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Gitmo Closing Plan Stirs KS Blowback

By Brian Hagen/Associated Press

02/23/2016

Senator Jerry Moran

(MSC News/Associated Press)--President Barack Obama says the detention center at Guantanamo Bay undermines America's national security and needs to be closed. Obama says the detention center is counterproductive in the fight against terrorism because it's used as propaganda to recruit terrorists and it drains military resources. The White House released Obama's plan to close the facility today, but the plan faces stiff opposition from the GOP-led Congress.

Since the release of the plan, members of the Kansas delegation, opposed to the move have issued statements decrying the closure. That's based on Fort Leavenworth being listed among the possible sites of relocation for detainees.

Among those speaking out is United States Senator Jerry Moran. “I remain committed to blocking the transfer of Guantanamo detainees anywhere in the United States, especially Fort Leavenworth. The critical mission of the Command and General Staff College in educating military members from ally nations across the world would be compromised. We must safeguard the missions on Fort Leavenworth, the nearly 14,000 military and civilian personnel and their family members, and the thousands of Kansans who live in the Leavenworth community.

Moran was joined by fellow Kansas Republican, Senator Pat Roberts, in publicly condemning the plan. Roberts took to Twitter to show his disapproval, tweeting a 13-second video of him wadding up the president’s plan and throwing it in a trash can.

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