Florida: In the Eye of the Guantanamo Storm

(Jump direct to quick links: FL members of Congress on Guantanamo.)

Florida is acutely sensitive to everything having to do with Cuba, and that includes Guantanamo. There has been intense coverage of Guantanamo by the Miami Herald.



In a speech in February, 2009, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D, 20th) applauded President Obama's plan to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, end the CIA's use of secret prisons, and order that all interrogations be conducted in accordance with the Army Field Manual, " . . . which means NO TORTURE!" said Wasserman Schultz. "This President recognizes that we need not sacrifice liberty for security. We can and must have both. He knows that our most cherished ideals of freedom and liberty are also our most powerful weapons against tyranny and terror." (more by Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz on Guantanamo)

Congressman Alan Grayson (D, 8th) also welcomed President Obama's changes to the Guantanamo system, saying, "I am particularly happy that one of President Obama’s first acts was to order a 120-day halt on all pending Guantanamo war crimes tribunal cases. Prosecutors have said it is 'in the interests of justice' to freeze the trials" pending evaluation. (more by Congressman Grayson on Guantanamo)

Congressman Kendrick Meek (D, 17th) has also called for "full, open hearings into detention facilities in the wake of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal." (more by Congressman Meek on Guantanamo)

At the same time, some of the President's erstwhile supporters have provided equivocal proposals. Congressman Alcee Hastings (D, 23rd) has made a proposal that has been dubbed "Gitmo 2.0." "If we have transparency and accountability, than you can leave Gitmo just like it is." Hastings has cited his experience as a judge dealing with problem cases, and has been quoted as saying, "we just changed what was going on inside and therefore the perception changed" and if no torture takes place at the facility, the "new Guantanamo" can open for business. (more by Congressman Hastings on Guantanamo)

Several Republic congressmen have criticized the Obama Administration's plans on Guantanamo.

Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R, 9th) said he was "outraged" that President Obama decided "to bring the terrorists being held at GITMO to American soil for prosecution in our criminal justice system." (more by Congressman Bilirakis on Guantanamo)

Congressman Thomas Rooney (R, 16th) has criticized the decision to prosecute Gitmo detainees in the United States. He has said, "As a former Army JAG officer and prosecutor I believe this decision undermines our military commission system. " (more by Congressman Rooney on Guantanamo)

PerhapsCongressman Bill Posey (R, 15th) has the right idea. Instead of telling constituents where he stands, he asks them to tell him what to think. A survey on his site asks, "TERRORIST TRIALS - The President has announced that some enemy combatant terrorists captured on the battlefield and currently at Guantanamo Bay will be granted civilian rights and given a trial in New York City. Should terrorists be brought to the U.S. and tried in civilian courts? 1. No, They should be tried in Guantanamo Bay in military tribunals. 2. Yes, They should be tried in U.S. civilian courts and tried as criminals. 3. The federal government should not give terrorists a platform to rally others to their cause. We should keep them locked up at Guantanamo Bay and out of the United States. 4. None of the Above" (more by Congressman Posey on Guantanamo)

Information on how to contact your representative, and on their Guantanamo positions, is shown below.

(Don't know who your representative is? Look him/her up by zip code here.)

(Don't know how what to say? Suggestions for getting started here.)

Bilirakis, Gus M.	R	9th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Boyd, Allen	D	2nd	Contact
Brown, Corrine	D	3rd	Contact
Brown-Waite, Ginny	R	5th	Contact
Buchanan, Vern	R	13th	Contact
Castor, Kathy	D	11th	Contact
Crenshaw, Ander	R	4th	Contact
Diaz-Balart, Lincoln	R	21st	Contact
Diaz-Balart, Mario	R	25th	Contact
Grayson, Alan	D	8th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Hastings, Alcee L.	D	23rd	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Klein, Ron	D	22nd	Contact
Kosmas, Suzanne M.	D	24th	Contact
Mack, Connie	R	14th	Contact
Meek, Kendrick B.	D	17th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Mica, John L.	R	7th	Contact
Miller, Jeff	R	1st	Contact
Posey, Bill	R	15th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Putnam, Adam H.	R	12th	Contact
Rooney, Thomas J.	R	16th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana	R	18th	Contact
Stearns, Cliff	R	6th	Contact
Wasserman Schultz, Debbie	D	20th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Wexler, Robert	D	19th	Contact
Young, C. W. Bill	R	10th	Contact	On Gitmo	above

Texas: Time to Stand Tall on the Guantanamo Issue?

