WILL EVALUATE PROCEDURES AND FACILITIES/REVIEW EXPIDITIONARY LEGAL COURT

Washington, May 8, 2008 - Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Sixth) will tour Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, arriving May 8th and departing on May 9th. “Guantanamo Bay Naval Base was established in 1898 and now maintains custody of detained enemy combatants to prevent their participation in terrorist activities,” said Stearns. “In addition to collecting intelligence, our military personnel conduct Combatant Status Review Tribunals to provide detainees an opportunity to contest their designation as an enemy combatant. I look forward to touring the facilities, evaluating the procedures, and getting a better picture of the role of Guantanamo in the War on Terror.”

According to the Joint Task Force Guantanamo, treatment of detainees complies with international law and the International Red Cross makes regular visits. In addition, more than half of the enemy combatants held at Guantanamo have been repatriated. However, at least 29 released detainees have been confirmed or are suspected of returning to the battlefield. Added Stearns, “The Pentagon recently confirmed that a detainee released from Guantanamo participated in a suicide bombing in Iraq last month. This underscores the seriousness of the Joint Task Force’s mission.”