Senate Proceeding 07-21-09 on Jul 21st, 2009 :: 4:39:25 to 4:46:20
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4:39:24 to 4:39:44( Edit History Discussion )

Orrin Hatch: we'll pick up that bill tomorrow. the presid senator from utah. mr. hatch: mr. president, today i rise to express my concerns about the administration's failure to make the deadline of issuing a report on the guantanamo detainee policy. today's deadline, like the january 2010 closure deadline, was self-imposed.

4:39:25 to 4:46:20( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Orrin Hatch

4:39:45 to 4:40:07( Edit History Discussion )

Orrin Hatch: it concerns me that the administration maintains that closure will occur even though the execution of has been less than stellar. in january, on his very first day, full day in office, president obama signed the order to close the guantanamo bay detention center or facility in 12 months. the president created separate

4:40:08 to 4:40:28( Edit History Discussion )

Orrin Hatch: task forces to examine and detainee issues. and staffed by the obama administration to achieve successful closure in one year. the product of this review was to include a broader detainee policy. today marks the first deadline in this process.

4:40:29 to 4:40:50( Edit History Discussion )

Orrin Hatch: it was set to be the date of release and pub task force report on a broader detainee policy going forward. the administration's failure to meet the deadline app to be the -- quote -- "canary in the coal mine" that a janklow sure of guantanamo without a -- that a january closure of guantanamo without a detailed plan is an exercise of futility.

4:40:51 to 4:41:13( Edit History Discussion )

Orrin Hatch: the white house down plays the missed deadline and publicly states that the janklow sure is still on track. really -- that the january closure is still on track. in spite not having a deadline for a key integral part of process, the administration claims it can still meet the overall deadline of closure on january 16789 i find that notion

4:41:14 to 4:41:35( Edit History Discussion )

Orrin Hatch: suspect at best and completely absurd at wor in may, a gallup poll indicated that 65% -- 65% -- oppose the closure of guantanamo bay detention facility. even so, the administration intends to follow its time line

4:41:36 to 4:41:57( Edit History Discussion )

Orrin Hatch: and close guantanamo by january 2010. the task force examining the cases of the remaining 229 detainees has only reviewed half of the necessary caseload thus far. the justice department hopes to complete review by an october reporting benchmark is quickly slipping away too this review process has taken

4:41:58 to 4:42:18( Edit History Discussion )

Orrin Hatch: twice the amount of time the administration thought it would take. yet keeping guantanamo open beyond january is inexplicably still not an option in the administration's recently media reports are circulating that the administration's guantanamo closure plan has been fraught with political miscalculation

4:42:19 to 4:42:42( Edit History Discussion )

Orrin Hatch: and internal d moreover, the complex nature of this issue will undoubtedly force the transfer of inside the united states. since the announcement of the president's intention to close guantanamo, i have joined other senators in pointing out the lack of planning

4:42:43 to 4:43:03( Edit History Discussion )

Orrin Hatch: miscalculation of this decision. that poll has grown in a ground swell of bipartisan support is signaling to the white house to pump the brakes. in may, the senate voted 90-6 to strip out funding in the fiscal year 2010 war spending request that wld for the

4:43:04 to 4:43:24( Edit History Discussion )

Orrin Hatch: the interior of the united states of america. now that the failure to meet this deadline has been reported by outlets like "the wall street jo "new york times," the administration still doesn't get it. senior administration officials are letting hubris get in the way. this is neither the proper

4:43:25 to 4:43:46( Edit History Discussion )

Orrin Hatch: banner nor the time to close guantanamo. there should have been more study of this issue prior to setting us on a course for closure. it is easy to say that guantanamo can be closed when you are a candidate for president. it is even easier to sign an order on your very first full day in office as president that says in 12 will close.

4:43:47 to 4:44:09( Edit History Discussion )

Orrin Hatch: what is hard is taking a deliberate alternative, methodical approach -- a deliberative approach and formulating a plan with the needs of lawful detention. had the administration conducted a careful and thorough review of this issue, the conclusion would have been that guantanamo fulfills both requirements. instead, the

4:44:10 to 4:44:30( Edit History Discussion )

Orrin Hatch: painted itself into a clearly the administration miscalculated and the depth and breath of this issue. from the onset the administration has tried to reverse engineer the process for closing guantanamo starting from the end and working backwards.

4:44:31 to 4:44:51( Edit History Discussion )

Orrin Hatch: if changes are not made immediately, the administration officials will force on cities and towns in 185 days. they will limp across the finish line. we've got 185 days until guantanamo is closed. the days until the plan is released is a big question mark.

4:44:52 to 4:45:14( Edit History Discussion )

Orrin Hatch: they're going to limp across the finish line on january 22, 2010, and herald their accomplishment as a victory despitets ill-conceived planning stooges-like manner o execution. guantanamo is still an asset to this country. it complies with international treaties standards of domestic

4:45:15 to 4:45:35( Edit History Discussion )

Orrin Hatch: corrections facilities. i don't see how anyone who is honest about it or about this matter can characterize it in any other way, especially when there is not a sufficient replacement located domestically to meet the justice department's needs. it is my fervent hope that the president and attorney general will reconsider their

4:45:36 to 4:45:56( Edit History Discussion )

Orrin Hatch: ill-considered plan to close guantanamo and recognize the obvious, that a $200 milli facility that is already operational and in compliance with international treaties should not be shuttered. this is an i don't think the american people are going to stand to

4:45:57 to 4:46:21( Edit History Discussion )

Orrin Hatch: have these very dangerous people brought onshore to our country when we have a $200 million facility that meets international treaty obligations sitting there doing the job. i think the administration nee to get this work done and needs to get it done the right way. with that, mr. cha