FBI dir. wary of Gitmo detainees in US

Posted: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:14 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: White House, Congress, Security

From NBC's Pete Williams

In a surprisingly candid statement, FBI Director Robert Mueller said he's concerned about bringing Gitmo detainees into the United States.

He told a House hearing today that they could radicalize others, even if held in U.S. high-security prisons. And he said if any detainees with terror training are ultimately ordered released, then it would present a challenge to the FBI to keep close tabs on them, either with physical surveillance or wiretaps.

*** UPDATE *** More from Williams: Mueller's statements before the House Judiciary Committee were surprising, given his ability to skillfully sidestep questions he'd rather not answer. A potential terrorist who comes into the U.S. "from whatever source" could provide financing, radicalize others -- even in prison -- and could try to carry out attacks, he said.

Pressed about whether detainees would pose a risk if held in a maximum security prison, such as Colorado's Supermax, Mueller said he doubts anyone sent there could escape. But he added, "In gang activity around the country, using it as an analogy, there are individuals in our prisons today who operate their gangs from inside the walls of prison. So while there may not be the opportunity to escape, there may still be the risk."

Mueller also said any detainees released into the U.S. by judges who deem them no longer dangerous would very likely be subjected to FBI surveillance.

"To the extent that persons who have some background in either supporting, facilitating, or training with terrorists, it would present a concern to which we would maximize our efforts to minimize and mitigate that concern, whether it be by surveillance or wires [wiretaps] or other efforts to assure that we have minimized that concern."

Mueller's comments differed from the assurances given to the same committee last week by Attorney General Eric Holder. He said no terrorists would ever be released into the U.S.

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Comments

It's called a tracking microchip...

Duh (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:22 PM)

That's just about the dumbest thing I've read in awhile. Who are they going to radicalize inside or even outside prison?? If the people running our prison systems are so incompetent, then how in the world have they managed to keep Charles Manson locked up for all these years? How did we keep him from radicalizing other people? Is radicalizing even a real word???

Champ, Lumberton, TX (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:23 PM)

Uh oh, the boogie man cometh. Last holdover from the former regime of fearmongering! What does he say about Terry Nichols, What does he say about all of those who have murdered, plundered, raped, tortured people that we currently have in jail?

Terry, Disabled Vet, Des Moines, IA (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:24 PM)

I don't think that anyone of those that are arguing for transferring these suspected terrorists out of GITMO to the US prisons are saying let them mix with the general prison population. Maybe we should put them in an Super-Max prison... That would keep them from spreading possible words of incitment,

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:24 PM)

See? Sane people know that foreign terrorists should not be on US soil. Why is this so hard for Obama and the rest of the liberals in the country to figure out?

Right Fielder (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:24 PM)

So we can deny these people ANY right because it might be inconvenient for us do deal with them?

You're damn right it's going to be difficult to resolve this situation, which is one of the primary reasons you don't sweep into other countries randomly picking people up and trying to torture lies out of them.

If our leaders are truly this spineless and shortsighted, then the terrorists are the least of our worries.

Nashville_fan (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:26 PM)

Obama and his friends love people that terrorize the country. Just ask Bill Ayers and the good Rev. Wright.

Holden Roberts, Chicago (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:26 PM)

Robert Mueller is a remnant of the Bush/Cheney Regime caving into Fear tactis. It's funny how that warrantless domestic wiretapping was unconstitutional. What about people who are being detained getting a fair shake?

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:27 PM)

This is bad news for the Gitmo terrorists. I guess Obama owes them an apology.

I'm Sorry, So Sorry (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:27 PM)

I am like shaking in my boots to hear this coming from him. Be affraid America...be affraid....sure get up before the House and frighten Americans into agreeing to keep the torture hole of the U.S. open.

Never mind that we are signaling to the very people that we are seeking to embrace in common sense dialouge for a peaceful soloution to fixing the last administrations fiasco.

Oh so what if it continues to serve as a recruitment tool for other terrorist fractions.

Because I wanna know (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:29 PM)

You should be "concerned" Robert.

Because you have served in a government that took 8 years to turn a surplus into a deficit and throw 200 years of legal precedent and basic fairness into the trash.

Because they were scared sh!tless by 11 thugs who we trained to fly planes, but not land them.