(Jump direct to quick links: TX members of Congress on Guantanamo.)

Texas is a proud and independent place. Its tradition of standing tall in the face of threats -- physical and spiritual -- is equalled only by the fame of its bluebonnet-covered hill country. By and large, however, congressmen from Texas have been shrinking violets on the Guantanamo issue.


A few Texas congressmen have been staunch defenders of Constitutional process in the face of Guantanamo practices. Hopefully, some of them will attend a major screening of The Response which is scheduled for Houston on February 25 -- a South Texas Law, Bush/Texas A&M and Baker/Rice joint event. (For updates on specific time and venue, and associated events, see the Facebook event page.)

Congressman Ron Paul (R, 14th) has said, "Fighting terrorism is a top concern for most Americans. It is understandable, knowing how vulnerable we now are to an attack by our enemies. But striking out against the liberties of all Americans, with the Patriot Act, the FBI, or Guantanamo-type justice will hardly address the problem. Liberty cannot be enhanced by undermining liberty! It is never necessary to sacrifice liberty to preserve it." (more by Congressman Paul on Guantanamo)

Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D, 25th) joined a group of 145 congressmen in a letter to then-President Bush in June, 2007, saying, "The closure of the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay would represent a positive first step toward restoring our international reputation as the leader of democracy and individual rights." (more by Congressman Doggett on Guantanamo)

Contact your representative and urge them to attend the Houston screening on February 25, 2010 -- a South Texas Law, Bush/Texas A&M and Baker/Rice joint event.

Information on how to contact your representative, and on their Guantanamo positions, is shown below.

(Don't know who your representative is? Look him/her up by zip code here.)

(Don't know how what to say? Suggestions for getting started here.)

Barton, Joe	R	6th	Contact
Brady, Kevin	R	8th	Contact
Burgess, Michael C.	R	26th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Carter, John R.	R	31st	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Conaway, K. Michael	R	11th	Contact
Cuellar, Henry	D	28th	Contact
Culberson, John Abney	R	7th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Doggett, Lloyd	D	25th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Edwards, Chet	D	17th	Contact
Gohmert, Louie	R	1st	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Gonzalez, Charles A.	D	20th	Contact
Granger, Kay	R	12th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Green, Al	D	9th	Contact
Green, Gene	D	29th	Contact
Hall, Ralph M.	R	4th	Contact
Hensarling, Jeb	R	5th	Contact
Hinojosa, Rubén	D	15th	Contact
Jackson-Lee, Sheila	D	18th	Contact
Johnson, Eddie Bernice	D	30th	Contact
Johnson, Sam	R	3rd	Contact	On Gitmo	above
McCaul, Michael T.	R	10th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Marchant, Kenny	R	24th	Contact
Neugebauer, Randy	R	19th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Olson, Pete	R	22nd	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Ortiz, Solomon P.	D	27th	Contact
Paul, Ron	R	14th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Poe, Ted	R	2nd	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Reyes, Silvestre	D	16th	Contact
Rodriguez, Ciro D.	D	23rd	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Sessions, Pete	R	32nd	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Smith, Lamar	R	21st	Contact
Thornberry, Mac	R	13th	Contact

Guantanamo and Habeas Corpus: American private sector lawyers step up to the plate

One of the ways America has shown its real stuff in the face of the persecution perpetrated in the name of the War in Terror has been the vast number of attorneys who have stepped up to the plate to put in hours and hours of pro bono work on behalf of detainees, largely on habeas corpus motions.

