“Well, Senator, he’s not supposed to be doing that. And there are consequences for that, and there will be.” Really? What are they, and how will they be administered? Will Ibrahim al Qosi be recaptured? Will there be a military expedition to Yemen to do so? Will the Saudis help? Or is John Kerry just banking on the forgetfulness of the news cycle to get this whole thing shoved under the rug and Gitmo closed?
“Kerry on Gitmo Detainee Who Returned to Terrorism: ‘He’s Not Supposed to Be Doing That,’” by Aaron Kliegman, Washington Free Beacon, February 24, 2016 (thanks to Pamela Geller):
Secretary of State John Kerry lamented Wednesday that a terrorist who the Obama administration released from the military prison at Guantanamo Bay subsequently returned to fight for al Qaeda, telling lawmakers “he’s not supposed to be doing that.”
Appearing before the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Kerry made the statement while testifying about the State Department’s budget request for the fiscal year 2017.
During the hearing, Sen. Mark Kirk (R., Ill.) asked Kerry for his thoughts on Ibrahim al Qosi, the former Guantanamo detainee who is now a prominent al Qaeda leader, and had staffers hold up a picture of the terrorist for Kerry to see.
“Let me just ask one question,” Kirk said to Kerry. “I want to show you a picture of Ibrahim al Qosi, who was recently released by the administration to the Sudanese, and he appeared on some al Qaeda videos recruiting people for AQAP [al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula].”
Kirk went on to say, “Now that he’s out, I would hope we would end the policy of issuing terrorists to terrorist nations, and where they can get out.”
Sudan, where al Qosi was released, has a long history of terrorist activity with Sunni jihadist groups and individuals like al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden as well as with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Sudanese government has also been internationally accused of committing genocide in Darfur.
Kerry paused for a moment before saying to Kirk, “Well, Senator, he’s not supposed to be doing that. And there are consequences for that, and there will be. But apart from that, the fact is that we’ve got people who’ve been held without charges for 13 years, 14 years in some cases. That’s not American, that’s not how we operate.”
Al Qosi was an aide to Osama bin Laden when he was taken to Guantanamo in 2002. He was released 10 years later after pleading guilty to war crimes in 2010 and was sent to his native Sudan. Upon the terrorist’s release, his lawyer, Paul Reichler, said al Qosi was looking forward to a quiet life of freedom, but the two never had contact after al Qosi left Guantanamo.
Al Qosi remerged this month as a prominent figure in AQAP propaganda videos calling for the takeover of Saudi Arabia and an end to the U.S.-Saudi alliance.
This recent development came shortly before President Obama announced his plan on Tuesday to close Guantanamo by releasing many of the remaining 91 detainees to foreign countries and transferring the rest to a prison on U.S. soil.
While it is currently illegal to move any of the detainees to the United States, Obama is hoping Congress will change the law so he can implement the policy, although majorities in both houses of Congress oppose the move….
Opponents of the president also point to the fact that the recidivism rate for released detainees who return to the battlefield is 30 percent, citing al Qosi as just one example of many.
Vyx says
So, I guess no one in the Obama admin has been told it’s kosher for jihadi’s to lie to the infidel?
Or are they simply setting us up for an attack by releasing the most dangerous offenders?
If yes, isn’t that treason?
خَليفة says
… And just what are the “consequences” of him doing what he’s not supposed to be doing?
The most likely consequence is that USA do nothing.
Kerry is a LSS
Huck Folder says
Ireland loves mohammedans;
and mohammedans love
exploring ‘The Ring of Kerry’.
Polk1970 says
OK
Then we can expect a drone to take him out in the very, immediate future
An we?
Let’s see those comsequences,NOW!
Mo says
The two parts of his response is telling: “He’s not supposed to be doing that”, and holding terrorists without charges is “not how we operate”.
With liberals like Kerry, ideology always trumps common sense and the safety of our nation. That is especially true these days when it comes to Muslims. Muslims are always the victims. That’s where their mentality starts. Every decision flows from this starting point.
