President Obama Hiding Risks of Moving Guantanamo Bay Detainees to Michigan

Move America Forward, the nation’s largest grassroots pro-troop organization, condemns President Obama and Department of Defense Secretary Robert Gates for denying Michigan Congressman Hoekstra’s request to let state and local officials tour the prison at Guantanamo Bay.

“When Americans are rightly concerned and opposed to President Obama’s plan to close Guantanamo Bay Detention Center and bring terrorists to American shores, it is outrageous that the Administration would deny access to a Congressman who represents a state likely to get stuck with the terrorists,” said Shawn Callahan, Executive Director of Move America Forward.

“By denying the reasonable request of Congressman Hoakstra so that he can do his due diligence and see what is involved with Guantanamo, it makes a mockery of the transparency that President Obama touted during his campaign.

Rep. Pete Hoekstra, who is the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, asked the Pentagon to take a look at the facility for terror detainees after a maximum security prison in Standish, Michigan, was named as a potential site to transfer the prisoners. Hoekstra asked that Michigan local officials accompany him to evaluate the risks to Michigan residents.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Hoekstra the Administration was seriously reviewing a number of options for relocating the detainees and a visit by state and local officials would be “premature.”

“With Obama demanding the detainees be moved by the end of the year, this would hardly be called ‘premature.’ This is just another move by the Obama administration to stifle opposition or anyone that calls into question the logic of moving terrorists to the U.S. We applaud Congressman Hoekstra’s determination to get the facts,” Callahan concluded.

A Move America Forward delegation traveled to Guantanamo Bay in 2008 to see firsthand the conditions for detainees and U.S. military personnel. We believe the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center is a perfectly acceptable solution that has been operating successfully and greatly contributed to our safety since 9/11. It is a necessary tool in our war on terror.

 

New TV Ad Opposes Closure of Gitmo: MAF Leaders Joined by Families of Victims of 9/11 Attack

WASHINGTON DC – Move America Forward, the nation’s largest grassroots, pro-troop organization, today released a television commercial condemning President Obama’s order to close the camps at Guantanamo Bay.

The new commercial, which was presented at a press conference at the National Press Club, opposes re-locating terrorists to U.S. sites, including Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Camp Pendleton California, and the Navy Brig at Charleston, South Carolina. Citizens are asked to sign a petition at www.moveamericaforward.org opposing Obama’s plans.

 

 

“President Obama doesn’t have plans for the terrorists who have been safely kept at Gitmo. His policy is reckless and dangerous to Americans,” said MAF Chairman Melanie Morgan. “He has talked about sending them back to their home countries or may even bring them to the United States. This is pure madness and totally unnecessary.”

Joining Morgan at the podium were Sen. James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Families of Victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and Gold Star mother Debbie Lee.

“President Obama’s decision to shut down Guantanamo Bay could have a devastating impact on our national security and is simply unacceptable,” Inhofe said. “I am working hand in hand with the Oklahoma delegation and through my position on the Senate Armed Services Committee, to prevent these terrorists from coming to my state or any state on American soil.”

Inhofe, on February 3, introduced legislation that would prevent Obama’s Administration from transferring Guantanamo detainees to American soil. Inhofe is a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and recently returned from a fact-finding mission to Guantanamo Bay.

“I’m very concerned that the President’s order to close the detention camps is part of a disturbing pattern of risky decisions,” Morgan said. “From restricting interrogation techniques to asking the Pentagon to make huge budget cuts, Obama has clearly demonstrated that he doesn’t know the stakes we face in our war with radical jihadists.”
Move America Forward also visited the terrorist camps at Guantanamo Bay during the Christmas holidays and saw firsthand the conditions of the prisoners and the professionalism of U.S. troops.

“I believe it is important for the American people to know the real value of this installation and its contribution to the security of the United States,” Sen. Inhofe said. “The military detention facilities at GTMO meet the highest international standards and have a fundamental part in protecting the lives of Americans from terrorism.”

