January 22, 2009

Washington, DC – Nevada Senator Harry Reid made the following statement today in response to President Obama's executive orders to strengthen counterterrorism efforts by outlining a process for closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay and revising detention and interrogation policies:

"Bipartisan members of Congress and the military, as well as intelligence and diplomatic leaders, are convinced that revising the way we detain and interrogate terrorist suspects will help America more effectively fight terrorism and make Americans safer.  I strongly support the Obama Administration's plan to work on a bipartisan basis to tackle this tough issue right away.

"I will study the new executive orders in greater detail, but at first look, they appear to lay out a responsible and careful path that maintains every effective tool needed to defeat terrorists.  In fact, I am convinced these changes will strengthen and enhance our counterterrorism efforts, as we restore America's standing in the world."

 
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