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Blog - Postings by CategoryXML Blog Postings via RSSCategory:Berkeley CountyPosted by: Brown Staff (May 20, 2009, 03:05 PM)
By 2030, Charleston roads could be clogged like Atlanta unless the system is improved.
Click here to read the full Post & Courier article. Posted in Berkeley County, Charleston County, Dorchester County, In Case You Missed It, Transportation | View Full Posting
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: TIME NAMES CHARLESTON #2 SPOT TO RELOCATE GITMO DETAINEES Posted by: Brown Staff (January 23, 2009, 06:00 PM)
If Not Gitmo, Then Where Should Terror Detainees Be Held? http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1873669,00.html With President Barack Obama having ordered the closure of the Guantanamo Bay military detention facility within a year, the U.S. faces the challenge of finding a new lockup for terrorism suspects currently behind bars, and those captured in future. Reports released by the Pentagon, the Center for American Progress, and Human Rights Watch, among others, have recommended several possible sites, most of them in military bases. But moving the Gitmo inmates almost anywhere on U.S. soil would likely set off a political firestorm. Pennsylvania congressman John Murtha, a Democrat, is ready to see the captives moved to his own state, saying they would be "no more dangerous in my district than in Guantanamo." His constituents are far from convinced. Some see an economic benefit, because building a maximum-security prison would provide jobs. But others don't want terror suspects in their backyard. Diane Gramley, president of the 12,000-member American Family Association of Pennsylvania, has described Murtha's idea as "ludicrous." (See pictures from inside Guantanamo) And Murtha is rare among legislators on Capitol Hill in his willingness to have the suspects incarcerated in his district. Most are vociferously opposed to the idea. Possible Gitmo replacement sites include: 1. U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, and Senator Sam Brownback, a Republican, have publicly opposed the idea of bringing Gitmo inmates to Leavenworth, which is in close proximity to its surrounding community, including an airport, farms, and hospitals. Brownback, terming such a transfer as "unwise and unsafe," has also introduced legislation calling for 90 days notice prior to transferring enemy combatants to another possible site, in Charleston, SC. 2. U.S. Naval Consolidated Brig in Charleston, South Carolina 3. Camp Pendleton, San Diego, CA Hunter introduced legislation on Thursday to prohibit the transfer of Gitmo inmates to Pendelton or to the nearby Miramar Air Station. "Redirecting these detainees to Camp Pendleton would present a serious threat to surrounding military installations and resources, as well as the community's civilian population," Hunter wrote in a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates earlier this month. 4. Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, San Diego, CA Miramar was included in the bill introduced by Congressman Hunter to prohibit transferring Guantanamo detainees to existing facilities, or to construct new detention facilities in the same areas. 5. U.S. Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility, Florence, CO The 37-acre prison has 490 beds and at present holds 430 prisoners. Like Leavenworth, it has solitary confinement units enclosed by steel doors. Extreme security is enhanced by motion detectors, cameras, laser beams, attack dogs, 1,400 remote-controlled steel doors and 12-foot high razor wire fences throughout the facility. 6. Metropolitan Correctional Center, New York City, NY Posted in Berkeley County, Charleston County, Defense, Homeland Security, Terrorist Detainees | View Full Posting
Obama Signs Executive Order to Close Guantanamo; Brown: Congress Should Have Final Say Posted by: Brown Staff (January 22, 2009, 03:36 PM)
Today, President Obama signed an executive order beginning the process that will eventually close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (you can read the executive order here). Many in the Congress, the press, and the security community have raised the point that this closure brings with it more questions than it answers - most importantly, what will happen to the detainees? With the Naval Brig at Charleston continually named one of the possible locations for the eventual transfer of these detainees, Congressman Brown today clearly stated that any future decision for housing these detainees must be made by Congress and not a Washington bureaucrat: "...while this executive order officially closes the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, it is essential that these individuals, some of the most dangerous terrorists captured during the War on Terror, only be moved after a full evaluation of all available and appropriate locations...Congress should have the final say as to where these most dangerous detainees are held if they move to the US, not the Washington bureaucrats. After all, the members of Congress are the ones who will potentially be moving the most dangerous residents of Guantanamo into their own backyards." You can read the rest of the Congressman's statement here. Posted in Berkeley County, Charleston County, Defense, Homeland Security, Terrorist Detainees | View Full Posting
What is around the Brig in Charleston? Posted by: Brown Staff (January 22, 2009, 09:43 AM)
The Consolidated Naval Brig in Charleston, with some critical infrastructure elements highlighted: Posted in Berkeley County, Charleston County, Defense, Homeland Security, Terrorist Detainees | View Full Posting
Charleston Chamber Opposes Transfer of GITMO Detainees to Charleston Posted by: Brown Staff (January 03, 2009, 04:07 PM)
The Charleston Chamber of Commerce has come out in opposition to transfering terrorist detainees from Guantanamo to the Consolidated Navy Brig at the Charleston Naval Weapons Station. Congressman Brown has introduced legislation to prevent this from occuring.
Charleston Chamber Letter on Gitmo Brig 122908
Posted in Berkeley County, Charleston County, Defense, Dorchester County, Homeland Security, Terrorist Detainees | View Full Posting
Which is the better place to house detainees from GITMO? Posted by: Brown Staff (November 21, 2008, 03:38 PM)
The Consolidated Naval Brig in Charleston: Or the area around the federal supermax prison in Florence, Colorado:
Posted in Berkeley County, Charleston County, Defense, Homeland Security | View Full Posting
Brown Legislation to Prohibit Transfer of GITMO Detainees to Charleston Posted by: Brown Staff (November 19, 2008, 05:14 PM) Below is legislation introduced by Congressman Brown to prevent terrorist detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba from being moved to the Naval Brig in Charleston. hr7272 Posted in Berkeley County, Charleston County, Defense, Homeland Security, Terrorist Detainees | View Full Posting
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