Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Congress resists; the threat remains










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GUANTANAMO
TERRORISTS COMING TO YOUR COMMUNITY?
THE THREAT REMAINS,
EVEN AS
CONGRESS APPLIES THE BRAKES

By Lisa Piraneo, Director of
Government Relations



Dear Solsticewitch13 ,

As you know, the goings-on in Congress can
be very complicated, and therefore confusing -- perhaps deliberately so.
The recent actions by the U.S. House and Senate with regard to the issue
of closing the Guantanamo detention facility (and what to do with the 240
terrorists it currently holds) are an example of how a small legislative
victory sometimes can be confused with an overall policy change. It is
also an example of the tremendous power of grassroots, and how the
American public has once again forced its elected officials to listen.

Over the last two weeks, the U.S. House and
Senate considered the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill. This
particular piece of legislation provides “supplemental” funding to a
variety of issue-specific projects focusing primarily on Iraq,
Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Pandemic Flu. The bill also was being used
as vehicle to fund the President’s plan (and campaign promise) to close
the Guantanamo detention facility within one year of his presidency – a
plan which possibly included the transfer of some of the 240 terrorist
detainees to the United States. Both the House and Senate versions of this
appropriations bill initially contained $80 million to be put toward the
Guantanamo closure effort.

However, the American people spoke, and
Congress got the message – loud and clear. After their constituents let
them know, “WE DON’T WANT TERRORISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY” the House and
Senate both stripped the $80 million from their versions of the
legislation. Congress has informed the Administration that, until it sees
a concrete plan for the closure of the Guantanamo detention facility, it
will receive no funding to do so.

This action is certainly a victory, but it
is by no means the end of the story. There has been no reversal on the
decision to close Guantanamo – and there has been no policy reversal by
either Congress or the Administration on the possibility of the Guantanamo
detainees coming to the U.S. Earlier this week, FBI director Robert
Mueller informed the House Judiciary Committee that bringing the detainees
into our country would be a risky move, even if they were to be housed in
maximum security prisons. "The concerns we have about individuals who may
support terrorism being in the United States run from concerns about
providing financing, radicalizing others," Mueller said, as well as "the
potential for individuals undertaking attacks in the United States."

Congress now waits for the Administration
to submit a plan for closing the detention facility. As such a plan is
created, it is critical that the American people continue to make
their voices heard on this matter. This is simply too important an issue.

Let your voice be heard by taking a
brief moment to sign our petition to Congress entitled,
“We Oppose the Release of ANY Guantanamo Facility Detainee into
the United States and Providing Any Tax-Paid Public Benefits to Any
Detainee.”
Let Congress know that if and
when the Administration does present a plan regarding the closure of the
Guantanamo detention facility, it should not include the transfer
of ANY Guantanamo terrorist to U.S. soil. If we are successful on this
effort, the chances of Guantanamo closing also become quite remote.

Click here to sign.

If America raises her voice as she did over
the last two weeks on this critical issue, Congress will listen.

Sincerely,

Lisa Piraneo
Director of Public
Relations
ACT! for America




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


ACT for America

P.O. Box 12765
Pensacola, FL 32591

www.actforamerica.org


ACT for America is an issues
advocacy organization dedicated to effectively organizing and mobilizing
the most powerful grassroots citizen action network in America, a
grassroots network committed to informed and coordinated civic action that
will lead to public policies that promote America’s national security and
the defense of American democratic values against the assault of radical
Islam.
We are only as strong as our supporters, and your volunteer and financial
support is essential to our success. Thank you for helping us make America
safer and more secure.







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