Congressman Cole's Statement after Visit at Guantanamo Bay
Congressman Cole's Statement after Visit at Guantanamo Bay
June 27, 2005
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Cole made the following statement after a congressional delegation trip to tour the facilities at Guantanamo Bay:
"I came back very impressed with the professionalism of the operations at Guantanamo Bay. I also came back absolutely convinced that the terrorists held at the facility are a real threat and continue to disclose valuable intelligence related to the War on Terror.
While we were at Guantanamo Bay we toured all the facilities where the prisoners are held, witnessed interrogations and visited with the American personnel who supervise and interrogate the detainees.
It is important for Americans to know that there have been over 28,000 interrogations conducted at Guantanamo and only three documented instances of questionable interrogation methods. No one has died at Guantanamo and no one has been physically abused.
It is also important for Americans to know that every detainee at this facility has the right to an attorney and has been screened by a military tribunal to determine if they continue to pose a security risk to the United States.
Over the last two years over 200 detainees at Guantanamo have been released. At least 12 and possibly as many as 28 have rejoined the War on Terror and fought against Americans and coalition forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. This fact alone indicates that we should be exceptionally cautious about releasing such hardened terrorists.
Those who wish to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay need to tell us if they believe we should release these terrorists so they can fight again. If not, then the critics need to tell the American people where such terrorists should be detained.
Certainly the claims that detainees have been mistreated are largely without foundation and besmirch the professionalism and honor of the brave men and women who are protecting their fellow Americans from these dangerous individuals."
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ok04_cole/guantanamo.html