Defense

Homeland Security chair: Obama’s Guantanamo transfer ‘reckless’

by Mark Hensch - 06/13/15 2:32 PM ET

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) harshly criticized President Obama on Saturday for authorizing the transfer of six Guantanamo Bay detainees.

McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security committee, rejected Obama’s decision to release the group into Oman’s custody.

“Despite the high terror threat to our country, the president continues to open the jail cells at Guantanamo Bay, giving potential terrorists the ability to return to the fight,” McCaul said in a statement.

{mosads}“The lack of a comprehensive detainee policy has led the president to make reckless decisions affecting American security.”

McCaul added that Obama’s judgement call came amid evidence that released Guantanamo detainees often reengage in terrorist activities.

“The president needs to be up front with the American people, rather than have the release of dangerous detainees buried in a Saturday news dump,” he said.

The Department of Defense (DOD) confirmed that the six detainees had been moved out of the facility in Cuba on Friday.

Their transfer brought the prison’s population down to 116, it said in a statement.

All six transferred detainees are from Yemen, one of Oman’s neighbors in the Middle East.

Of the 51 detainees still at Guantanamo and approved for relocation, 43 hail from Yemen.

“The United States is grateful to the government of Oman for its humanitarian gesture and willingness to support ongoing U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility,” the DOD said.

“The United States coordinated with the government of Oman to ensure these transfers take place consistent with appropriate security and humane treatment measures,” the agency added.

One of the transfers was Emad Abdullah Hassan, an alleged bodyguard for deceased al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Hassan waged a hunger strike in 2007 while at Guantanamo, and has since sued the U.S. government for allegedly force-feeding him.

President Obama promised he would close the controversial detention center during his first presidential campaign in 2008.

Opponents of the facility have argued that it violates civil liberties and is at odds with America’s traditional values of due process and democracy.

Critics have countered that releasing suspected terrorists there allows them opportunities to rejoin extremist organizations.

Some Congress members are pushing for legislation that would impose a higher threshold for remaining detainees to be eligible for transfer.

Tags Michael McCaul