[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/05/21/intv.durbin.art.jpg caption= "Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin tells CNN's John Roberts he believes the U.S. can safely house terror detainees."]
President Obama's plan to shut down the detainee camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba hit a major road block yesterday. The Senate voted 90-6 on a measure that would stop detainees from being transferred to the United States. It also voted Tuesday to withhold funds to close down the facility. Meanwhile, the president will lay out his plan to close Gitmo in a major national security speech today.
Majority Whip Senator Dick Durbin voted against blocking the funds. He spoke to John Roberts on CNN’s “American Morning” Thursday.
John Roberts: You voted against blocking the funds although you do share some of the concerns of many of your colleagues. Why did you decide to vote against it and what do you think about those concerns? Are they valid?
Dick Durbin: There are two provisions. One of them blocked the funds and I could have voted for that because the president's plan has not been presented to us. There’s no need to appropriate the money at this point until we have his plan for the future of Guantanamo. The second provision, though, the one that troubled me, said we couldn't have any of these Guantanamo detainees brought to the United States to be held in a security facility. You can't try a person for a crime in the United States without holding them in a security facility. So, some of those who could be prosecuted – even successfully prosecuted – couldn't be prosecuted under the language of that amendment.
Roberts: So that puts you at odds with Senate Leader Harry Reid who said yesterday he didn't want the transfer of any detainees to the United States?
Durbin: We have a different point of view. I happen to believe if they're brought here to be put on trial, they obviously need to be held in a secure facility during the course of the trial and perhaps incarcerated afterwards. Presently today, we have 348 convicted terrorists in the prisons of the United States of America, and a large percentage of them are from overseas. They're being held safely and securely with no threat to the American people. I do believe we have to look at the bottom line here. The president is right in saying Guantanamo is more than a detention facility. It's become a symbol. And sadly, it’s become an organizing tool around the world for terrorism. The sooner that we bring Guantanamo to a close, the better.
Roberts: Yesterday before Congress, FBI Director Robert Mueller said it could be problematic to have Guantanamo detainees in American prisons – that they may get involved in gang activity, they may even recruit people to terrorism. Do you share those concerns?
Durbin: We asked the FBI after that testimony if the director was saying that you couldn't safely hold the Guantanamo detainee in a super max facility in the United States. And he said, no. He didn't say that. And obviously he wouldn't. There's never been an escape from one of those facilities in the United States. As to whether or not anyone being held in a prison, whether it's a gang banger from the streets of Chicago or New York, or someone involved in terrorism might have a network of friends to be worried about, of course we should worry about that. But let's be very candid about this. Closing Guantanamo is putting an end to something which is causing problems across the world. The United States has an image from Guantanamo that is not helping us win friends and win allies in the war on terror.
Roberts: In terms of bringing detainees to American shores, putting them on American soil, there's also this idea that was eliminated by Pentagon officials yesterday that if the United States doesn't agree to take some of these prisoners why would any other country around the world take them?
Durbin: Well that's a very obvious point. This notion that somehow we'll take these dangerous detainees and ship them all over the world, but wouldn't consider putting them even in a super max facility in the United States may be a little hard to sell to our allies and friends.
Roberts: So Senator Durbin, you say you agree with the provision to not give the president the $80 million he wants at the moment to close Guantanamo. He's going to make an appeal again today during this significant speech he's giving in which he'll again talk about the importance of closing Guantanamo. What do you want to hear from him today?
Durbin: Well, I think the president's going to start to lay out a plan. This is a complicated issue. And do remember that President Bush called for the closing of Guantanamo himself but couldn't get the job done, because it's extremely complicated. Let me just also add, I'm aware of one detainee who’s been there for seven years. A year ago, our government notified him that they had no charges against him. He could be released as soon as they found a country to send him to. We’ve been unable to. He continues to be held.
Roberts: It looks like the president will not outline the plan you're looking for today. So how long will you defer this money?
Durbin: Well I can tell you, this money should be deferred through this fiscal year, which goes to October 1st. I think that's a reasonable thing to do. I want to give the president time to work through this carefully. I do believe at the end of the day we'll see transition from the Guantanamo facility to a secure setting for detainees and the release of those for whom we have no charges and no suspicion.
Roberts: Will he be able to make that pledge of closing Guantanamo by January 22, 2010?
Durbin: I can't answer that. I really leave that in the hands of the president. It’s a tough job he’s been given. He's inherited a lot of challenges. I know he'll handle this well.