Letter to Ashton Carter, Secretary of Defense - Prevent Taliban Five Terrorists from Returning to the Battlefield

Letter

U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is urging the Obama Administration to take steps to ensure that the Taliban Five terrorists, who were released from Guantanamo Bay last June, are not permitted to return to the battlefield in Afghanistan. According to public reports, the Taliban Five are subject to a one-year travel ban that has prohibited them from leaving Qatar, but that restriction could soon expire.

"With Americans continuing to serve in Afghanistan, it would be unacceptable to allow the Taliban Five to return to the battlefield there, especially since the administration could have continued to hold these individuals in Law of War detention," said Ayotte. "No American should ever have to confront a former Guantanamo detainee on the battlefield. Based on disturbing public reports regarding the Taliban Five, I am concerned that the administration is not doing enough to prevent that from happening."

Ayotte has introduced legislation that would suspend transfers of the most dangerous Guantanamo detainees to foreign countries, prevent the transfer of detainees to the United States, and require greater transparency with the American people regarding detainees. The Senate Armed Services Committee approved her bill last month.

AYOTTE LETTER TO SECRETARY CARTER:

March 24, 2015

Dear Secretary Carter:

As you know, on June 1, 2014, the Taliban Five terrorists were released from detention at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and transferred to Qatar. Contrary to the law, appropriate notification was not provided to Congress prior to the transfers.

These were five of the worst terrorists-the five our enemies most wanted released. One of them was reported to be the Taliban deputy defense minister and most senior commander in northern Afghanistan who was involved with the massacre of hundreds of ethnic minorities. Another was reported to be the Taliban's Chief of Communications, another was said to be "directly associated" with Osama bin Laden, and another was reported to be the former Deputy Head of Taliban Intelligence.

Almost one year later, there are public reports that many of the restrictions placed on the detainees are set to expire. There is concern that the detainees may even be permitted to depart Qatar and return to Afghanistan.

With Americans continuing to serve in Afghanistan, it would be unacceptable to allow the Taliban Five to return to the battlefield there, especially since the administration could have continued to hold these individuals in Law of War detention. No American should ever have to confront a former Guantanamo detainee on the battlefield. Based on disturbing public reports regarding the Taliban Five, I am concerned that the administration is not doing enough to prevent that from happening.

I realize many important issues compete for your attention. However, working with your interagency partners and the Government of Qatar, I ask you to undertake every reasonable measure to ensure the Taliban Five are not permitted to return to the battlefield in Afghanistan. I also request a briefing from the Department of Defense regarding its efforts to accomplish this important objective.

Thank you for your distinguished service to our country.

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