It would take a mega-website to do suggest the extent of this web of rights activism. But as a small nod in the direction of this effort, I will be listing links in this space to the centers of pro bono legal effort on the Guantanamo effort.


I'll start right here in Illinois:

Northwestern Law -- Roderick MacArthur Justice Center

More to follow . . .

Michigan: "Keep your mitts off our mitten!"

(Jump direct to quick links: Michigan members of Congress on Guantanamo.)

I've spent a lot of time driving up and down the spine of Michigan, picking up my daughter near Petoskie and dropping her off there again. I've even seen the signs that say "Penitentiary area. Do not pick up hitchhikers." But I never thought they'd play a role in the debate on Guantanamo.


Apparently, a lot of members of Michigan's congressional delegation fear that the state can't stand up to housing Guantanamo detainees.

Congressman Dave Camp (R, 4th) has said, "these are the worst of the worst and they should continue to be held at Guantanamo Bay. As a result of this decision, these terrorists will now have all the rights of a U.S. citizen, and full access to our legal system which increases the likelihood that they will be released and free to plot another attack on our homeland" (more by Congressman Camp on Guantanamo)

Similarly, Congressman Peter Hoechstra (R, 2nd) has stressed the need for local leaders to be fully briefed if detainees are moved to their states, saying, "I absolutely believe that state leaders in places such as Michigan, Illinois and anywhere else the Obama administration may try to move terrorists detainees would benefit from full and transparent access to the threat and security information that is already known by the federal government" (more by Congressman Hoechstra on Guantanamo)

Congressman Mike Rogers (R, 8th) has has called the transfer of detainees to prisons in the U.S. a "bad gamble," saying they "do not belong in state prisons, no matter whether it is Michigan, Kansas, Illinois, or any other state. These terrorists cannot be compared to the criminals housed in our state or federal prisons; they are different and much more dangerous." (more by Congressman Rogers on Guantanamo)

Congresswoman Candice Miller (R, 10th) has supported the "Keep Terrorists Out of America Act (H.R. 2294)" which "would require the President and his administration to notify the Governor and legislature of any state to which these detainees are to brought 60 days prior to such transfer, to certify that they pose no security risk, and mandate that the Governor and legislature of that state must consent to the transfer" (more by Congresswoman Miller on Guantanamo)

But several Michigan congressman have been strong voices for an American response to Guantanamo that restores due process and civil rights.

Congressman John Conyers (D, 14th), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee has introduced legislation to reverse the practices that were carried out by the Bush administration in the name of combatting terror. "[W]e have introduced a new PATRIOT Act bill that ensures our government has the power it needs to fight terrorism and defend our nation, and at the same time better protects the constitutional rights and freedoms that Americans cherish. " (more about Congressman Conyers and Guantanamo)

Congressman John Dingell (D, 15th) has voted against the Military Commissions Act because "it did not provide habeas corpus rights to detainees held by the U.S. government." He expresses support for "the new direction promoted by President Obama on civil liberties issues and supports his agenda to close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility and grant more rights to foreign prisoners in American custody." (more by Congressman Dingell on Guantanamo)

In 2007, Congressman Sander Levin (D, 12th) co-sponsored the American Anti-Torture Act that "clarified that interrogation techniques that are prohibited for use by the Army Field Manual are similarly prohibited if used by the CIA or other governmental agencies. The Field Manual explicitly prohibits waterboarding, among many other forms of torture." (more by Congressman Levin on Guantanamo)

Information on how to contact your representative, and on their Guantanamo positions, is shown below.

(Don't know who your representative is? Look him/her up by zip code here.)

(Don't know how what to say? Suggestions for getting started here.)

