Supermax Prisons in U.S. Already Hold Terrorists

Federal Supermax Prison in Florence, Colo. (Photo form Prison Society)

From Washington Post:

In news conferences, speeches and debates this week, lawmakers from both parties, as well as the director of the FBI, have sounded alarms about moving Guantanamo Bay detainees to federal prisons, where they could launch riots, hatch radical plots or somehow be released among the populace.

"No good purpose is served by allowing known terrorists, who trained at terrorist training camps, to come to the U.S. to live among us," said Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.).

Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.) said Tuesday, before saying he was open to changing his position, "Part of what we don't want is them be put in prisons in the United States."

But the apocalyptic rhetoric rarely addresses this: Thirty-three international terrorists, many with ties to al-Qaeda, reside in a single federal prison in Florence, Colo., with little public notice.

Read more ....

Update: Sorry Obama, the Supermax is full -- Foreign Policy Blog

My Comment: The FBI Director's concerns on housing these terrorists in Federal Supermax prisons is straight forward .... unlike Guantanamo where they are isolated, in U.S. Supermax prisons this isolation is not the same. Are the FBI Director's concerns justified .... honestly I do not know .... but the question needs to be asked.

Why rock the boat with this change of prison venue?

President Obama believes that politically this will enhance America's image abroad. But to me .... a prison is still a prison whether it is in Guantanamo, Colorado, or who knows where else.

The only problem that I can see is that if they are brought and interred on U.S. soil, they will then be protected by U.S. law. Unfortunately for many of these cases .... I sincerely doubt that we have the legal material and basis to convict these terrorists even though we know that many of these men are cold hard killers. I do know that a better legal framework is required .... but isn't this the reason why they are in Guantanamo in the first place?