Wrap-Up: Iraq/Afghanistan Vets Storm the Hill to Close GITMO

by: Richard Allen Smith

Mon Jan 25, 2010 at 18:58:39 PM EST

But that America isn't the same as the one that has, in the past, existed within the GITMO detention facility. Those values have been violated, and those violations have served as a recruiting tool for extremists and international terrorists the world over.  The mere existence of the facility has placed a greater number of enemy fighters on the battlefield to do harm to America servicemembers. Keeping GITMO open may be our greatest unforced error in the global fight against extremism.

That is why, with many of our friends still in harms way in Iraq and Afghanistan, we took to Capitol Hill to speak with members of Congress and tell them we don't want an extremist recruitment tool kept open so that more fighters can attempt to hurt our comrades.

Our day began with a meeting at the offices of New Security Action, a fellow member, with VoteVets.org, of the Campaign to Close Guantanamo.  We were met by New Security Action co-founder and former Congressman Tom Andrews (D-ME). Andrews thanked us for our service and our continued activism on an important issue that, if we succeed, will keep American troops and citizens safer from extremism and terrorism.  After planning our meetings for the day, it was off to the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

On the Capitol steps, we were met by Congressman George Miller (D-CA) where we delivered our petition with signatures from over 2,000 Veterans calling for the closure of GITMO.  Rep. Miller accepted our petition and informed us how thankful he and other members of Congress are for the work we are doing.  He acknowledged the need to close GITMO as well as the power of the voices of Veterans on the issue.

We next traveled to the Congressional office buildings, stopping first at the office of Veterans' Affairs Chairman Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) do deliver another copy of our petition. Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan explained our position on why, from our perspective, closing GITMO is important.  Rep. Filner supported our position.  He did have concern for how the plan would get through Congress, but felt confident that we could get it done.  He acknowledged the influence that Veterans of current conflicts have over the debate, and it was an altogether productive meeting.

After our meeting with Rep. Filner, our Vets split into different groups to meet in offices around the Hill. Several New York Veterans had the opportunity to meet with staff members in the office of Congressman Peter King (R-NY).  Rep. King has opposed closing GITMO, but his staff did reveal one position that surprised us:  Rep. King will support funding the move to the Thompson correction facility in Illinois if that was the ultimate outcome of the debate.

Another group of Veterans headed to the Senate side of the Hill to meet with Senators Lieberman (I-CT) and DeMint (R-SC), while VoteVets.org Chairman Jon Soltz, Iraq Veteran and Kentucky native Geroge Zabaty and myself popped in for a visit with Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

I must say, while I've never been a fan of Sen. McConnell, his staff are some of the friendliest people on the Hill.  We were met by a staffer who listened intently to our concerns, particularly to those of McConnell's constituent Zubaty.  The staffer stated that Sen. McConnell was extremely thankful for our service, appreciated our visit that day, and that his top concern was the safety of the American people.  While we assuredly differ on what methods best keep America safe, we could not have asked for a more cordial meeting from someone opposed to us on the issue.

Our counterparts relayed that the meeting with Senator Joseph Lieberman's (I-CT) staff went much the same as our meeting with McConnell's, but they were not met with as much cordiality by the staff of Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC). While not outright hostile, Sen. DeMint's staff seemed much more combative, even questioning what the difference is between keeping detainees at GITMO or at the correctional facilitiy in Thompson, Illinois.  Apparently, Senator DeMint's staff is unaware that no one has ever used the image of Thompson, Illinois to recruit terrorists.

After our group meetings, our Vets met at a rally point outside the office of Massachusetts' Senior Senator, John Kerry, to meet with a member of his staff.  Kerry's staffer thanked us for coming to visit the Senator's office to discuss closing GITMO and assured us that Senator Kerry was on our side on this issue, and would fight diligently to end the enemy's ability to use the detention facility as a recruiting tool.

After the meeting with Senator Kerry, I had to head to another part of DC to take care of some other business, but the remaining Vets met with Senator Mark Udall (D-CO).  Personally, I was disappointed to miss this meeting.  The military fellow in Sen. Udall's office was one of my NCO's in the 82nd, and the Senator himself is always a great person to speak with.  The Vets who did get to meet with Sen. Udall stated that this meeting was no different.  Sen. Udall noted his enthusiastic support for the closure of Guantanamo and encouraged the Vets present that their continued advocacy for the issue would insure that closure happens.

So, after a long, yet inspiring day of traversing the hallways of Capital Hill, the 20 Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan made their way back to the places around the country where their pilgrimage began.  Three things stood out me more than anything else last week: the respect our lawmakers and their staffs have for every American who has served honorably in uniform, the importance of the voice of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans on closing GITMO, and the fact that with the enthusiastic support of member of Congress, we will accomplish the task of making our troops in harms way safer, and our country more secure by closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay.