McHenry County Blog

This press release explains the effort to keep Gitmo prisoners from being moved to the Thomson, Illinois, maximum security prison that Illinois hopes to sell to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The Washington representatives associated with it are U.S. Senator Mark Kirk and Congressmen Don Manzullo, Joe Wlash, John Shimkus, Joe Walsh, Aaron Schock, Peter Roskam, Judy Biggert, Randy Hultgren, Adam Kinzinger and Bobby Schilling.

Kirk, Manzullo, IL Colleagues Urge President Obama to
Abandon Efforts to Move Gitmo Detainees to NW Illinois

Firm commitment needed so Congress can focus on opening Thomson as a federal prison

Congressmen Joe Walsh and Don Manzullo, plus U.S. Senator Mark Kirk appeared at a Town Hall Meeting in Crystal Lake at McHenry County College.

[WASHINGTON] Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan), Joe Walsh (E-McHenry) and seven of their Illinois colleagues today called on President Barack Obama to heed the bipartisan calls from Congress and abandon efforts to move terrorist detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (Gitmo), or elsewhere abroad, to a vacant state-owned prison in northwest Illinois.

In a letter to the President sent this afternoon, the federal legislators said Congress will never provide funds to purchase the vacant Thomson Correctional Center and run it as a federal prison as long as the Obama Administration continues to express its desire to house the Gitmo detainees there. In addition to Kirk and Manzullo (who represents Thomson), the letter was signed by U.S. Reps. John Shimkus (R-Collinsville), Judy Biggert (R-Hinsdale), Peter Roskam (R-Wheaton), Aaron Schock (R-Peoria), Randy Hultgren (R-Winfield), Joe Walsh (R-McHenry), Adam Kinzinger (R-Manteno), and Bobby Schilling (R-Colona).

“The only way Congress will ever seriously consider approving funds to acquire and operate Thomson as a federal prison is if the Administration commits to backing off its plan once and for all to move Gitmo detainees to Thomson. We implore your Administration abandon its efforts to house Gitmo detainees at Thomson and join us in turning it into a maximum-security federal prison,” the letter states.

The vacant Thomson prison in Carroll County, IL could house up to 2,600 maximum security federal inmates with very little renovation at a great price to taxpayers. It would immediately help reduce the federal prison system’s 52 percent overcrowding problem in its maximum security division while providing much needed jobs and economic opportunities to the people of northwest Illinois.

The signed letter is attached and the text appears here.

The Gainesville, Florida, press conference of the Rev. Terry Jones.

The following letter was emailed to the Dove World Outreach Center of Gainesville, Florida by the Rev. Kent Svendsen, the minister who pastors the First United Methodist Church of Forreston and Leaf River United Methodist Church, both west of Rockford.

As you probably know the Florida minister has backed off on his intention to burn a Quran.

Sept. 8, 2010

The Dove World Outreach Center of Gainesville, Fla., has announced its intentions to burn a Quran this Sept. 11. I would like to share with you the e-mail letter I wrote to that church outlining the reasons why that should not take place.

As an ordained United Methodist minister as well as a retired Army Reserve chaplain who has experience both in the religious and political aspects of this issue, I often hear people ask the question:

Why don’t we hear more about Muslims condemning radical Islam and its actions of hatred and violence?

Let’s turn that question around here, for this is an example of Christian hatred and violence pointed at the Muslim world. Let’s lead by example and take a public and vocal stand against this same type of behavior on the part of people who call themselves Christians.

I am here to declare that the actions of the Dove World Outreach Center do not represent the Christian world and that they are in fact contrary to the commandments of Jesus Christ. That as Christians we are called to show others that we are truly Christian by the way that we love others. That honoring and protecting the things other people call sacred, even if we don’t personally believe them sacred, is the greatest principle of democracy that we could every model for the rest of the world. The following is the message I sent to the church in Gainesville, Fla.

