Jihadi recidivism: Not just a Bush thang
The Left has long ridiculed national security concerns about jihadi recidivism by former Gitmo detainees on the loose. Before Bush left office, the Pentagon reported that 61 former Gitmo residents had returned to the terror battlefield. “Security experts” scoffed. When I talked about the problem in January, the sneering hate mail poured in.
Now, the New York Times grudgingly discloses the existence of a Pentagon report showing that 1 in 7 jihadi Gitmo detainees has returned to terror. The analysis is reportedly being held back by DoD bureaucrats out of fear that it would undermine The One. As Allahpundit notes, the Times story “bent over backwards to emphasize that the delay’s all DOD’s fault.”
They can all keep playing finger-pointing games in Washington. The bottom line is that jihadi recidivism is real, deadly, and no longer just a Bush thang.
The report is the subject of numerous Freedom of Information Act requests from news media organizations, and Mr. Whitman said that he expected it to be released shortly. The report, a copy of which was made available to The New York Times, says the Pentagon believes that 74 prisoners released from Guantánamo have returned to terrorism, making for a recidivism rate of nearly 14 percent.
The report was made available by an administration official sympathetic to its findings who said the delay was creating unnecessary “conspiracy theories” about the holdup.
A Defense Department official said there was little will inside the Pentagon to release the report because it had become politically radioactive under Mr. Obama.
“If we hold it, then everybody claims it’s political and you’re protecting the Obama administration,” said the official, who asked for anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation. “And if we let it go, then everybody says you’re undermining Obama.”
…Among the 74 former prisoners that the report says are again engaged in terrorism, 29 have been identified by name by the Pentagon, including 16 named for the first time in the report. The Pentagon has said that the remaining 45 could not be named because of national security and intelligence-gathering concerns.
Do note this:
On Wednesday, Michele A. Flournoy, the under secretary of defense for policy, reminded reporters that many of these now expressing reservations about the transfer of prisoners from Guantánamo had also called for the closing it.
“I think there will be some that need to end up in the United States,” she said.
In other words: Keep your loins girded.
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Trackbacks
- Most Transparent administration ever: Pentagon holding back report showing 1 in 7 freed Gitmo detainees returned to terrorism | Fire Andrea Mitchell!
- 1 in 7 Freed Gitmo Detainees Return to Terrorism : Stop The ACLU
- Terrorist Recividism | NEOAVATARA
- Vocal Minority
- Obama: Get Used to The Truth, You Were Wrong On Biden, Gitmo, What Else? « Peace and Freedom Promises
- Bush in the Torture Loop, Cheney Plays Chicken-Little, The Right in Perpetual Panic « The Long Goodbye
- Indefinite Detention: Obama’s Problem with Gitmo Terrorists « Frugal Café Blog Zone
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I believe that the Obama Administration leaked this to the NY Times. They wanted to shut up the dems in congress who were all for closing Gitmo.
They dont want it closed now.
I believe that the Obama Administration leaked this to the NY Times. They wanted to shut up the dems in congress who were all for closing Gitmo.
They dont want it closed now.
If I keep my loins girded too much longer, the lack of circulation may just put my thang out of commission.
O/T but the feel good story of the day.
Happy birthday to K. sonofdy and A. sonofdy. 09:30 this morning.
K. 4 pounds 10 ounces
A. 5 pounds 1 ounce.
Both girls. Both fine. Red pill check your in box. I think I included you in the blast email.
One very tired sonofdy and wife are now going to sleep.
yes i am spamming…
Guess who Michele A. Flournoy appointed as one of her top advisers in the Dod?
Rosa Brooks
It only takes one…
sonofdy,
Your O/T news was indeed wonderful. Congratulation to mom, dad, g-pa, g-ma. Enjoy your evening and thank God things went well.
L
There seems to be a pattern developing on how this administration plans to achieve a more “open and transparent” government. Documents that contradict Obama’s world view are suppressed, while those that lend themselves to mild support for his agenda are promptly released to the public without regard for the damage they might do to our future safety.
That’s why the memos Cheney requested were withheld on the excuse that they are the subject of litigation. But the torture memos, which were also the subject of litigation, were released to the world with much fanfare. It has nothing to do with keeping us safe, and everything to do will keeping Obama’s agenda safe.
Sonofdy – twins! Heartfelt congratulations to you. Take your child bride some flowers and bask in the glory. You deserve a shot on the house. That’s the best story all day.
P.S.- my daughter weighed 4lbs 10oz. and grew up to be the fiestiest little devil. Still call her my Texas Rattler.
On May 20th, 2009 at 7:23 pm, sonofdy said:
The girls look precious!
I’m honored that you included me, and thank you for the heads up to check my inbox, as I don’t check that account very often.
Congratulations to you and your wife!
Speaking of Jihadi’s, here is what happens when terrorism is treated as a police action:
This just came across:
Good on you!!!! Congrats to you and Mrs. sonofdy!! I was seriously just thinking today that it was about the right time for you.
Congrats Sonofdy!! I think we all needed to hear some awesome news today and what could be better than to hear that two precious people have been brought into this world by two wonderful parents!!
The left wing liberals literally have their heads in the sand. Hear no evil, see no evil. Speak no evil. And so to them makes evil non-existent, it’s only in your imagination. If we condemn ourselves (Bush, conservatives, GOP are the real evil doers), close Gitmo and confess our sins, then the terrorists will forgive us, and become ambassadors of peace. Get real!!!
If you all think the other stuff I posted was bad then try this one:
I have spent a lot of time in the UAE traveling back and forth from the US to Iraq (it is a mjor transit point for US contractors). Although the UAE generaly tolerates Americans they do it out of self interest and the American $ that is spent there.
