Rep. King Statement on Pres. Obama’s National Security Speech
Last week the White House invited me, as Ranking Member on the Homeland Security Committee, to attend the speech on national security which President Obama was to deliver at the National Archives building in Washington, D.C. Though the room was filled to capacity, the only other Congressmen present were the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Intelligence Committee and the Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee.
While I strongly disagreed with the President’s decision to close the terrorist detention facility at Guantanamo and to disclose the CIA interrogation memos, I had seen some positive moves by the President including his decision to continue military tribunals and his refusal to release photos of military abuses. I thought that perhaps his invitation to me and Congressman Peter Hoekstra, the Ranking Member on the Intelligence Committee, constituted a good faith attempt to find common ground on terrorism issues, such as how we can hold high risk detainees who we know are extremely dangerous and cannot be tried in civilian courts or military tribunals.
I was totally disappointed by the President’s speech. It was totally partisan as well as being shrill and inaccurate. Claiming that he wanted to look to the future, he criticized President Bush 26 times! Claiming that the Bush anti-terror policies were a failure, President Obama never mentioned those policies have kept us safe since September 11th. Claiming that every detainee should receive a trial! President Obama then said he wanted the authority to indefinitely hold any detainee he thought should not stand trial.
President Obama has put our security at risk by ordering Guantanamo closed without having any plan in place. Rather than attempt to put together a plan, the President has chosen to make campaign style political speeches on an issue of life and death. The time has come for President Obama to stop campaigning and begin leading in the war against Islamic terrorism.
King in the News
King on the Issues
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Rep. King Calls for Complete Ft. Hood Investigation – Joins members of Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. View Video
Rep. King Denounces Obama Administration – Critical of decision to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and three other 9/11 Gitmo Detainees in Manhattan. See more
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