“I served as chaplain to the detention center in Guantanamo Bay Cuba for a year and am very knowledgeable about Islam and the Muslim world. I’m fully aware of what Surah 5:116-117 says in the Koran as well as the very real dangers of radical Islam and their political agenda. In fact I have used tools like the documentary “Obsession” to teach about the dangers of radical Islam. What I don’t understand is why as a Christian church you would what to fuel hatred and violence against the entire world of Islam. I am telling you as one who is knowledgeable about this issue what results will come from these words and actions on your part.”Just the mention by Newsweek years ago of a false report of a Quran being flushed down the toilet resulted in people dying. Just the announcement of your intention to burn the Quran whether you actually do it or not will (not may) result in people being injured and killed. And I can guarantee you that your intentions will be broadcast over and over again to the Muslim world and used as a powerful tool against us.

“I’m an evangelical Christian and a church minister as well as a retired military chaplain. So in that regard I come to you as a brother in Christ who has bent the knee and declared that Jesus Christ is Lord over all creation. What you are doing in this regard is not serving the cause of our Savior. We are not called to use tactics of violence and hatred to seek victory for the kingdom of God. I’d be interested in knowing how your church interprets the words of Jesus Christ: ‘You have heard that it was said, love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven’ (Matthew 5).

“I am pleading with you to not go through with this action. If you do it will become the best tool radical Islam could ever hope to obtain.”

The Rev. Kent Svendsen
Retired Army Reserve chaplain
United Methodist pastor
Northern Illinois Conference

Congressman Don Manzullo will get his wish that Guantanamo terrorists not be transferred to the Thomson Prison in his 16th District. His press release below explains what happened in Washington Friday:

U.S. House Votes Overwhelmingly to Prohibit Transfer of GITMO Terrorists to United States

Manzullo supports fully utilizing Thomson as federal prison without terrorists

[WASHINGTON] The U.S. House voted overwhelmingly today to prohibit the transfer of the GITMO terrorists into the United States, scuttling the Administration’s plan to close GITMO and move the terrorists to the state-owned Thomson Correctional Center in northwest Illinois.

An amendment to the Department of Defense (DOD) authorization bill passed 282-131, with 114 Democrats joining 168 Republicans in approving the amendment that would prohibit the Administration from bringing any GITMO terrorists into the United States.

“Today’s overwhelmingly bipartisan vote reaffirms Congress’ strong opposition to moving the GITMO terrorists inside the United States, and it basically scuttles the President’s plan to move the terrorists to northwest Illinois.

Inside Thomson Correctional Center.

“This is what I expected when the Administration first announced the plan last November to bring the GITMO terrorists to Thomson and why I fought to separate the terrorist element from the legitimate plan to open Thomson as a stand alone federal prison without the terrorists.

“I was concerned the controversial GITMO side of the plan would swamp our efforts to open it as a federal prison and create much needed jobs for the people of northwest Illinois.

“I was relieved when I received a letter back from the Administration in March stating they planned to purchase and open Thomson as a federal prison even if they could not get authorization from Congress to move the GITMO terrorists there.

“With today’s devastating vote against moving the terrorists, I again call on the President to proceed with purchasing Thomson and fully utilizing it as a federal prison without the terrorists.”

In a letter to President Obama earlier this week, Manzullo said another 750 maximum security federal inmates could be incarcerated at Thomson if the Administration allowed the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to use the three pods (200 cells in each pod) currently set aside for GITMO terrorists. The BOP is planning to house 1,800 maximum security federal inmates in the other five pods at Thomson and would welcome the additional space.

“Housing an extra 750 federal prisoners at Thomson would create more civilian job opportunities while further reducing the current 52 percent overcrowding in the federal prison system’s maximum security division,” Manzullo said.  “I strongly urge the President to fully utilize Thomson as a federal prison without the terrorists.”

That’s what the 16th District Congressman’s press release below says.

Manzullo Urges President Obama to Fully Utilize
Thomson as a Federal Prison Without Terrorists

[WASHINGTON] With Congress continuing to oppose moving GITMO terrorists inside the United States, Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) today called on the President to purchase and fully utilize the vacant Thomson Correctional Center in northwest Illinois as a maximum security federal prison without the terrorists.

