Asking Other Countries to Accept Detainees Is Asking For Trouble

I did not see this on the news last night, I did not see it in the New York Times today (though I’ll admit, I only skimmed for it). I saw this while surfing on HuffPo, and I’m fairly steamed about it.

I have been one of this President’s staunchest supporters, and though I knew the day would come I would diverge in thought with him, I did not think it would be on this.

According to a story in Reuters, we (as a country, that is) are asking Australia to take some of the detainees. What‽ (yes, this deserves an interrobang, or two)

Did we just decide to cede our standing in the world to make things easier on a few whiners? What does this say to those who would oppose? Does this make sense to anyone?

To take them in reverse order, it certainly makes no sense to me. It says that we are incapable of dealing with our own problems as a nation, and though I’m all for showing we can cooperate with others, this is not something to begin that trend.

To those who would oppose us, it again shows we don’t have the resolve to take care of our own difficult problems. To those in this country, it appears to give in to the NIMBY idiots, who would sacrifice our stature in the world for supposed safety. Do the words SUPERMAX prison ring any bells? I’m sure that the footage shown on 60 Minutes a couple of years ago is available. It showed how completely locked down these facilities are, and how incredibly difficult it would be to stage a breakout. This is real life, and none of these people are Snake Plissken.

In a period where we are just beginning to assert ourselves, as a nation, in a way that is both responsible, and non-threatening, and beginning to make a dent in the poor picture shown in the previous administration, is it really viable to say we can’t, or won’t, take care of the hard problems, instead asking other nations less well equipped to shoulder our load?

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