Gold Star mom Debbie Lee went to Guantanamo Bay with MAF, and she is dismayed that Obama insists on closing the prison even though he has never even visited the facilities himself.

“My son, Marc Alan Lee, gave his life in Iraq fighting the terrorists over there. Now, President Obama’s policy risks bringing those terrorists here,” Lee said. “It’s dangerous to Americans and our troops; no terrorist should ever have to be captured twice.”
Scores of former Gitmo detainees have already been freed and have returned to terrorism. One of the released prisoners, Said Ali al-Shihri, 35, is believed to have been involved in the bombing of the US Embassy in Yemen that killed an 18-year-old American citizen.

Several 9/11 families also came to show their support including; Debra Burlingame, Hamilton Peterson, Geraldine Davie and Lorraine Beliveau.

Burlingame’s brother, Charles “Chic” Burlingame, was the pilot of the plane that hit the Pentagon on 9/11. Debra is a member of 911familiesforamerica.org, and is very critical of Obama’s plan to shutter Gitmo. Debra met with President Obama with other families of terror victims earlier this week where Obama tried to explain his reasoning for closing Gitmo and putting the trials to a halt. She was not swayed by the President’s arguments.

“At the meeting, President Obama acknowledged that Gitmo was not like Abu Ghirab. Nevertheless he insisted that the camps at Gitmo had to be shutdown because they were ‘symbols’ to the rest of the world,” revealed Burlingame. “I was disturbed that he recognized this, yet still chose to place world opinion over the truth about Gitmo and our children’s safety.”

The U.S. Senate already passed a resolution in 2007 94-3 stating, “Detainees housed at Guantanamo should not be released into American society, nor should they be transferred stateside into facilities in American communities and neighborhoods.”

“It is frightening that President Obama would ignore the will of the Senate and of the American people,” MAF chairman Morgan said. “What our Commander in Chief should do is overturn his previous order and change his focus to protecting America from the very grave threats to our safety, not creating new ones.”

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Nationwide Tour to Collect Care Packages for Troops Serving Overseas this Holiday Season

Sacramento, CA – Move America Forward, the nation’s largest pro-troop grassroots organization, is conducting a nationwide tour to support sending care packages to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“With Americans focused on the economic problems facing our country, we have to ensure that our troops in harm’s way are not forgotten during the Christmas and Hanukkah holiday season,” said Melanie Morgan, Chairman of Move America Forward.

Traveling on the tour will be Gold Star Mom Debbie Lee, – whose son Marc Alan Lee was the first Navy S.E.A.L. killed in Iraq. Lee said, “I remember his feelings of pride for serving our country, but also the loneliness troops endure during the holiday season. Instead of celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah with their families, many military men and women will be spending the holidays this year protecting our freedom in far off lands.”

To show the nation’s gratitude and support, Move America Forward’s Debbie Lee and singer/songwriter Diana Nagy (who will perform her hit song “Where Freedom Flies” at each stop) will be on the road encouraging people to send care packages from December 13 – December 19.

Last year, MAF toured the country during the holiday season to collect holiday cards for the troops with the goal of sending 100,000 holiday cards. They collected more than double that amount and hope Americans will show the same support this year by purchasing care packages in which sponsors can write individual notes to show their support. Packages include gourmet Artisan Coffee and Cornerstone Coffee, Oreo Cookies and Jelly Belly jelly beans made famous by President Ronald Reagan.

For those who are not on the tour route, care packages can be purchased online and individual notes can still be included. Orders can be placed by going to the website: www.MoveAmericaForward.com and clicking on the “Coffee and Cookies for our Troops” icon.

ITINERARY

Sacramento, CA on 12/13
Las Vegas, NV on 12/14
Phoenix, AZ on 12/14
El Paso, TX on 12/15
San Antonio, TX on 12/16
Austin, TX on 12/16
Houston, TX on 12/17
Baton Rouge, LA on 12/18
Mobile, AL on 12/18
Tallahassee, FL on 12/19
Jacksonville, FL on 12/19

Above is a picture of Gold Star Mom Debbie Lee giving a television interview during last year’s tour. Debbie, a remarkable, patriotic woman who lost her son, Marc Alan Lee, in the defense of our country will be back on the bus this year.

