MISSOURI REP. IKE SKELTON

Kansas lawmakers fighting against the possible relocation of terrorist detainees to Fort Leavenworth celebrated Monday the help of a key Democratic leader on military matters.

Missouri Congressman Ike Skelton, chairman of the House Armed Forces Committee, wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday outlining reasons for not using the Kansas facility to hold and try the detainees now at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

"I feel strongly that Fort Leavenworth is not an appropriate option," Mr. Skelton wrote.

Sen. Sam Brownback, the Kansas Republican, applauded the support. "I am hopeful that the Defense Department will take seriously Chairman Skelton’s letter, and will once and for all remove Fort Leavenworth from the list of possible sites to house the detainees," the senator said.

Kansas Rep. Lynn Jenkins, whose congressional district include Fort Leavenworth, added, "Chairman Skelton has a long history of advocating for the Command and General Staff College and its mission to train our military’s best and brightest along with military officers from ally-nations around the world."

A recent report mentioned Fort Leavenworth and a Michigan site as possible locations for the transfer and subsequent trials of detainees. Members of the Kansas congressional delegation have been active in trying to block such a move.

Mr. Skelton's letter to the defense secretary reads:

“This letter follows attempts to reach Jeh Johnson, the Department’s General Counsel, and Michèle Flournoy, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, about several of my serious concerns regarding the transfer of detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Thank you for the hard work that you and your senior team, along with those from the Department of Justice and elsewhere in our government, are undertaking to implement President Obama’s direction to close this detention facility by early next year. I agree with the President that the detention facility in Guantanamo, in the minds of many around the world, have tarnished the otherwise sterling reputation of our Armed Forces and our country. Guantanamo has also become a recruiting tool for those who would seek to harm us.

“I realize the great challenges involved in identifying secure locations to which to transfer detainees currently held at Guantanamo. In that regard, I would like to make you aware of two strong concerns that I have regarding any consideration of transferring detainees to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

“First, Fort Leavenworth is home not only to the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, but also to the Army’s Command and General Staff College. As a long-time proponent of professional military education, I want to ensure that Army officers attending this school have the best education possible. In my view, a critical component of that learning experience comes from the interaction that our students have with foreign military officers attending the school. Not only is this a critical way of enhancing the professional excellence of partner militaries, such interactions also serve our officers and this nation well by allowing our officers and their foreign counterparts to form long-term working relationships. I have heard repeatedly from field commanders on down how these relationships often make the difference in successful military operations overseas.

“I have strong indications that, if detainees from Guantanamo were to be transferred to Fort Leavenworth, a number of Muslim countries would decline to continue to send their students to the Command and General Staff College. This would have a very negative outcome for our military officers, the school, and the health of our relationships with Muslim nations.

“In addition, as you may be aware the United States Code precludes the proximate detention of American and foreign individuals. Although relevant case law interpreting the U.S. Code does not prohibit certain co-location under particular circumstances, plans to transfer Guantanamo detainees to Fort Leavenworth would require additional expenses for military construction and enhanced security so as not to run afoul of the law. I urge you to look carefully at those costs and security requirements in making your recommendations to the President.

“Mr. Secretary, I would ask that you keep me apprised of the Department’s thinking about potential locations for the movement of detainees. I feel strongly that Fort Leavenworth is not an appropriate option. I look forward to working with you and the President in achieving his goal of shuttering the detention facility at Guantanamo, while continuing to keep America safe."