There are no people on the face of the earth more generous than the American taxpayer. We pay for Korans for Muslim prisoners, pay for their prayer rugs, their halal food and probably for Imams to tend to them. We buy soccer balls and we have already provided at least one indoor sports arena. And today the news that we have built a $750,000 soccer field for the jihadis at Guantanamo Bay, with prisoner access 20 hours a day, and special passageways making prison guards unnecessary. A question: how many of our Iraq war veterans imprisoned for war crimes at Leavenworth have access to a soccer field for 20 hours every day? I can only assume the answer is none.
UPDATE 2-19-12 11:57 pm CST: I missed Hannity tonight, but just caught a few minutes of the replay. Guest David Webb said this project came in just under $750,000 because if it’s a penny over $749,000 Congress has to approve it.
Who Buys the Athletic Shoes?
Wouldn’t you think Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta would know about this $750,000 creation? He doesn’t.
Read the detailed story by Guy Benson at Townhall.com
At a time of record deficits, a new soccer field for detainees at Camp 6 in Guantanamo Bay is just getting the finishing touches — at a cost of $750,000 to taxpayers. The project was the highlight of a tour Tuesday of the detention camp for reporters at the facility covering the arraignment in a military court of Majid Khan, a former Baltimore resident and the the only legal U.S. resident on trial at Guantanamo.The project began in April 2011 and is due to finish this spring. The detainees will now have three recreation facilities at Camp 6, which is home to “highly compliant” detainees who live in a communal setting.
In addition to an indoor recreation field and the existing outdoor recreation field, the new soccer field — selected because it is such a popular sport with detainees — is half the size of an American football field. The new field has been specially constructed so that the detainees “have maximum access” — about 20 hours a day. Special passageways allow the detainees to pass into the new recreation yard without being escorted by the military. On the tour, a military police representative who asked not to be identified by name said allowing high levels of activity outdoors helped reduce behavioral problems at the camps, and it also limited the amount of interaction between detainees and the guards.
Think about what may go on in those passageways, maybe considered no-go zones for guards. I support our Military guards having as little interaction with jihadis as possible, but surely there is a less expensive way to do it. Maybe Leavenworth should be the model (don’t even think of reminding me the jihadis haven’t stood trial. I don’t care. They are not Americans). Doesn’t it gripe you big time? $750,000 for soccer. It’s outrageous.
Posted by Maggie @ Maggie’s Notebook
Just picking up my jaw from the floor.. Rush had it right.. Club Gitmo.. Ok.. let me get this right, O campaigned on closing this place and in reality, he.. Well I just can’t function, with my jaw on the floor..