Senate Panel Votes to Let Gitmo Prisoners Into US for Medical Treatment

As previously stated, when Professor Albert Shimkus recently advocated for the temporary movement of unlawful combatant detainees held at the US military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, I believe in our obligation to care for detainees as we care for our own military personnel, as does the former Joint Task Force 160 Surgeon. But no one is talking about the existing fixed hospital at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Station, just a few miles from the detention facility. At Gitmo in 2002, then Navy Cpt. Shimkus, who was also the Navy hospital commander, made the fixed hospital off limits to detainees, even if the facility could have easily remedied their ailment. One reason he gave then was to quell the fears of the local residents, who were skittish, and reasonably so, of coming into contact with the terrorists being held in the detention facility. The hullabaloo over sending them to the continental US for treatment should be muted by the possibility of improving the hospital facilities to deal with future anticipated medical issues with the detainees. Tell me the difference between a medical facility on hand, and one in the US that would justify exposing a dry foot US mainland unlawful combatant trying to obtain political and legal intervention once there. Federal judges appointed by Obama have already declared war on President Trump and his efforts to manage things clearly Constitutional and within his authority, such as managing the border crisis. How long do you think it would take before someone judge-shopped the right adjudicator to place an injunction on returning a treated detainee to Gitmo? And then what? Having seen the worst medical cases brought to Gitmo in early 2002, and how amazing and professional medical personnel from all branches of the military, especially Naval doctors and specialists, were, I know that the right people and equipment can be brought to bear when necessary at Guantanamo Bay. For me, the other issue is allowing even for one millisecond, an unlawful combatant Islamist such as Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, the privilege of stepping one foot onto the soil of the country he loathes and wants to destroy, is too much for any red-blooded American to bear. There must be limits to our benevolence that do not cross into foolishness. Further, the idea that policy makers feel that it is necessary to appoint a medical expert outside the military chain of command is insulting, unnecessary and even hostile towards the most disciplined, effective and professional group of medical experts in the world. Military medical personnel are trained to always put their mission of saving lives, whether US, allied or enemy, first. In my opinion, the provision for taking the decision making authority out of the Joint Task Force military medical chain of command is liberal and anti-military mission creep. Liberals and even some conservatives/RINO’s (some of whom want to hurt Donald Trump above all else) would place their own political agenda (weakening the military command structure) above what is in the best interest of military mission integrity. These are unlawful combatant Islamists who want to kill us. No privilege or pleasure should be brought to them outside what is absolutely necessary. If the medical resources at Guantanamo Bay are not adequate to treat and care for detainees as we would for US personnel, then BRING IT, like we did in 2002, for myriad urgent and emergent medical needs. They deserve nothing more (being brought to the US) and nothing less (left to suffer and die). Sincerely, MAJ (RET) Montgomery J. Granger, former ranking US Army Medical Department Officer with the Joint Detainee Operations Group, Joint Task Force 160, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Author: "Saving Grace at Guantanamo Bay: A Memoir of a Citizen Warrior."