MAF Chairman, Melanie Morgan concludes:

“During this emotional and busy time of year, we can’t forget about our troops who are still fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even though the economic news has focused Americans on the home front, we cannot forget that hundreds of thousands of the finest Americans are in combat zones while we’re around the tree with friends and loved ones.”

Coffee and Cookies for the Troops

From Move America Forward:

You probably remember our huge project in June to hold a telethon bringing together many many of the top names in the conservative and pro-troop movements and send the single-largest shipment of care packages to our troops in history. Well, we succeeded beyond our wildest dreams, but the MAF care package program marches on. We’ll keep shipping them to Iraq and Afghanistan until the troops come home. As we begin to approach Thanksgiving and the Christmas/holiday season, we’ll be putting together new seasonal packages to give our troops an appropriate taste of home.

We’ve already updated our standard coffee/cookie package to take full advantage of our exciting “Candy Diplomacy” program. That program sends jelly beans, through the generous support of the Jelly Belly candy company, in specially-marked packaging with a message of goodwill to the Iraqi people. The message is printed in both English and Arabic, and the Jelly Belly beans inside are specially selected to appeal to Middle Eastern tastes. Nancy Reagan has expressed her personal pride in our “Candy Diplomacy” program, and she will soon hold a formal event to confer her endorsement.

 

“A gift from the American people in hope
that your country will one day
enjoy the freedom and opportunities
that we have in the United States.”

 

The cookies we are now sending are brand-name Oreo cookies, which we are buying with help from Nabisco and Raley’s supermarkets, and we send connoisseur-class coffee from Artisan Roasters, a company which has displayed a long-term commitment to our troops.

Because the packages we sold in conjunction with the telethon have all been shipped, because our troops are still fighting and winning America’s all-important War on Terror, and because it’s so easy to get caught up in the new of the upcoming election and the ongoing financial crisis, it is important that we continue to send care packages and encourage others to do the same so our troops know they are not forgotten. We would greatly appreciate your help in reminding your readers that our care package program is a year-round ongoing effort and this is the perfect time to send a small token of our thanks to those serving our country. Please find below graphics and links that can be used to direct people to our product page. The process is very simple after that: simply select a package and enter your information, including a personalized message that will be included with your items, and we will ship to the troops. Thanks so much for your help with this effort and your support for America’s military.

Historic Support of U.S. Troops From the Front Lines – Progress Report

…from Joe, of Move America Forward:

For background, see: Historic Support of U.S. Troops! (From the Front Lines)

Video clips hosted by Ustream

More big name celebrities have signed on to support Move America Forward’s pro-troop push to send the largest single shipment of care packages to U.S. troops in history – and will be joining the June 26th Internet web-a-thon broadcast of “From the Front Lines.” Read more

Historic Support of U.S. Troops! (From the Front Lines)

…from Joe, of Move America Forward:

History is about to be made – and you can be a part of it. This June 26th, an unprecedented collection of patriotic leaders will be brought together – united by their shared support for the heroic service of the men and women of the United States military who are fighting on the frontlines of the war on terror. These leaders will come together to support the largest shipment of care packages to U.S. troops in history. In addition many will join with with our troops in Iraq & Afghanistan for an 8-hour Web-A-Thon (”From the Front Lines” from 4:00pm – Midnight, Eastern), to collect sponsorships for the largest single shipment of care packages to U.S. troops — in history. Ever.

The goal is to send the largest single shipment of care packages to U.S. troops in history. The shipment is scheduled to go out days before the 4th of July, as a gift from the American people to our military men and women – to thank them for ensuring that our nation remains safe and free. The entire effort is being organized by Move America Forward – the nation’s largest grassroots pro-troop organization. Individuals can sponsor care packages via the MAF website. Read more