This fool, Kerry, doesn’t care of this jihadist goes on to murder innocent people. He won’t care if it ends up being Americans. He won’t care if it ends up being Americans on American soil. He would not care. What matters to him is that the narrative is maintained. The narrative is that Muslims are always the victims. Therefore we must treat them with kid gloves, real life consequences be damned.
Kerry and all those like him are evil. We need to just start saying that. I wish those in real life contact with them would also start saying that to their faces.
manuel paleologus says
I agree with you. We have a bunch of individuals in this administration including the president who are in favor of islam and do not give a damn on us. This is why the people are quite angry and want to put Trump in the WH.
ICH says
I like how u put it…… “narrative being maintained”
Spot On says
He is bought and paid for. The only question is who bought him?
Polk1970 says
Who Hasn’t?
Chris says
He’s a government employee. We did!!
Gea says
Kerry’s daughter recently married an Iranian who has linked to to ayatollahs and nukes deal negotiator with Kerry. NICE! has Kerry ever heard of the conflict of interests or it does not matter as Kerry was a traitor of America since Vietnam and he is the one who got us scourge of Obama when he let him speak in 2004 when Kerry pretended to be a war hero. My foot!
john Kerry, B. Hussein Obama and Hillary Clinton should be all in jail to be tried for TREASON!
PRCSr says
One has to wonder how much financial reward has come Kerry’s way from his Muslim pals.
Jay Boo says
Lapdogs only need to hear “that a boy. good doggie”
The jihadi being a terrorist is beside the point to Kerry because in his world view, anyone who follows Allah deserves special treatment and groveling for their approval just for being a Muslim.
Huck Folder says
@PRCSr:
“One has to wonder how much financial reward has come Kerry’s way from his Muslim pals.”
And where from?
A variety of 57 sources,
all visited by obuMBoy!
Jay Boo says
Are the politicians shown in the video allowed to hold up a (Stop Islamization of America) poster with a Muslim in kuffi cap?
Spot On says
If they do, they aill lose their donors/clients.
miriamrove says
he is not suppose to be doing this!!! What a Joke he is. M
Westman says
Ibrahim al Qosi was unable to get Kerry’s unlisted number to ask permission. What’s a terrorist to do?
Certainly, al Qosi feels terrible about the situation but had to return to his profession to feed the mouths of his mini-me children. With his recent exposure as a Jihadist Video Star he will soon have more wives and produce an entire mini-me tribe of terrorists.
celticwarriorcanada says
Keep Gitmo open and reserve two cells, one for Obama and Kerry and will at least be a little humane and let Hilary have her own cell ! Life Sentences or Criminal Negligence and Treason !!! .
RiseAKnight says
“He’s not supposed to be doing that”. WTF! What does Kerry think this terrorist is a schoolchild? Now, son … you’re not supposed to be doing that. You know there are consequences.
What an idiot dhimmi this guy is.
Lynn says
I’m all for giving kerry barry and killary a one way ride to that eastern sand trap . Let them negotiate their sorry asses out of there. We need a good cleansing here in the USA.
Angemon says
Gee, ya think?…
Can it, Lurch. Your appeal to emotions is fooling no one.
blockquote>This recent development came shortly before President Obama announced his plan on Tuesday to close Guantanamo by releasing many of the remaining 91 detainees to foreign countries and transferring the rest to a prison on U.S. soil.
Taking dangerous terrorists from a secure location guarded by the military and placing them on US soil? What could possibly go wrong?
Shmooviyet says
What a *comfort* to see Kerry’s evolution in his position on ‘how America operates’.
At one time he held a quite different opinion regarding American treatment of its foes…
Only under a President who hates with BO’s intensity could John Kerry have reached the position he holds; he’s been a buffoonish traitor since at least the 60s. Having him as SoS is just another chink in America’s armor.
wildjew says
OT: Apologist for Islam extraordinaire, Chris Christie, just endorsed the con-man.
