Turning terrorists loose

Blogger John Byrnes calls our attention to a Sept. 22 London Telegraph report that includes this:

“More than a dozen prisoners released from Guantanamo Bay have returned to the ‘battlefield’ to fight Americans. The terrorists, freed in the belief that "they posed a very low threat", have either been killed, captured or wounded in attacks on coalition forces in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Others are thought to be still organizing attacks with the Taliban or al Qa'eda.”

John reacts to the Telegraph report with very thoughtful commentary on matters relating to enemy combatants. Here's part of what he says:

It is unlikely that this evidence will convince the left that (Guantanamo) is a necessary evil of modern life. But there is hope that it will convince anyone who merely harbored doubts. It is unfortunate, that America, the symbol of democracy worldwide, must maintain such a prison. But we must remember why.

John makes the "why" so clear even Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Nancy Polosi should understand it:

We didn't ask to be attacked on September 11, 2001. We didn't ask the Taliban to harbor al-Quaeda. We didn't tell them to wage a war of terror. We didn't force them to fight as non-state guerillas. And we certainly didn't tell the prisoners we released to pick up arms again.

Here's John's closer:

Do our liberals have any good answer to the problem? For years we've allowed murderers back on the street in America. Respect for the constitution has forced us to tolerate that. But the constitution calls on the Government to provide for self defense. It does not require us to allow foreigners to walk free while planning our destruction.

John has first hand experience with terrorists and their evil. As a NY National Guard member, he was a responder at the WTC beginning on 9/11; and he recently completed a tour of duty in Iraq.

John's post is here.