Rand Paul opposes closing of Guantanamo prison—or does he?

In the previous entry, Janet Levy indicates that Rand Paul “endorsed the shutting down of GITMO.” In reply, a reader sends the below November 2009 press release from the Rand Paul website. I have to say that based on what we’ve seen so far, some time is going to have to pass before there is general agreement on the mere factual point of what Rand Paul’s positions are.

Rand Paul: Try, Convict and Lock Up Terrorists In Guantanamo
November 19, 2009

BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY—Leading United States Senate candidate Rand Paul today criticized the Obama administration’s decision to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center and try terrorism suspects in United States Civil Courts.

“Foreign terrorists do not deserve the protections of our Constitution,” said Dr. Paul. “These thugs should stand before military tribunals and be kept off American soil. I will always fight to keep Kentucky safe and that starts with cracking down on our enemies.”

Dr. Paul believes in strong national defense and thinks military spending should be our country’s top budget priority. He has also called for a Constitutional declaration of war with Afghanistan.

- end of initial entry -

May 20

Janet Levy replies:

Here are some Rand Paul comments on terrorist detainees:

” … it’s kind of unclear whether these people are guilty, not guilty … So I really think deportation or sending them back to their country of origin might be the best way to go. And none of it’s fair, because some of them have been held years and years … ”
—Alex Jones Show, 5/21/09.

Rand Paul “couldn’t agree more” with those who believe Guantanamo has “significantly damaged the reputation of the United States” and who want to “see it shut down.”
—Rand Paul website post, 5/25/09.

“I think they should mostly be sent back to their country of origin or to tell you the truth I’d drop them back off into battle … you’re unclear, drop ‘em off back into Afghanistan. It’d take them a while to get back over here.”
—YouTube video of Rand Paul speaking in Paducah, KY, 5/8/09.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at May 19, 2010 06:21 PM | Send