Wellington says
Yeah, saw that, wildjew. Ugh! The only candidate who has shown any real knowledge about Islam is Ben Carson (e.g., when he said that he would not vote for a Muslim for President who adhered to Sharia because much of Sharia is at odds with basic rights and guarantees found in the Constitution). Trump merely stumbled into the truth when he called for a temporary ban on Syrian refugees. Trump doesn’t get the big picture. In fact, his saying the other day he would be neutral between Israel and the PA was appalling and anyone supporting Trump can’t run away from this one.
Laura says
It is my recollection that, a while back, Christie appointed at least one muslim judge in NJ. I don’t trust either of them.
Hope says
Ooh, consequences! I’ll just bet those al Quaeda guys are quaking in their sandals right now. John Kerry is either very evil and doing this deliberately, or he is the epitome of stupidity, the biggest idiot ever to walk the face of God’s green Earth.
Champ ✿ says
Kerry, you’re the one who’s suppose to KNOW BETTER …and what has happened to your basic common sense?
Jeez ever hear of ..”fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me”? Apparently NOT!
He’s a hopeless dope …and I don’t use this term lightly. Only when necessary.
Champ ✿ says
Kerry, lying is allah/quran approved, dontcha know …
gravenimage says
“Well, Senator, he’s not supposed to be doing that. And there are consequences for that, and there will be.”
………………………………….
Yeah–there have been “consequences” for some released Guantanamo terrorists who have returned to Jihad, but they’ve mostly been pretty random, and are more the result of living as violent Jihadists than any specific and targeted action on the part of the United States.
Meanwhile, Gitmo detainees released have bombed a Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, kidnapped Chinese engineers, blown up a natural gas pipeline in Russia, and assumed major leadership roles in Al Qaida and the Taliban.
More:
Kirk went on to say, “Now that he’s out, I would hope we would end the policy of issuing terrorists to terrorist nations, and where they can get out.”
Sudan, where al Qosi was released, has a long history of terrorist activity with Sunni jihadist groups and individuals like al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden as well as with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Sudanese government has also been internationally accused of committing genocide in Darfur.
………………………………….
Sudan has also mass enslaved and murdered their Christian population.
Senator Mark Kirk is right–that we are releasing terrorists *directly to terrorist nations* is particularly insane.
More:
While it is currently illegal to move any of the detainees to the United States, Obama is hoping Congress will change the law so he can implement the policy, although majorities in both houses of Congress oppose the move….
………………………………….
If Obama *does* accomplish this, these dangerous Jihadists will likely be released right on American soil–even more suicidally dangerous.
More:
Opponents of the president also point to the fact that the recidivism rate for released detainees who return to the battlefield is 30 percent, citing al Qosi as just one example of many.
………………………………….
*30 percent*–and those are just the confirmed cases. Madness…
Wellington says
Yes indeed, another red line has been crossed and there will be consequences.
Annak says
Oh go back to sleep you pathetic excuse for a man you. With ” friends” like you, who needs enemies ?
Pat says
This Kerry fellow is a bit over his head.
Judi says
“that’s not American, that’s not how we operate”.
Didn’t his boss give a similar answer when asked why the US isn’t letting hardly any Christian refugees in?
Gbox says
How does a complete imbecile get to be SOS?
Carolyne says
The same way Hillary Clinton did.
Blangwort says
Kerry misses the point of how these people got to GITMO in the first place:
They were enemy combatants.
The state of hostility has gone on for 15 years, so I guess it’s just fine that these people continue to rot in prison there. It would be no different than if they had been POW from other countries.
They have been treated with respect they don’t deserve. Frankly, I have better things to care about.
So, this jackass is back to his old tricks. It would not hurt my feelings to see him, and his cadre killed in battle.
Brian says
I would dearly love to know the name of the person who is working this muppet…….anyone ?