America's chickens are indeed coming home to roost . . . problem is we were so scared we shot them all and now don't have the chickens or the eggs.

Idiots.

Republicans keep spinning, and America's getting dizzy (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:29 PM)

Give it another few weeks and Obama will come around. His policy will then be the same as the Bush policy. Like it has been for Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Oscar Hatcher, Washington (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:30 PM)

I still don't buy the argument that the terrorist would ever be released into the US population. They are not US citizens, they do not have a right to be in this country. They would be deported and transferred back to their home country to be dealt with as that country's citizens deem appropriate. We deport Mexicans released from prison all the time. Why would we treat foreigh terrorists any differently. If there are a few US citizens, they should be given their day in court.

Here's a thought, why don't we wait to see what the Obama administration's plan is before throwing up dozens of roadblocks to it. Where there's a question, there's always an answer to solve it.

Jody, Iowa (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:30 PM)

If we can survive Jack Abramoff in our prisons or Randy 'Top gun' Cunningham in our prisons...

We can survive Terrorists

Don't Forget, Larry Craig is walking around free in our country (be careful while in the Men's room)

Maybe they can put the terrorists in the Same PRison that they'll keep Dick cheney and Donald Rumsfeld !!

That'll SCARE those terrorists !!

Msierra, SF (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:30 PM)

Members of the jury… I now present to you ‘Exhibit A’

This is a classic example of why EDUCATION is not on the GEENOPEE’S list of priorities! Guilty as Charged!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TERRORISTS SEEK TO KILL MASSIVE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON BUT THEIR SCREWED UP ANTI-USA MINDS.

YES, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.
TERRORISTS WANT TO COMMIT MASS-IVE MURDER !

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:31 PM)

I say, we let Texas secede, and we put these terror suspects in a jail facility located on one of the US bases we'll keep but on Texas soil, like we do with Guantanamo in cuba.

pat huntington ny (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:35 PM)

I like stories about Gitmo...gitmo makes elmo giggle!

Elmo, Ses. St., NYC (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:36 PM)

The FBI director may be wary of Gitmo detainees in the US but Obama isn't.

You really have to wonder if this half black/half white/half wit is really on the side of the US.

There is reason to doubt his loyalty to his country over that of the Muslim nations. Look at his track record.

Bad Chihuahua (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:36 PM)

See? Sane people know that foreign terrorists should not be on US soil. Why is this so hard for Obama and the rest of the liberals in the country to figure out?
Right Fielder (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:24 PM)

And your point is? Let's discuss Timothy McVeigh, Terry Nichols, gang mebers, murderers, mafia members, drug cartel members and any other voilent criminal currently held in jail? Your point is moot!!!!Fearmongering you must like.

Terry, Disabeld Vet, Des Moines, IA (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:39 PM)

BL, Cincinnati OH (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:41 PM)

And he said if any detainees with terror training are ultimately ordered released, then it would present a challenge to the FBI to keep close tabs on them, either with physical surveillance or wiretaps.

----------------------------------------

And we know that many of these detainees have terror training because...?

Oh, that's right, we have reliable intelligence because we waterboarded them!

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:42 PM)

Here's a 'radical' idea, maybe we can rehabilitate the terrorists? I can't believe our government officials are showing such weakness in regards to our detention system. We can fight them over there so we don't have to fight them here; but we can't find a domestic solution to our international problem? This is some serious pretzel logic, on it's way back around it grabbed Nancy Pelosi and has made her solely responsible and accountable for ALL ills in our government. You righty tighties sure have a problem weaving a cohesive, logical argument for pretty much anything. But,...I expect nothing more from you. No matter how low I set the bar for your behavior, you some how manage to come in right under it. Quite amazing, really. And see, there I managed to find something to be proud of in the "opposition" party. I'm THAT good.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:44 PM)

The real story here (as with others) is that President Obama is finding out that in the "real world" of being president, it's easy to give "tough talk" on the campaign trail to fire up your liberal based("We'll close Gitmo"...applause, applause..) but a very different thing to excecute when you're leading the entire nation and listening to the experts like the military and FBI Director to find out what we should really do. They're not the peaceniks and Bush haters that funded his campaign. Their opinions won't always bow to his every desire. What amazes me is the reality that all the liberals who so grossly criticize the previous administration for their tactics to defend our country (which is the President's first responsibility) would have been the first to criticize them if we wouldn've been attacked again after 9/11. YOu can't have it both ways. Remember, 9/11 was un-provoked. 3,000+ died for no good reason on our soil. That's worth remembering.

