David Remes Responds to the Feinstein/Durbin Op-ed on Closing GTMO

The oped is quite disappointing. In brief, the Senators argue that even though GTMO detainees are monsters, it’s safe to bring them to the US or transfer them to other countries, and not just safe, but justified on cost and moral grounds. Thus, the Senators argue that one can be against terrorism and still be for bringing GTMO detainees to the US because, like “convicted terrorists,” the detainees can be held in a Supermax. (Strangely, the Senators refer to “convicted terrorists” as being “detained” in a Supermax.) The Senators also argue that it’s safe to transfer non-Yemenis to other countries because they can “remain in custody” there, in and safe to send Saudis and Yemenis home because their governments can “hold” them “so they do not attack the U.S. or its allies.” Finally, concluding, they argue that it’s an “an abomination” to hold detainees outside the US for years “without charge,” but okay to hold them without charge in the US “under international law until the end of hostilities.” They don't explain why it matters where an individual is indefinitely detained. It would have been simple enough, and fairer, for the authors to say they are assuming for the sake of argument that the detainees are dangerous and should be treated like convicted terrorists. But the assumption is their premise. How needless, self-defeating, and wrong.