NC congressional delegation opposed to Gitmo prisoner transfer

President Barack Obama this week announced his plan to release 15 prisoners to the United Arab Emirates and Republican members of Congress rapidly noted their opposition.

Members of Congress representing Rowan County were among the crowd of opponents.

Rep. Richard Hudson, a Republican who represents a part of Rowan, called the move “breathtaking.”

“He continues to endanger the lives of Americans to fulfill a campaign promise,” Hudson said. “I’ll continue to fight the closing of Guantanamo Bay and the release of dangerous war criminals and hardened terrorists who keep finding their way back to the battlefield.”

Two months ago, Hudson introduced a measure that would essentially prevent the Guantanamo Bay prison from being closed this year — a goal Obama hopes to accomplish. Hudson’s measure would have prevented the transfer of any prisoner housed in Guantanamo Bay.

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said the prisoner transfer puts America’s security in danger.

“President Obama has blatantly ignored the lessons he should have learned from his previous transfers of terrorists from Guantanamo to other countries, which resulted in terrorists returning to the battlefield to fight against the United States and our allies,” Tillis said.

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., called the transfer “unconscionable.”

“Several terrorists released by the Obama administration have returned to the battlefield and re-engaged in attacks against coalition forces and our allies,” Burr said. “The administration continues to put our national security at risk in misguided attempts to fulfill campaign pledges and to cement the President’s legacy.”