Campaign rhetoric doesn't = reality (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:46 PM)

You really have to wonder if this half black/half white/half wit is really on the side of the US.

Bad Chihuahua (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:36 PM)

I have to wonder why you chose the moniker of Bad Chihuahua… Which is fine if you want to identify yourself as a TINY – BUG EYED – SHAKING - CRITTER who has a weakness for riding anything within in it’s sights and pi$$ing all over the place.

Ahhh never mind it says all we need to know about you…

Pssst… Can’t you get one of your owners to loosen that flea collar for ya? It seems to be obstructing the oxygen from getting to that wee little brain of yours!

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:49 PM)

'...You really have to wonder if this half black/half white/half wit is really on the side of the US.

There is reason to doubt his loyalty to his country over that of the Muslim nations. Look at his track record...'

Racist chic

sooner or later, it slips out
Chihuahua, why don't you sit down next to Cosmo Kramer and Mel Gibson.

MSierra, SF (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:49 PM)

So now our prisons are so bad that they couldn't even prevent terrorists from recruiting and training other prisoners, and then sending them out to commit mayhem? Maybe we need to do something about THAT. After all, as others have pointed out, we already have hosted terrorist suspects in US prisons. Who knows what we may already have unleashed? DUCK!!!!

But enough of this paranoia. The tracking (RFID)
microchip, as Duh suggested is a good idea, but terrorists who are willing to blow themselves up would surely be willing to submit to a procedure to remove a tracking microchip. The tracking (RFID) tattoo ink makes more sense; it can't be so easily removed and it could be re-applied during regular probation visits.

Anna Molly (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:50 PM)

Jody Iowa - I still don't buy the argument that the terrorist would ever be released into the US population. They are not US citizens, they do not have a right to be in this country.

Tell that to the 20 million Mexican illegals in the country.

Pedro Perez Manuel Smith (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:51 PM)

See? Sane people know that >>> foreign <<< terrorists should not be on US soil. Why is this so hard for Obama and the rest of the liberals in the country to figure out?
Right Fielder (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:24 PM)

And your point is? Let's discuss Timothy McVeigh, Terry Nichols, gang mebers, murderers, mafia members, drug cartel members and any other voilent criminal currently held in jail? Your point is moot!!!!Fearmongering you must like.
Terry, Disabeld Vet, Des Moines, IA

What part of FOREIGN terrorists did you not understand? And you spelled "Disabeld" wrong. That's what happens when you post under several different names.

Right Fielder (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:54 PM)

Mueller needs some serious counseling! Now, the dialogue has moved from Pelosi (that didn't work), to the scary detainees at Gitmo!

What is Cuba getting out of this Gitmo deal? How many dollars have the Castro brothers pocketed over the last few years? A US installation on it's soil, as the previous administration, Bus/Cheney, railed against Castro!

Send them to that ranch where Cheney shot his hunting friend in the face!!!! Cheney will get the job done!

Prosecute war crimes/criminals!

Ed, San Antonio (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:55 PM)

"..........See? Sane people know that foreign terrorists should not be on US soil. Why is this so hard for Obama and the rest of the liberals in the country to figure out?
Right Fielder (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:24 PM)

And your point is? Let's discuss Timothy McVeigh, Terry Nichols, gang mebers, murderers, mafia members, drug cartel members and any other voilent criminal currently held in jail? Your point is moot!!!!Fearmongering you must like.
Terry, Disabeld Vet, Des Moines, IA (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:39 PM).........."
******************************************************
No actually his point is NOT moot. The difference with hardened criminals held in state or federal prisons around the country is; that if they were to escape from custody the last place in the world they would want to stay in or around is the town or village near where their prison is located.
Terrorists, who actually don't care if they live or die, would be likely to kill ANYONE in order to make a point, including people who live near where they are incarcerated.

Sometimes, you extremeist LIBERALS can be SOOOOOOO "F"-ing STUPID!

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:55 PM)

I will say this about Mueller, he did pull his interrogation teams from torture at Gitmo because he felt it was wrong. That doesn't mean I agree with his argument. The arguments against placing terrorists in US prison are shallow as I've commented in other posts today.