Let the damn jihadist go. The warmth of Obama’s glow will soften their hearts and they will make war no more. Trust Iran, North Korea, Hamas and Hezbollah, Red China and Russia. We need fear but the American extremist Christians, businessmen and other Resisters.
Let the damn jihadist go-these collectivist governments have killed many more millions of their own people (that would be us in this case) then all the jihads, Crusades, Pogroms and witch hunts combined.
Let the damn jihadist go-it is are own government honest people should fear. Now that William Ayres is teaming up with President Obama’s mentor, Pastor and enemy of the Blue Eyed Devil Jeramiah Wright you KNOW time is short. Listen to the talks by Attorney General Eric Holder and know. Senate votes down closure funding, 90-6; judge rules indefinite detention can continue Hypocrites all.
Let the damn jihadist go.
You know, there was lots of good news today. In addition to the news of yesterday’s launching of a taxpayer revolt in CA, we also saw the passage of that long-overdue credit card reform bill but better yet, attached to that bill was a rider lifting the ban on carrying guns in national parks for those who are licensed to carry.
I’m feeling pretty peckish these days. Hunkering down for the civil unrest by all those laid-off government employees this summer. Bring it on! It’s great being us!
Absolutely, but how many detainees has Pres Obama released?
Not releasing the report sounds more like an attempt to protect the Bush Administration. Especially, since the Obama Administration hasn’t released any detainees.
sonofdy – CONGRATULATIONS!
Just got in from a Lacrosse Varsity banquet, my little 6lb twin just got the Most Intense Player Award. Congrats Sonofdy to you and your wife. Be prepared, life is never going to be the same, in the best possible way. Babies are God’s gift to us all, they put life into perspective. Congrats again!!
Seriously…….
Congrats sonofdy and family!
On May 20th, 2009 at 9:28 pm, Truesoldier said:
But The One wants us to use wind power!
The rest of the story…
the other 6 (out of 7) have jobs with Acorn…
It’s to protect Obama because he’s now having to backtrack on his reckless promise given during the heat of his campaign, to close Gitmo and his AG, Eric Holder has talked about releasing them.
This report shows just how wrongheaded and reckless his promise was.
If President Bush had his way, those detainees would still warrant the title.
Well they love Obama, but are still mad at Bush…
/sarc
What is reckless and wrongheaded about Pres Obama is closing Gitmo without a stated plan.
The recidivism of the released detainees is the result of whose decision? Acknowledging the potential for recidivism of yet unreleased detainees is a concern that Pres Obama has to deal with.
OK, Pres Obama should learn from Pres Bush’s recklessness and wrongheadedness, and that is what the report will show in detail. Pres Bush will be embarassed for what he actually did, and maybe Pres Obama will have to alter his plans. The former is far more embarassing than the latter.
Yes, the Obama Administration has discussed releasing some detainees. This will happen one way or the other, and sooner or later. Had there been a plan to deal with the detainees we would not be in this position now. That is, some seven years after the first detainee arrived at Gitmo.
I have great confidence in our systems of justice, civil and military, and the detainees should have been dealt with a long time ago. But, alas . . . there was no plan. And, when it did eventually come, it was late and flawed.
Congrats, sonofdy!
Congrats to sonofdy!
Apparently, we’re having quite the baby boom at MM.com. Zero, you’re next!
Twins – double congrats!! You’re a lucky man, to have twice the happiness. Best wishes and life-long joy!
Oops – ditto the best wishes, stated above in # 29, to ZA!
Congrats x2 sonofdy and family!
That’s manifestly wrong. Obama did MORE than “talk” about releasing detainees–he vilified the entire concept of holding detainees indefinitely, he dismissed the idea of military tribunals as Bush had set up and he added his voice to the false portrayal of Gitmo as a place where the US tortured people.
If you actually believe that there was “no plan” for what to do with the detainees, I have a senate seat in Illinois I want to sell you…
I will agree that then Sen Obama challenged how Pres Bush was handling the situation at Gitmo. Many people were, because there was no clear plan initialy of how to deal with those individuals. There were flip flops and reversals that went through the courts. And the Bush Administration tapped danced.
We (yes, I said we) dismissed the Geneva Conventions because the terrorists did not fit the definitions set forth therein. OK, then what? The Bush Administration tapped danced around every issue raised when challenged. We (yes, I said we) are a nation of laws, and it is not about the detainees, it is about us.
The point, and question, is, what should be done about the detainees? It should not have take seven years to convict three individuals at Gitmo. As I said, I trust our systems of justice, that is plural, civil and military.
I am not particularly interested in the detainees. I am interested in how we deal with them. It is, what it says about us. Try them, shoot them, let them go, but resolve the issue one way or the other. I do not agree with indefinite detainment. I trust us, and stop kicking the can down the road. We are a good people and there is nothing that we cannot resolve.
Moreover, you missed this from my post #26, the detainees should have been dealt with a long time ago. But, alas . . . there was no plan. And, when it did eventually come, it was late and flawed. There was no original plan other than stating that the Geneva Conventions did not apply. Fine. Again I ask, then what?
Repeating for effect, I oppose indefinte detentions and support action to deal with the detainees. Have a plan and implement it.
Before you respond to this post, please address how many detainees Pres Obama released, and how many detainees Pres Bush released. Of the released detainees how many recidivists were the result of Pres Bush’s actions, and how many recidivists were the result of Pres Obama’s actions?
Finally, not sure if a Senate seat from any state is yours to sell. I get the hyperbole, but when it is so easily dismissed, it diminshes your arguement.