Will bringing Gitmo to Illinois bring ‘home’ the war on terror?

All set to rant about our U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Gov. Pat Quinn pushing to bring Gitmo prisoners to western Illinois, I was pulled away by a demanding 3-year-old needing help with a project she was doing at the table across from me.

“Nana,” she said. “I need help with making my Thankful Tree for Thanksgiving.”

At first I was a little irritated. After all, the column deadline was soon to pass, and I didn’t want to miss it. But little Gabby beckoned with her big blue eyes, and I melted.

Gabby, her mommy and her little sister, Kendall, were living with us last Thanksgiving while their daddy was in Iraq. This year, all of us have much for which to be grateful. This year, Gabby’s dad will be celebrating the holidays, safe and sound, back in the States.

As we were writing on the Thankful Tree’s leaves those things for which Gabby was grateful, I couldn’t help but think about the things for which I am thankful this year. After all, isn’t that what Thanksgiving’s all about?

So what am I grateful for this year? Of course, family first – immediate and extended. Then friends and colleagues.

Then good health and jobs.

So many are struggling with their health and finances this year. Those of us who have survived job cuts, layoffs and unemployment have the responsibility of helping those struggling this year. We should be thankful we have the opportunity to serve others in time of need.

And freedom and liberties.

This was especially real over the weekend when Gabby, her family and I visited a historical site near their new home, a place called Arlington National Cemetery. Under the shade of beautiful golden and bronze-leafed trees were row upon row of white stones, marking thousands upon thousands of fallen soldiers whose bodies lay in rest. Each bravely fought to preserve freedoms for a generation of Americans they didn’t live long enough to see.

The domestic attack on Fort Hood this month came to mind as we were standing in that somber setting. And how innocent little children like little Gabby were affected directly when their loved ones were tragically killed as an act of war, while still at home, where they should have been safe.

When Gabby’s daddy was on the other side of the world last Thanksgiving, he would say that he was there to keep danger over there, far away from his family and loved ones. That’s what made the Fort Hood tragedy so bitter. Many soldiers deployed overseas rationalize their absence from home as the way to protect innocent civilians from enemies, foreign and domestic.

And how unbelievably ironic it is that after these brave representatives of our nation have been fighting overseas against religious zealots bent on destroying Western civilization, those most dangerous could be brought from Guantanamo Bay to America’s safe Heartland. And that our state’s leaders – Durbin and Quinn, as well as the president and commander in chief, would be seriously considering hosting cold-blooded enemies of our nation’s welfare and security.

We’re told that more than 1,500 soldiers will be deployed to Illinois’ Thomson Correctional Center to keep the international terrorists under supervision while they await trial. But to voice concern about such a setup is fear-mongering and hysteria, leftists tell us.

Gitmo-in-Illinois has become a hot political issue, with Republicans mostly against the plan and Democrats generally for it.

“I am vehemently opposed to bringing enemy combatants, including the Gitmo prisoners, to Illinois and was also opposed to the closing of Guantanamo Bay. This is failure of leadership of the Democrats – from the president down to Gov. Quinn,” GOP U.S. Senate candidate Patrick Hughes said.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mark Kirk also blasted the idea.

“By moving the al-Qaida core to Thomson along with 1,500 U.S. troops, the United States will publicly brand Illinois as the new Gitmo,” Congressman Kirk (R-10th) said. “Sen. Durbin claims we need to close Gitmo because it is currently used as a jihadist propaganda tool. What exactly does he think will happen when we relocate the facility to Illinois?”

In addition, on Oct. 7, 2009, dozens of retired generals, admirals and intelligence leaders, including former Clinton CIA Director James Woolsey, sent a letter to President Barack Obama expressing their concern over moving Gitmo to the United States.

“Over 500 lawyers describing themselves as the ‘Gitmo Bar’ stand ready to file the paperwork to free any detainees transferred to U.S. prisons,” the security leaders wrote. “Potential national and local security risks greatly outweigh any prospective economic benefits for states under consideration for such transfers.”

How could we be endangered? Federal law goes into effect as soon as the Gitmo prisoners touch down on American soil. American law bestows unique human rights, including the constitutional right to a speedy trial as well as the need for the state to file charges.

As of Tuesday morning, the major Democratic U.S. Senate candidate to succeed Sen. Roland Burris, Alexi Giannoulias, hasn’t yet proclaimed his opinion on the matter. The three other Democratic candidates – Cheryle Jackson, David Hoffman and Jacob Meister – all voiced their support for Obama, Durbin and Quinn’s idea.

All this brings us back to what lies ahead for Illinois during the next year – especially for the generation that 3-year-old Gabby represents. Will all the sacrifices that have been made over the past generations be deemed worthless as our trusted elected officials invite hardened and determined national enemies into our midst, to enjoy our constitutional rights? Will the war against terrorism be brought home after all?

As they say, you never fully appreciate something until it’s no longer there.

Happy Thanksgiving, dear Gabby. May you, too, be thankful for freedom and liberties in the years to come.

 

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