Same tired link of Obama to terrorists chatter. Pres Obama was 8 yrs old when Ayers did his criminal deeds; association on boards does NOT make you party to a crime. That's like saying because you went to BBQ's at your neighbors and your neighbor robs a bank, you are guilty by association. Come on. As for Rev Wright, I listened to his entire sermon on Bill Moyers. The sound bites played over and over didn't cover the fact that what he was talking about was the US STICKING ITS NOSE into the politics of other countries, supporting dictators and groups we liked better (such as our support of Sadam Hussein and Osama bin Laden) for our own economic and politcal gain then wondering why the Muslim world hates us (chickens coming home to roost). I disagree with the way Rev Wright expressed his views but there was some truth in the entirety of that particular sermon. The endless loop we saw cherry picked what was an outrageous statement while failing to reveal the reason he said it. That being said, it doesn't excuse the further meanderings of Rev Wright for attention. Once again, guilt by association.

Jody, Iowa (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:55 PM)

This is bloody freakin' ridiculous. Segregating real terrorists in isolated Supermax prisons is a much better way to prevent them from coordinating their activities and/or radicalizing other inmates. It sounds to me like Director Mueller is just parroting the typical CYA line of brain-dead politicians trying to play the fear card again at the expense of having a viable policy for dealing with these detainees.

The longer we try to maintain a separate but unequal system of justice for these people, the more damage it does to our so-called belief in the rule of law. We can have security and fairness at the same time, but not - apparently - from chickensh*t public officials who would rather scare us into keeping Gitmo open than to see that all American citizens get the same level of health care we give to these alleged "terrorists."

And yes, there is a difference between those who really are hardened criminals, seeking to harm us, and those who merely got caught up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Our courts have done a pretty good job of separating the former from the latter for more than 200 years now. The FBI director's alarmist views do nothing to convince me our established system cannot continue to function effectively to protect public safety.

Philimus, Cleveland, Ohio (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:57 PM)

Here's a 'radical' idea, maybe we can rehabilitate the terrorists? -- Clara Kansas City, MO

Great idea! In these economic troubled times, it's people like Clara that come up with great new employment ideas. We'll be sending 5-6 Gitmo detainees to Clara's house so she can begin to rehabilitate these young men! Let us know how it goes Clara.

CJ Sponser (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:57 PM)

See? Sane people know that foreign terrorists should not be on US soil. Why is this so hard for Obama and the rest of the liberals in the country to figure out?
Right Fielder (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:24 PM)

duh.......so its ok to make the people of cuba live with them but not people who live in alabama or sc? Gotcha...by the way how did those terrorists end up in cuba?

Get an education (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:58 PM)

Lol, they're going to radicalize our prisons. Right. Its like the gangs and the drug running conglomerates that run the prison populations are just waiting for these foreigners to come in and fill some void in inmate leadership.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:58 PM)

Donn J., CA (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:59 PM)

Jody, Iowa

They cannot be deported to their home country because their home country has refused to take them.

Also this from a previous post:

"Well if you count that heinous Patriot Act that systematically stains our right to privacy. Then I guess evesdropping on anyone they want could provide info that helps stop people from doing anything. But yet they call libs "big brother".

Didn't Senator Obama vote for the renewal of the Patriot Act and the FISA law?

http://factcheck.barackobama.com/factcheck/2008/01/05/fact_check_obamas_consistent_p_1.php

Alan, NJ (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 1:01 PM)

Robert Mueller is a remnant of the Bush/Cheney Regime caving into Fear tactis. It's funny how that warrantless domestic wiretapping was unconstitutional.
------------------------------------------------------
It's funny how this is spun into a criticism of George Bush. If Obama wasn't happy with his FBI Director he should have appointed his own.

BDS (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 1:02 PM)

Pssst… Can’t you get one of your owners to loosen that flea collar for ya? It seems to be obstructing the oxygen from getting to that wee little brain of yours!
--------------------------------------------------
So is a tight flea collar the reason for your incoherent rants on here Redhead?

PetSmart (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 1:04 PM)

Bond James: Isn't a military installation considered U.S. soil?
Gail, TN

Good question, but no.
Bond James - NY (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 11:45 AM)

So then that means John McCain was not eligible to be President.
BL, Cincinnati OH (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:41 PM)

I love that logic...the righties can't keep having it both ways on everything...they talk tough but seem to be real chicken to have any of these alledged terrorists in a prison near them...

