Former Guantanamo Detainee Joins Al-Qaida in Yemen
Said Ali al-Shihri was released from Guantanamo in November of 2007 and rejoined Yemen's Al-Qaeda group, which is known as "al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula". He is now 2nd in command of Yemen's Al-Qaeda network. According to representative Pete Hoekstra, as many as 10% of released detainees are "back on the battlefield. They are attacking American troops.". He also criticized Barack Obama's executive order to close Guantanamo because it lacked specific details.
Americans should be concerned about the ramifications of closing Guantanamo in a hurry. As of yet, the plan is short on details, and if Said Ali al-Shihri's release is any indication, we run the risk of releasing prisoners who will once again attempt to inflict damage on the United States and its citizens. We should work harder to bring detainees to trial, but we should not be in a hurry to close Guantanamo without having a specific plan. I know it's controversial, but I'm more concerned about the safety of American citizens than the treatment of terrorists.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090123/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_yemen_al_qaida




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