According to both Debra Burlingame and Dave Munson, even Congressman Hoekstra could not answer the concerns expressed by Standish residents about potential attempts to break the jihadists from the prison there and the measures the federal government would need to take to prevent that from occurring. Surrounding Standish prison is long-held private property, both farmland and wooded lots, the feds would need to condemn (take) to create the stand-off distance needed to protect the prison from external attack. The local hospital is within one mile of the prison.

Standish is a rural, pretty community that has come to rely on the prison as its largest employers yet few, if any, of the guard jobs currently held by locals would be saved if Gitmo detainees are brought there. While the federal government could wave the age requirement for employment, 80% of the current guard force is over 37 and thus ineligible for employment as a federal prison guard and undoubtedly the feds would want an elite guard force for these prisoners.

Gov. Grandholm is walking a fine line on this. She wants to support Obama in the closure of Gitmo, look like she is doing something to protect jobs in Michigan (with the highest unemployment rate in the nation), and also express concern over the security arraignments if the detainees are brought to Michigan.

I wonder if the Saudi’s would allow an American or Israeli religious leader an opportunity to proselytize in their jails and convert those of Islamic faith to Judaism or Christianity?