Send the prisoners to Alabama or texas (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 1:04 PM)

The FBI director may be wary of Gitmo detainees in the US but Obama isn't.

You really have to wonder if this half black/half white/half wit is really on the side of the US.

You really have to wonder if our previous half- baked administration was really on the side of the U.S. when they detained individuals without proof that they were actually terrorists. However,after detainning them for 7 years or so without due dilligence and torture, I'm sure they would be a threat now. How irrelevant this issue would be if the previous administration had not perpetrated this stupidity. Also about attacking Nancty Pelosi on what she knew if the previous half-baked idiots had not tortured. As Keith Olberman would say, "Still Bussssshed"! or as Rachel Maddow would say, "Scrub, Rinse,Repeat,Scrub,Rinse,Repeat,etc.etc". How many more crimes will the American people have to inherit and deal with before we are finally through cleaning up their mess?

American Joe (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 1:05 PM)

Bond James: Isn't a military installation considered U.S. soil?
Gail, TN

Good question, but no.
Bond James - NY (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 11:45 AM)

You would be absolutely wrong bub!!!!Consult any US Consulant. Any US military installation outside of the continental US is considered US soil.
Terry, Disabled Vet, Des Moines, IA

You're getting colder. That's not what Gitmo is classified as. But keep trying, you'll stumble into the truth sooner or later.

Bond James (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 1:06 PM)

She's becoming insufferable (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 1:13 PM)

We have Ax murderers, serial killers and all kinds of horrible people in our jails but we cant have the gitmo guys???
Montana wants them
Come on Obama
the GOP is breaking you

Nj (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 1:20 PM)

And we know that many of these detainees have terror training because...?

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:42 PM)

They were the ones making the bombs to kill US citizens. But you don't care about that do you? Most liberals certainly do hate their country.
Donn J., CA (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:59 PM)

----------------------------------

Really?

Has this been proven by a trial in a court...either military or civilian?

...or are you just happily nodding along to the crappy tune the neo-cons have played for you?

...and thank you for the obligatory questioning of my patriotism. The right is, if nothing else, predictable.

Screw you!

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 1:24 PM)

This is arrogance at worst. Radicalized others? Where do they have to be? In other people's backyard? Why cannot america face his own mess?

demos (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 1:34 PM)

I say, we let Texas secede, and we put these terror suspects in a jail facility located on one of the US bases we'll keep but on Texas soil, like we do with Guantanamo in cuba. pat huntington ny (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:35 PM)
======================================================
I say we declare New York a state sponsor of terror. Apologize to the world for the harm New York as done to the world economy. Turn Manhattan into a prison, and throw them in there.

Dave, Tn (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 1:38 PM)

we need to kick all the gang, arian, and kkk members out of our prisons & move them to gitmo now....i may be radicalized.
child molesters & rapist, mass murderers, criminally insane you're ok in my back yard.

jAYjAY (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 1:41 PM)

....besides, we don't have to release terrorist into the us, they are already here. If terrorist aren't here, all they have to do is go to Mexico and walk though that big hole. idiots should have closed that before they started a war. Hell you are going to go looking for a fox in the woods and leave a big hole in the hen house. Stupid!!!!

chris Greensboro, nc (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 1:53 PM)

You're getting colder. That's not what Gitmo is classified as. But keep trying, you'll stumble into the truth sooner or later. Bond James (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 1:06 PM)
-----------------------------------------------------

Actually in this case mr. bond is right, it's a naval base but with no jurisdictional authority.

It was leased from cuba before castro, and has been a limbo topic ever since...

This was the exact reason why the bush administration sent the prisoners here. To skirt the law of the U.S.

Unfortunately, those who ordered and performed torture are still U.S. citizens and subject to international law. Even if Gitmo is not considered U.S. soil, there are plenty of Prisons on U.S. bases, as well as SuperMax prisons that could store this limited amount of detainees.

Gitmo is closing, deal with it. And it is not fair for us to press these individuals on other countries. It's our mess to clean up.

Patriot Midwest U.S.A. (Sent Wednesday, May 20, 2009 1:56 PM)

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