# Press Release

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 16, 2005

 

 

Contact:

Caitlin Carroll (Granger) - (202) 225-5071

McCaul Cameron (Johnson) - (202) 225-4201

Emily Lawrimore (Wilson) - (202) 225-2452

Angelyn Shapiro (Kline) - (202) 225-2271

Jessica Towhey (Davis) - (202) 225-3465

 

** **

**  Wilson, House Republicans Demand Apology**

**from Sen. Durbin;**

**Senate Democrats Should be Outraged by Inappropriate Comments Made
about U.S. Military Men and Women**

 

WASHINGTON, D.C.\--Today Reps. Kay Granger (R-TX), Sam Johnson (R-TX),
Joe Wilson (R-SC), John Kline (R-MN) and Geoff Davis (R-KY) called on
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to apologize for his remarks smearing
the reputation of America\'s military men and women, likening them to
Nazis.

 

The Associated Press reported, \"During a speech Tuesday, the Senate\'s
No. 2 Democrat quoted from an FBI agent\'s report describing detainees
at the Naval base in Guantanamo Bay\...

 

\'\...You would most certainly believe this must have been done by
Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime - Pol Pot or others -
that had no concern for human beings,\' Durbin said.\"

 

Several House Republicans called on Senator Durbin to apologize for his
disparaging remarks against the men and women who are bravely serving in
the U.S. Armed Forces: 

 

\"Sen. Durbin\'s comments yesterday, where he likened U.S. servicemen
and women to Nazis, is outrageous, disrespectful and anti-American,\"
said Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX). \"Our men and women in the
military are putting their lives on the line every day to protect this
country at home and abroad and are working tirelessly to help stabilize
Iraq and Afghanistan so that democracy will flourish in the Middle East.
It\'s despicable for a U.S. Senator to speak this way and so show such
lack of respect for their work and lack of regard for the truth.\"   

 

\"Why did Dick Durbin say this and why aren\'t Democrats outraged?  They
should demand an apology from one of their most-vocal leaders.  Aren\'t
they ashamed for him and embarrassed that he\'s smearing the reputation
of our brave men and women in uniform? Dick Durbin\'s comments were
reckless and irresponsible and he should apologize,\" said Congressman
Sam Johnson (R-TX).

 

\"By likening US soldiers to brutal dictators, Senator Durbin is
empowering terrorists who seek to murder thousands of innocent
Americans.  His irrational and careless remarks undermine the important
service of America\'s soldiers and encourage terrorists who seek to
damage the United States,\" said Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC).  \"I am
appalled that a member of the Senate minority leadership would make such
comments.  He should be embarrassed and should apologize immediately.\" 

 

\"The comments of Senator Durbin on the floor of the United States
Senate are an outrage,\" said Congressman John Kline (R-MN).  \"By
comparing the questioning and treatment tactics employed by our men and
women in uniform to the genocide and atrocities committed by the
\"Nazis, Soviets in their Gulags, or some mad regime - Pol Pot or others
that had no concern for human beings,\" he has dishonored our servicemen
and women, and has diminished the true suffering of the victims of those
regimes of terror.

 

\"Senator Durbin\'s regrettable comments about the conditions at
Guantanamo have led to a predictable backlash by people who don\'t agree
with our nation\'s policies in the first place,\" said Congressman Geoff
Davis (R-KY). \"The detainees being held at Guantanamo are suspected
terrorists who would like nothing better than to continue the heinous
acts that began Sept. 11, 2001. The detainees are in jail \-- not at
Club Med \-- and should expect to be treated as such. But they receive
three healthy meals a day, beds in which to sleep and prayers are
announced five times a day. They are living better than our men and
women in uniform who are fighting for freedom and liberty in the
desert.\"

 

From the intelligence retrieved at Guantanamo Bay, the military has been
able to prevent numerous attacks planned against the U.S. and dismantle
vast terrorist networks. Detainees at Guantanamo Bay include terrorist
trainers and financiers, recruiters and bomb-makers, and body guards of
Usama Bin Laden. 

 

Since September 11^th^, more than 70,000 detainees have been captured in
Afghanistan and Iraq, the majority of whom have been released. 
Approximately 800 suspected Al Qaeda or Taliban operatives have been
sent to Guantanamo, including an intended 9/11 hijacker, and of that
approximately 520 remain, 235 have been released or transferred to other
countries and 61 are awaiting release or transfer. Each case is reviewed
at least annually for possible release.  There are almost a dozen
incidents where detainees have been released from Guantanamo and then
taken part in anti-Coalition activities in Iraq.

 

 

 

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