President Obama today briefed the American people from the Pentagon to let them know that “We are hitting ISIL harder than ever.” What about al-Qaeda, though? The president conducted an interview with Oliver Knox of Yahoo News on Cuba and the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, and The Weekly Standard’s Stephen Hayes described it as “maddening.”
Obama on Gitmo policy and its possible closure – Read more on our #YCuba exclusive: https://t.co/RA6k5ckgxPhttps://t.co/Q0kgPFVwPO
— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) December 14, 2015
To his credit, the president acknowledged Ibrahim al-Qosia, a former resident of Gitmo and one-time cook and chauffeur for Osama bin Laden who was released to Sudan in 2012 and recently reappeared in a video as the leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). However, the president played down the problem of recidivism.
Obama said that reports of a former Guantanamo Bay detainee, freed in 2012, joining al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula were not cause to revisit his push to close the notorious prison for suspected terrorists.
“I am absolutely persuaded, as are my top intelligence and military advisers, that Guantanamo is used as a recruitment tool for organizations like ISIS,” he said. “And if we want to fight ’em, then we can’t give ’em these kinds of excuses.”
Obama also said that it was to be expected that “a handful” of the hundreds of Guantanamo Bay prisoners released over the past 14 years would join, or rejoin, terrorist groups.
Hayes, both on Twitter and on Fox News’ “Special Report,” thought that it was important to clarify the size of that embittered “handful.”
POTUS claims a "handful" of Guantanamo recidivists when the actual confirmed/suspected number is nearly 200. https://t.co/kG7qrDhc0H
— Stephen Hayes (@stephenfhayes) December 14, 2015
Obama claims GTMO transfers/releases were “low-level individuals.” False: Scores of high/medium risk detainees freed https://t.co/kG7qrDhc0H
— Stephen Hayes (@stephenfhayes) December 14, 2015
.@stephenfhayes on releasing prisoners from Gitmo: “We have senior aids to Usama bin Laden who have been sent back.” #SpecialReport
— Fox News (@FoxNews) December 14, 2015
"Virtually everything Obama said in his Yahoo interview about Guantanamo is false." https://t.co/HlOjRRiRGY
— The Weekly Standard (@weeklystandard) December 14, 2015
Hayes didn’t hold back on TV, calling out the president for “breathtaking dishonesty.”
Vid: @StephenFHayes nails Obama for “aggressive, breathtaking dishonesty” on Guantanamo recidivists #TTT16 pic.twitter.com/HDE858gpN5
— Brent Baker (@BrentHBaker) December 14, 2015
@stephenfhayes @kmcccomcastnet "Not just false, but aggressively and brazenly and stunningly misleading" ……troubling reality of 2015-16
— Michael R. Wimberly (@Michaelmrw) December 14, 2015
@stephenfhayes Does @POTUS ever speak truthfully? EVER?
— BigGovtIsEvil (@shine_right) December 14, 2015
https://twitter.com/senseoncents/status/676480042495565824
@stephenfhayes @JoeNYLaw Obama's lawlessness continues to be breath-taking. Those of us who love this country will never get used to this.
— CMar (@mickeymyman) December 15, 2015
@stephenfhayes Explanation: His world view was formed by the east, not the west. His sympathetic tendencies are truly from in the heart.
— Scott A Richardson (@quack4du) December 14, 2015
@stephenfhayes one word for him. PREVARICATOR
— rocket (@rocky5366) December 14, 2015
https://twitter.com/Kirk_John_L/status/676453533806403584
@BrentHBaker @stephenfhayes Mr. President: My name is Wilson, but I'm not Joe and you still lie.
— Bill Wilson (@OPM4everNot) December 15, 2015
@BrentHBaker @stephenfhayes he is so successful at ballot box because of low information voters. Facts don't matter. MSM obscure, protect
— Fred (@carocanesfan) December 15, 2015
Obama keeps claiming that Guantanamo is a major recruiting tool for ISIS. That just isn't true folks. https://t.co/UJwNbegOHP
— Thomas Joscelyn (@thomasjoscelyn) December 14, 2015
One example: I found only 4 mentions of Guantanamo in 12 issues of ISIS' Dabiq mag. 4 mentions in 750+ pages. None in recruiting context.
— Thomas Joscelyn (@thomasjoscelyn) December 14, 2015
We follow ISIS propaganda on a day-to-day basis. No evidence that Guantanamo is a major recruiting tool. Other themes dominate.
— Thomas Joscelyn (@thomasjoscelyn) December 14, 2015
@stephenfhayes real question, how many are in the USA illegally and waiting…
— Rick P (@Adeptone) December 14, 2015
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