (including meetings with (Senators Udall, McConnell and DeMint, as well as Rep. George Miller) , but for now take a look at this media coverage of the VetVoice event and some photos from around the Hill.

Wall Street Journal: Closing Gitmo: One Year Later

New York Times: Missed Guantánamo Deadline Stirs Protest

The Hill: Coldplay joins vets in campaign to close Gitmo

In related developments leading up to the march on Capital Hill, members of VoteVets and VetVoice published articles and announcements.

Why Veterans Are Descending on DC to Close Gitmo

Jon Stotz eloquently wrote about the reasons why Veterans were taking this action to force the Obama administration and members of Congress to keep promises to close the prison at Gitmo.

“Among the tragic news in Haiti, and the expected dissection of the Senate race in Massachusetts…, there’s another story going on that likely will not get as much coverage, but is still extremely important. Dozens of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans from VoteVets.org are flying into Washington, DC to join with the Campaign to Close Guantanamo in lobbying Congress to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay.

These veterans will deliver a letter to a number of Congressmen and Senators, co-signed by about 2000 veterans, calling for Congress to follow President Obama’s lead, and move to shut down the facility that has become a blight on America’s reputation.

Indeed, the more time goes on, the more disturbing news comes out…. Harper’s has an investigative news story that punches holes in the “official” story of three Gitmo detainees who were found to have killed themselves. In the story, we learn about “Camp No,” which Keith Olbermann rightfully called “a Gitmo within Gitmo.” The facility was nicknamed Camp No, because if anyone asked whether it existed, the response would be “No, it doesn’t.” We don’t really know who was in charge of Camp No, or what went on there. However, we do know from the Harper’s report that the secret facility played some kind of role the night the detainees supposedly killed themselves.

As I’ve chronicled here before, the stories of torture and endless detainment without trial that are all associated with Gitmo have served as an effective recruiting tool for al Qaeda. While closing Gitmo won’t end the ability of al Qaeda to recruit, restoring the rule of law and human rights will deliver a serious blow to their efforts. And, the fewer people they are able to recruit, the safer our troops and America will be.

The most recent argument for keeping Gitmo open is the failed attack by the Christmas bomber. Trained and equipped in Yemen, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab received help from Yemenis who were once held at Gitmo, and released by the Bush administration. How could we, the argument goes, close the facility and let all these potential terrorists back into the field?

First, no one is talking about opening the doors of Gitmo and letting everyone just walk out. The Obama Administration has moved, after years of delay, to try 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and a handful of other terrorists. There is no indication that they will be the only ones to face trial and likely conviction.

Secondly, the Christmas bomber will now be handled the correct way. He’ll be tried in our criminal courts, convicted, and likely sent to our Supermax prison that has held some of the world’s most heinous terrorists and criminals, safely and securely. When he is, there will be no clearer example that we are much better off taking terrorists and putting them through proper trial and imprisonment, not simply tossing them in Gitmo without a real plan. Doing so will help restore our reputation as a fair nation of laws, and will put a terrorist away for the rest of his life, legally.

For all of these reasons, those who actually fought terrorists in war, and know how they operate and think are coming to DC to tell Congress to move without delay on closing the prison at Guantanamo.

For too long, those who haven’t served on the ground in these wars have been allowed fear monger, distort, and downright lie about the issue – and politicians and the media have largely been too eager to accommodate them. We’re not going to let that happen anymore. We’ll force our way into the debate, whether they like it or not. That’s what our DC trip is all about. It’s a matter of America’s reputation, it’s a matter of our troops’ safety, and it’s a matter of our nation’s security.”

Written by: Jon Soltz

Posted by: Major Robert L. Hanafin, U.S. Air Force-Retired

Robert L. Hanafin

Readers are more than welcome to use the articles I’ve posted on Veterans Today, I’ve had to take a break from VT as Veterans Issues and Peace Activism Editor and staff writer due to personal medical reasons in our military family that take away too much time needed to properly express future stories or respond to readers in a timely manner.

My association with VT since its founding in 2004 has been a very rewarding experience for me.

Retired from both the Air Force and Civil Service. Went in the regular Army at 17 during Vietnam (1968), stayed in the Army Reserve to complete my eight year commitment in 1976. Served in Air Defense Artillery, and a Mechanized Infantry Division (4MID) at Fort Carson, Co. Used the GI Bill to go to college, worked full time at the VA, and non-scholarship Air Force 2-Year ROTC program for prior service military. Commissioned in the Air Force in 1977. Served as a Military Intelligence Officer from 1977 to 1994. Upon retirement I entered retail drugstore management training with Safeway Drugs Stores in California. Retail Sales Management was not my cup of tea, so I applied my former U.S. Civil Service status with the VA to get my foot in the door at the Justice Department, and later Department of the Navy retiring with disability from the Civil Service in 2000.

I’ve been with Veterans Today since the site originated. I’m now on the Editorial Board. I was also on the Editorial Board of Our Troops News Ladder another progressive leaning Veterans and Military Family news clearing house.

I remain married for over 45 years. I am both a Vietnam Era and Gulf War Veteran. I served on Okinawa and Fort Carson, Colorado during Vietnam and in the Office of the Air Force Inspector General at Norton AFB, CA during Desert Storm. I retired from the Air Force in 1994 having worked on the Air Staff and Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon.