Military advised against transfer of some detainees

Washington Times:

Military intelligence officials have quietly told Congress they advised against transferring 25 of the 60 Guantanamo Bay terror detainees deemed eligible for relocation by the Obama administration, including five who are considered to be highly dangerous and likely to return to the battlefield.

But the Defense Intelligence Agency officials did not raise any formal objections with the administration because they concluded the decision to move prisoners already had been made, according to a letter Sen. Tom Coburn, a member of the intelligence committee, sent Tuesday to Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair.

In the letter, obtained by The Washington Times, the Oklahoma Republican senator questions whether the White House put political considerations ahead of national security.

"The DIA told the committee that DIA has not objected to the release of many rank-and-file members of terrorist organizations 'due to an explicit understanding that many detainees were destined to be transferred out of GTMO regardless of intelligence-based objections,' " Mr. Coburn wrote.

"DIA's admission that it is not objecting to the release of some members of terrorist organizations due to a belief that policy considerations will outweigh intelligence concerns is highly troubling and highlights the need for the committee to hear from your office about the judgments of all agencies on this matter," Mr. Coburn wrote.

The DIA did not respond to multiple messages seeking comment. But a spokesman for the DNI, the nation's top intelligence official who reports directly to the president, said the intelligence community's job is to provide information and evaluation, and not to step into political debates.

"The intelligence community provides independent, objective intelligence analysis to policymakers without regard to political considerations," said Michael Birmingham, the spokesman.

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This is more evidence that the administration is putting its PR concerns ahead of concerns about national security. It is willing to release terrorist for some international political gain at the expense of future victims of their mass murder for Allah attacks. It is one of the most irresponsible acts in war time of any administration in the history of this country. It demonstrates the dangers of allowing liberals to be in charge of national security.