McConnell Urges Gitmo for Iraqi Suspects

Responding to the pending trial of two Iraqi nationals facing terrorism charges in Kentucky, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.,  wants the duo shipped to Guantanamo Bay.In May, Waad Ramadan Alwan and Mohanad Shareef Hammadi were arrested in Bowling Green and have been accused of attempting to provide cash and weapons to al Qaida in Iraq. The two men have been indicted on 23 counts and if convicted they could face life in prison."Sending them to Gitmo is the only way we can be certain there won’t be retaliatory attacks in Kentucky," McConnell said Tuesday in a Senate floor speech. "Sending them to Gitmo is the only way we can prevent Kentuckians from having to cover the cost and having to deal with the disturbances and disruptions that would come with a civilian trial. And sending them to Gitmo is the best way to ensure that they get what they deserve. So today I’m calling on the administration to change course—and get these men out of Kentucky."McConnell has been a frequent critic of President Barack Obama's failed efforts to close the controversial military base located in Cuba and forceful opponent against any attempts to prosecute terror suspects in civilians courts.According to the U.S. Justice Department, a lengthy investigation found Alwan and Hammadi were planning to ship guns and missiles to Iraq and court filings allege the two men were involved in IED attacks against American soldiers before coming to the United States."These men are foreign fighters—unlawful enemy combatants who should be treated as such," said McConnell. "Anyone who has taken up arms against U.S. forces in the field of battle is an enemy combatant pure and simple, and should be treated like one. They should be hunted and captured, detained and interrogated, and tried away from civilian populations according to the laws of war."