Top U.S. Official: ‘No Coincidence’ ISIS Hostages Wear Gitmo-Like Orange Jumpsuits
At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing regarding the U.S. prison facility at Guantanamo Bay, a top U.S. defense official said it is “no coincidence” that ISIS hostages wear orange jumpsuits similar to those worn by prisoners at Gitmo.
“It is no coincidence that the recent ISIS videos showing the barbaric burning of a Jordanian pilot and the savage execution of a Japanese hostage each showed the victim clothed in an orange jumpsuit, believed by many to be the symbol of the Guantanamo detention facility,” said Brian McKeon, principal deputy under secretary of defense for policy.
McKeon and others in the Obama Administration believe the controversial prison facility is “used by violent extremists to incite local populations” as a form of “propaganda.” According to McKeon, the fact that the prison is still open is a “critical national security issue,” and the “greatest single action” the U.S. could take to increase counterterrorism efforts would be to close Gitmo.
At the same hearing, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) made his vehement opposition to closing Gitmo very apparent when he said there are “too many empty beds” and the prisoners ought to “rot in hell.” He also said McKeon’s claims were simply a “pretext to justify” President Barack Obama‘s 2008 campaign promise to close the prison.
Watch the video below, via CSPAN:
And watch Cotton’s opposition remarks, also via CSPAN:
[Image via screengrab]
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