In a letter to President Obama, Manzullo said another 750 maximum security federal inmates could be incarcerated at the state-owned Thomson facility if the Administration allowed the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to use the three pods (200 cells in each pod) currently set aside for GITMO terrorists. The BOP is planning to house 1,800 maximum security federal inmates in the other five pods at Thomson and would welcome the additional space.

“Housing an extra 750 federal prisoners at Thomson would create more civilian job opportunities while further reducing the current 52 percent overcrowding in the federal prison system’s maximum security division,” Manzullo said.  “It is my understanding that the federal prison population is expected to grow by 10,000 to 14,000 inmates over the next two years.  This has become a critical safety issue that reduces the guard to prison ratio, and jeopardizes the security of our federal personnel who work in these facilities. I strongly urge the President to fully utilize Thomson as a federal prison without the terrorists.”

Manzullo’s letter to the President comes on the heels of another strong bipartisan vote in Congress this past week against bringing the GITMO terrorists into the United States. On Thursday, the House Armed Services Committee voted 59-0 for the FY 2011 Defense Authorization bill (H.R. 5136) that includes the following language: “(t)he committee firmly believes that the construction or modification of any facility in the U.S. to detain or imprison individuals currently being held at Guantanamo must be accompanied by a thorough and comprehensive plan that outlines the merits, costs and risks associated with utilizing such a facility.  No such plan has been presented to date.” As a result of this unanimous legislative action, even Illinois Governor Pat Quinn acknowledged to the Chicago Tribune on Friday it is less likely the GITMO terrorist detainees will come to Illinois.

Manzullo suspects the outrageous price tag of moving the GITMO terrorists to Thomson — $350 million – is also a driving force behind Congress’ opposition to the plan, along with concerns that moving GITMO to Thomson will simply transfer the threat and hatred to northwest Illinois.

“With this latest bipartisan vote in Congress, it is apparent the President will not get the Congressional support he needs to move the terrorists to Thomson,” Manzullo said. “I strongly urge him to free up the extra pods at the prison so we can house another 750 federal prison inmates and further reduce the extreme overcrowding in the federal maximum security system.”

16th District Congressman Don Manzullo received an encouraging letter yesterday, March 18th.

Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich wrote,

“With respect to your suggestion to move forward whether (or not) detainees from Guantanamo are moved there, the President has directed the Department of Justice to acquire the facility to fulfill both the goals of reducing federal prison overcrowding and transferring a limited number of detainees out of Guantanamo.”

So, Illinois will have two really secure Federal prisons. One at Marion in Southern Illinois and one at Thomson in Northwestern Illinois.

And the goal of Governor George Ryan to provide jobs to his constituents up there will be fulfilled…if eight years after it could have been, had Democratic Party successor Rod Blagojevich been alert enough to rent out the space for imported prisoners from other states.

Below is the text of the letter Manzullo received:

This responds to your letter to the President, dated November 30,2009, expressing strong support for establishing a federal prison at the Thomson, Illinois Correctional Center. We agree with your assessment that the facility “is ideally suited to help the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons meet their growing demands for more prison capacity.”

Thomson Correctional Center where Barack Obama originally wanted to incarcerate Gitmo terrorists, some of whom trained in Yemen, as did the Detroit Christmas bomber

As you stated in your letter, Harley Lappin, Director of the Bureau of Prisons, has briefed you and other Members of the Illinois congressional delegation numerous times about the critical overcrowding problem in the federal prison system, including a particularly urgent need for “supermax” type bedspace. Director Lappin has also been working closely with local and state officials on the process of obtaining appraisals and meeting other federal and state requirements for the sale.

With respect to your suggestion to move forward on the acquisition regardless of whether detainees from Guantanamo are moved there, the President has directed the Department of Justice to acquire the facility to fulfill both the goals of reducing federal prison overcrowding and transferring a limited number of detainees out of Guantanamo. The Department has made clear, however, that it would be seeking to purchase the facility in Thomson even if detainees were not being considered for transfer there. (Emphasis added.)

As you may know, the Department of Justice requested $237 million in its Fiscal Year 2011 budget to acquire, activate, and operate the facility in Thomson. We appreciate your support for this request and look forward to working with you as this process moves forward.