Camp, Dave	R	4th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Conyers, John Jr.	D	14th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Dingell, John D.	D	15th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Ehlers, Vernon J.	R	3rd	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Hoekstra, Peter	R	2nd	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Kildee, Dale E.	D	5th	Contact
Kilpatrick, Carolyn C.	D	13th	Contact
Levin, Sander M.	D	12th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
McCotter, Thaddeus G.	R	11th	Contact
Miller, Candice S.	R	10th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Peters, Gary C.	D	9th	Contact
Rogers, Mike	R	8th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Schauer, Mark H.	D	7th	Contact
Stupak, Bart	D	1st	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Upton, Fred	R	6th	Contact

#GitmoNorth - the Talk on Twitter about Thomson

As discussed in a separate blog post, Illinois -- and the IL congressional delegation -- has become central to America's response to Guantanamo.

One measure of this is the discussion on Twitter about the use of the Thomson Correctional Facility to house Guantanamo detainees. Frequently re-tweeted messages give an indication of what's on people's minds.


People who oppose the move tag their messages #GitmoNorth. For instance:

• "Heard on #Rush 2day_there is a Nuke Plant 20 miles south of #GitmoNorth in #Illinois"


• "Obama is a clear and present danger to the US #OffutAFB #FTHood #911terrortrials #GITMONorth"


• "Even the ACLU knows moving #Gitmo to #GitmoNorth is a HUGE mistake: http://tinyurl.com/ydvt5v4"

A more middle-of-the-road approach is to use the tag #Thomson. For instance, Congressman Mike Quigley has tweeted:

• "Closing Gitmo plus Ill. jobs is a win-win #Thomson #Gitmo http://bit.ly/7SX2Id"

On reflection, however, at present what seems significant is the lack of Twitter traffic on this topic. Fifty tweets or so in the past week? Maybe that's why WGN-TV used Twitter to generate participation in an old-fashioned poll about Thomson:

• "Do you support the #Gitmo #Thomson prison plan? Text YES or NO to 97999."

The results of that WGN poll show 35% supporting and 65% opposing the Thomson plan. (Say, nice integration of Twitter, SMS texting, the Internet, and good old TV there, WGN!)

What does this all suggest? It seems there are a lot of anxious -- even unhappy -- Illinoisans. But for now, at least, they are keeping their views to themselves, by and large.

This issue is evolving. You can see the full discussion by going to Twitter and searching on the term #GitmoNorth and #Thomson.

(More information about the IL congressional delegation.)

Time to Show Your Stuff, New Jersey!

(Jump direct to quick links: NJ members of Congress on Guantanamo.)

The Response was screened in New York City in fall, 2009. A major screening is scheduled for Columbia University School of Law for January 20, 2010. (For updates on specific time and venue, and associated events, see the Facebook event page.)

I'm planning to attend that screening. It will take be back to the place I grew up.

I spent the first 18 years of my life in New Jersey. And in September, 2001, I was back in New Jersey to visit my mom in Chatham.


On the morning of September 11, 2001, I set out for Newark Airport to fly back to Chicago. I was on the Erie Lackawanna train heading to Newark when someone boarding the train said, "A commuter plane flew into the World Train Center."

As I rode south from the center of Newark toward Newark Airport, the World Trade Center loomed on the other side of the Hudson, trailing smoke. The rest of my memories of that day and week are surreal.

The community I grew up in, the church in which I attended Sunday School, the large number of my classmates who continue to live in New Jersey because (yes, it's true) it is such a beautiful place . . . everyone knew people who suffered on 9/11 and after 9/11 . . . .

Today, New Jersey plays a leading role in America's response to the post-9/11 world, including Guantanamo. Congressman Rush Holt (D, 12th) chairs the Select Intelligence Oversight Panel (SIOP) of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. The panel helps write the budget for and provides oversight of the U.S. intelligence community. His website says he "believes that America’s detainee treatment laws must provide a clear set of guidelines consistent with American principles - such as in the revised Army Field Manual - apply to all U.S. Government personnel (including contractors and intelligence agents) on how to treat prisoners in ways that preserve our principles. He supports President Obama’s Executive Order in January 2009 to close Guantanamo within a year and end torture of detainees." (more by Congressman Holt on Guantanamo)

Congressman Holt has stepped up to the challenge. Other New Jersey congressmen need to do more. Other than a NIMBY ("not in my backyard") letter to President Obama signed by five NJ congressmen (Lobiondo, Smith, Garrett, Lance, and Frelinghuysen -- "The federal prison system in New Jersey is already severely understaffed and underfunded . . . .") there has been precious little activism by New Jersey congressmen on the Guantanamo issue.

