Cole Vows to Fight Transfer of Terrorists to Fort Sill

March 29, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C.-U.S. Congressman Tom Cole, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, stated today that he will strongly oppose any attempts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and import dangerous terrorists into American communities. Earlier this week, Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee listed Fort Sill, Oklahoma as a potential relocation point for terror suspects held at Guantanamo Bay.

"Many of the terrorists held at Guantanamo Bay have killed Americans. Just this month, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed admitted to masterminding the 9-11 attacks," Congressman Cole said. "Transferring detainees to Fort Sill and other American communities will make them more likely targets of terrorism and make America less safe. This is a terrible proposal and one against which I will fight extremely hard."

Options for moving these terrorists to detention facilities based in the continental United States were unveiled during a House Armed Services Committee Hearing this week. Democrats listed the following communities as potential relocation points.

· Fort Leavenworth, Kansas;

· Fort Knox, Kentucky;

· Fort Sill, Oklahoma;

· Fort Lewis, Washington;

· Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina;

· Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California;

· Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California;

· NAVBRIG Norfolk, Virginia;

· WPNSTA Charleston, South Carolina;

· NAVSTA Pearl Harbor, Hawaii;

· SUBASE Bangor, Washington;

· NAS Jacksonville, Florida;