Mike Tryon

It was “just” a surplus property issue.

Should it take approval of the Illinois General Assembly to dispose of surplus property worth more than $1 million?

But House Bill 4744 was aimed by Crystal Lake State Representative Mike Tryon directly at the Democratic (and some regional Republican) Party politicians promoting turning maximum security Thomson Correctional Center into terrorist central.

How creative!

President Barack Obama, Governor Pat Quinn and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin think it is such a wonderful idea.

But, led by not-yet-nominated-for-U.S.-Senate Congressman Mark Kirk, Republicans, including Congressman Don Manzullo, in whose district the prison is located, attacked the idea, not once, but repeatedly. All over TV.

Liberals pooh-poohed the unreasonable fear of opponents. When Manzullo pointed out that the terrorists would likely be tried in Rockford, the Obama Administration rushed in with the alternative that the courtroom would be behind the prison’s walls.

Then the would-be Christmas airplane bomber turned out to be from Yemen, the same country as most of the Guantanamo terrorists President Obama wants to transfer to Northwestern Illinois.

Byron nuclear power plants as seen from Interstate 39, upwind from McHenry County.

That got me thinking about

those Byron nuclear power plants we see on our annual pilgrimage to the Springfield Old Capitol Art Fair.

A terrorist act there releasing radiation would float right over McHenry County.

Enter Tryon with his bill.

It got out of committee, indicating House Speaker Mike Madigan’s approval.

And, it passed overwhelmingly. 81 of 116 voting “Yes.”

Cassidy Tire had this sign up the week that Sgt. Jason McLeod was honored in Crystal Lake.

Donations to the widow and her children may still be made by calling Marie Davis at 815-477-5050.

The McHenry County College Student Peace Group, or course, had no way of knowing its timing would be bad.

They canceled NIU Professor Marc Falkoff’s talk about his book

“Poems from Guantanamo: The Detainees Speak”

Now its on for the Thursday after next Tuesday’s election.

The group’s press release follows:

MCC’S STUDENT PEACE GROUP RESCHEDULES EVENT FEATURING GITMO LAWYER ON FEB. 4th

[Jan. 26, 2010.Crystal Lake, IL] The McHenry County College Student Peace Action Network (SPAN) has rescheduled a controversial event focusing on a book of poetry by Guantanamo Bay detainees. for Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. in the college’s conference center.

The keynote speaker, Marc Falkoff, a Northern Illinois University criminal law professor who represented 16 detainees, plans to speak about a book that he edited titled “Poems from Guantanamo: The Detainees Speak.”  The moderator will be Todd Culp, Ph.D., political science instructor at MCC.

Falkoff initially was scheduled to speak at the college in December, but the event was canceled because of security concerns. SPAN had planned the December speaking engagement well in advance, but publicity about the event stirred up controversy as it coincided with funeral visitation for Sgt. Jason A. McLeod, a 22-year-old from Crystal Lake who died in a mortar attack in Afghanistan.

Northern Illinois University criminal law Professor Marc Falkoff

He will discuss the torture the prisoners suffered, the false information elicited, the disarray of evidentiary files, and the telling resignations of  key military prosecutors.  According to Dr. Falkoff, a very real problem exists,

“politics rather than principle reigns at Guantánamo.  As concerned American citizens, we can learn what action we can take to demand accountability and redress of grievances.”

Following the program, he will be available to sign books.

The event is part of SPAN’s Current American Issues Information Seminar Series. SPAN is made up of students promoting peace nationally and locally through action and education. The event is co-sponsored by Pax Christi and the McHenry County Peace Coalition. The event is free and open to the public.

The college is located at 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14, Crystal Lake.  For more information, contact the MCC Student Activities Office at (815) 455-8772.

= = = = =
Here’s background from NIU on the professor:

Background: Falkoff comes to NIU after three years as an attorney with Covington & Burling in New York. The firm, which is considered the top pro bono law firm in the nation, once named Falkoff the Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year during his time there. He earned his juris doctorate from Columbia and also holds a Ph.D. in literature from Brandeis. While this is his first full-time faculty appointment, he taught for several years as an adjunct member of the faculty at the Brooklyn Law School. He is currently working on behalf of 17 Yemeni men who are being held without charges by the U.S. military at Guantanamo Bay.