Contact your representative and urge them to attend the Columbia University screening on January 20 in New York City.

Information on how to contact your representative, and on their Guantanamo positions, is shown below.

(Don't know who your representative is? Look him/her up by zip code here.)

(Don't know how what to say? Suggestions for getting started here.)

Adler, John H.	D	3rd	Contact
Andrews, Robert E.	D	1st	Contact
Frelinghuysen, Rodney P.	R	11th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Garrett, Scott	R	5th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Holt, Rush D.	D	12th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Lance, Leonard	R	7th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
LoBiondo, Frank A.	R	2nd	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Pallone, Frank Jr.	D	6th	Contact
Pascrell, Bill Jr.	D	8th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Payne, Donald M.	D	10th	Contact
Rothman, Steven R.	D	9th	Contact
Sires, Albio	D	13th	Contact
Smith, Christopher H.	R	4th	Contact	On Gitmo	above

How do Massachusetts "Sons of Liberty" View Guantanamo?

(Jump direct to quick links: MA members of Congress on Guantanamo.)

Politicians in Massachusetts may be said to be the true descendants of the Revolutionary War era "Sons of Liberty." Perhaps they should be looking over their shoulders . . . .


Issues of freedom of speech and association, limitations on power, and due process are as alive today as they were in the 1770s in Massachusetts Bay Colony. These issues are explored in the film The Response.

A major screening of The Response is scheduled for Harvard University for May 4, 2010. (For updates on specific time and venue, and associated events, see the Facebook event page.)

In January, 2010, the town of Newton offered to accept one Guantanamo detainee, and Amherst did the same for two others in November, 2009. (Full story.)

Congressman John Olver (D, 1st) has said, "Nearly seven years after 9/11 we have yet to implement an effective justice system for detainees apprehended in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere. By treating captives from the war on terror as enemy combatants rather than prisoners of war, the Bush Administration has denied individuals due process and often held them for months or years without charge or trial. Inhumane interrogation techniques have been consistently used at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo in addition to other sites around the world." (more by Congressman Olver on Guantanamo)

Congressman Ed Markey (D, 7th) praised President Obama's move to close Guantanamo, saying "The Bush administration’s torture policies, extraordinary renditions and operation of the Guantanamo Bay prison were contrary to the best traditions of the United States." (more by Congressman Markey on Guantanamo)

Commenting on U.S. actions at Guantanamo, Congressman Bill Delahunt (D, 10) has said, “The damage from Guantanamo goes well beyond the pain and suffering of these individuals and their families. It has dealt a severe blow to America’s image in the world that will take decades to overcome. It is time for our government to correct these mistakes and design a system that reflects our values and embraces the rule of law.” (more by Congressman Delahunt on Guantanamo)

Contact your representative and urge them to attend the Harvard University screening in May.

Information on how to contact your representative, and on their Guantanamo positions, is shown below.

(Don't know who your representative is? Look him/her up by zip code here.)

(Don't know how what to say? Suggestions for getting started here.)

Capuano, Michael E.	D	8th	Contact
Delahunt, Bill	D	10th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Frank, Barney	D	4th	Contact
Lynch, Stephen F.	D	9th	Contact
McGovern, James P.	D	3rd	Contact
Markey, Edward J.	D	7th	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Neal, Richard E.	D	2nd	Contact
Olver, John W.	D	1st	Contact	On Gitmo	above
Tierney, John F.	D	6th	Contact
Tsongas, Niki	D	5th	Contact