Lee Greb says
If Kerry or anyone of his family were in an orange suit on his/her knees about to be beheaded, would he say, ” You are not supposed to do this?” Thereupon, beheading being immediately commuted ,and hands shaken, would there be expressions of gratitude from the designated beheader about being released from Gitmo?
mortimer says
Leave them in Guantanamo until they turn sixty and then release them.
mortimer says
DETAINEES IN GUANTANAMO ARE LEGALLY IMPRISONED…until hostilities cease
In December of 2002, William J. Haynes II, General Counsel of the Department of Defense, gave his opinion on the subject of detaining enemy combatants:
“War implicates legal powers and rules that are not available during peacetime. Among other things, the war context gives the President the authority to detain enemy combatants at least until hostilities cease.”
“Authority to Detain – The President has UNQUESTIONED authority to detain enemy combatants, including those who are U.S. citizens, during wartime.”
“The non-citizen detainees in Guantanamo have no right to habeas corpus relief in U.S. courts.”
“Length of Detention – Many have claimed that enemy combatants are being detained “indefinitely.” The suggestion appears to be that they are being detained lawlessly and without limit. That is not true. As explained above, the constitutional power to detain during wartime is well settled. In addition, international law – including the Third Geneva Convention – unambiguously permits a government to detain enemy combatants at least until hostilities cease. There may be uncertainty about when hostilities cease in the novel conflict with al Qaida. But disquiet about indefinite detention is misplaced for two reasons.”
“First, the concern is premature. In prior wars combatants (including U.S. POWs) have been legally detained for years. We have not yet approached that point in the current conflict. Second, the government has no interest in detaining enemy combatants any longer than necessary, and the Department of Defense reviews the status of all enemy combatants on a case-by-case basis to determine whether they should continue to be detained.”
“But as long as hostilities continue and the detainees present a threat or retain intelligence or law enforcement value, no law requires that the detainees be released, and it would be imprudent to do so.”
Conclusion: while Al Qaeda exists, the US may detain Al Qaeda prisoners legally as long as they are considered to be a threat.
Hummer says
Kerry-the poster child of just how stupid this administration is and has been. We are in serious trouble because of them.
Don Fredrick says
“But apart from that, the fact is that we’ve got people who’ve been held without charges for 13 years, 14 years in some cases. That’s not American, that’s not how we operate.”
The statement is ludicrous. Captured enemy combatants are held until the war is over. If the war lasts 20 years, they are held for 20 years. While World War II was raging no Americans suggested that German or Japanese prisoners of war be released. Kerry apparently believes it is “un-American” not to release prisoners of war. Why, then, should U.S. troops bother capturing them in the first place?) suggested that German or Japanese prisoners of war be released. Kerry apparently believes it is “un-American” not to release prisoners of war. Why, then, should U.S. troops bother capturing them in the first place?
Milt says
Well if sweetmeats Kerry say’s it inst supposed to do that then all is well and under good hands. I’m sure that bad ol ISIS bad person will have a severe penalty added to his severance pay. As a chartered member of Barr;s JV team that was whipped by Barry and cartel so many times in the Media ,this one will receive a severe talking to when he is invited to the next white mosque Islamic gathering by Barry S himself.
If Kerry and Barney the boss every had a clue it must have been on a board game.
Jack Holan says
CONSEQUENCES?? @JohnKerry Is this another ‘Iran Deal’,multi-violations pass, pass, pass let’s wait and see they really want the deal.This situation requires 1of2 actions for your screw up on Ibrahim al Qosi, Drone kill or sniper kill don’t bring him back to an Installation the President plans to close and release the killers. There wouldn’t be much point to that unless you were on the side of the enemy, correct?
Kathleen says
We were attacked on our soil fourteen and a half years ago. Just when does Secretary Kerry think they will stop attacking us? They haven’t declared a truce. Therefore, they are still at war with us, and we should act accordingly.
awake says
Ibrahim al Qosi, and Islam in general begs to differ.