Why NIU? “NIU has a very high commitment to public interest law, and that is extremely important to me.”

Goals: “I want to give my students a solid grounding in legal theory, but also instill in them an appreciation for the amount of social good they can do in the world as a lawyer. Personally, I want to not only do excellent scholarly work, but also maintain my real-world focus. It is very important for me to do both, and that is actually something that is encouraged here.”

From a press release from 16th District Congressman Don Manzullo:

Manzullo to Appear on Three National News Shows Wednesday Morning to Discuss the President’s Plan to Move Gitmo to Northwest Illinois

Rep. Manzullo will appear on three national TV news show Wednesday morning to discuss the President’s decision Tuesday to move up to 210 Gitmo detainees to the Thomson Correctional Center in northwest Illinois. Manzullo’s appearances include:

• 6:30 to 7 a.m. CT – C-SPAN’s Washington Journal.
• 7:30 to 7:45 a.m. CT – CNN’s American Morning with John Roberts and Kiran Chetry.
• 8:12 to 8:20 a.m. CT – FOX’s American Newsroom with Megyn Kelly and Bill Hemmer.

The following press release has been received from 16th District Congressman Don Manzullo:

Manzullo Opposes Transfer of Gitmo Terrorists to Northwest Illinois

[ROCKFORD] Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) today issued the following statement responding to news reports that the near-empty state prison in Thomson, IL has emerged as a “leading option” to house terrorists from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Manzullo is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade.

STATEMENT

“The terrorists remaining at Guantanamo Bay are dangerous and brutal killers, many of whom were involved in the attacks on our nation.

Don Manzullo Announcing His Re-Election Bid

“As a matter of national security and public safety, I have consistently joined with a majority of my colleagues in fighting efforts to bring these terrorists onto our shores, and I adamantly oppose this plan to bring the terrorists to northwestern Illinois, where they could one day be released into our communities. Gitmo is set up to house these dangerous terrorists, and they should stay there.

“Part of the Administration’s proposal involves opening a separate maximum security federal prison at Thomson, and I have long encouraged the Administration to support that venture as long as it does not include the Guantanamo Bay detainees.

“Our residents in Carroll County and throughout northwestern Illinois desperately need jobs, and if there’s a need for a new federal prison to house domestic federal prisoners the Thomson facility would be ideal.

“But bringing the world’s most dangerous terrorists to northern Illinois would do more harm than good in the long run. Future job providers and residents would have serious reservations about locating in a region that’s home to the world’s most dangerous criminals and could be a target for future terrorist activity.”

That’s what former Illinois State Representative Roscoe Cunningham says in a front page letter to United States Senator Roland Burris in his Sumner Press.

Cunningham, with whom I served in the 1970′s before he, like I, caught congressional fever, continually pleads the case for the poverty of his Southeastern part of Illinois. He seeks additional prisoners for the Lawrenceville state prison.

“RE: Transfer of Guantanamo Releasees to Lawrence Correctional Facility

“Dear Friend of 40 Years:

“We implore you to inform Attorney General Eric Holder today that the Press’ suggested transfer has the overwhelming support of this poverty stricken area.

“We are authorized by the Mayors of Sumner, Bridgeport, Lawrencville and Olney to add their names to our plea. We are assured by the state legislative leaders that designation of a portion of the facility ‘Federally controlled,’ is a formality.

“The community wants this transfer because it is our civic duty to accept the burden of the releases’ further care and the economic boost such relocation will bring. Unlike Leavenworth’s ‘Jayhawk’ Rich, our area needs the business.

“If the Attorney General wishes to make a personal inspection of this facility, remembering that he went to Guantanamo, we’ll appeal to Warden Ryker to unfurl the red carpet any day chosen.

“Lawrenceville Correctional Facilty is located 15 minutes from Mid-American Air Central, the state’s fourth largest, one mild runways.

“We need your help.

“Best wishes,

“Sincerely,

“The Sumner Press”