. >> congressman buck mckeon. we're joined by bobby ghosh, cnn foreign affairs analyst. we've been listening to the former chair of the senate armed services committee. we've been talking about what the united states should and shouldn't call it. today the speech was directed more at nations around the world. he talked about the muslim world in particular and lieders from these nations. he said these leaders, people in these countries need to address the perceptions of america inside these countries. he's talking about u.s. allies. >> yes, he is. and he's right. my frustration is he didn't name names, although you can understand why he wouldn't do it. hopefully in private when the television cameras are switched off, some more tough talking is taking place directly. >> you name names here. >> associated difficult arabia, kuwait the uae, these are countries that finance the extremist schools around the world, pakistan where this ideology is preached. they're preaching hatred towards americans. this is something that needs to be worked on while talking american dollars in

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secretary mckeon to have a statement? i believe i'm next. >> thank you for the opportunity to appear. i will begin on discussing the support to the transfer process. specifically, the analysis of the committee provides. >> could you adjust your might. >> i'm sorry. it's aimed at the potential transfer of detainees at the detention facility. two echoes -- echoed bryans remarks, we take it seriously. it works to keep decision-makers informed of developments especially with threats to the united states. it is felt regionally in the middle east and north africa it is largely characterized by smaller scale attacks. accordingly, the analysis on current detainees focuses most intently and closely on the date -- detainees to threaten u.s. interests overseas these assessments aimed to provide an understanding of the detainees background, current mindset, or any links the propose a threat to our interest. we also take into account the threat to the united states. intelligence committee products do not state whether the detainee pos

we did hear from brian mckeon an undersecretary in the defense pharmacist. he said the republican bill would basically stop the obama administration in its tracks. >> the president has determined that closing it is a national security imperative. the president and his national security team believe that the continuing operation of the facility weakens the security by damaging relationships with key allies and is used by violent extremists to insight are uprisings. >> 54 of the prisoners have been cleared for release tony. it's just a question of where they would go and when. >> libby casey in washington, libby thank you. >>> one of the legacies of the cold war could actually be affecting the lives of thousands. some are still dealing with the toxic waste left behind. "america tonight's" joie chen visited one of those communities. apollo pennsylvania. >> in the late 1950s the local steel mill was taken over by a company contracted to build nuclear bombs. patty amino grew up in the house across the street. >> apollo once upon a time was a nice town then this i

sectorsecretary mckeon, nicholas rasmussen is the directer of national intelligence center. mr. rasmussen, do you have a statement? >> i believe i'm next. >> mr. rasmussen please. >> thank you for the opportunity to appear before the committee today for this discussion concerning guantanamo detainees. i'll begin by discussing the intelligence community's support for the process that brian outlined in some detail specifically the analysis that the intelligence community provides. the community provides a range of tailored intelligence -- >> would you adjust your mic? >> the intelligence community produces a range of assessments aimed at helping policy makers make decisions about the transfer of detainees from the guantanamo detention facility. these include profiles that examine factors relevant to whether individual detainees pose continuing threats to the united states or to our allies. and to echo brian's remarks, we take the risk of reengagement very seriously. the community is continuously evaluating the global threat environment and works to keep decision makers, including

secretary mckeon -- admiral ross myers is vice deputy director of homeland defense. do you have a statement? >> mr. ranking member. thank you for the opportunity to appear for this discussion concerning guantanamo detainees. i will begin by discussing the transfer process that ryan outlined in some detail, specifically the analysis the intelligence community provides. the community provides tailored assessments and at helping -- >> your mic -- >> i'm sorry, it provides tailored assessments helping policymakers make decisions on the transfer of detainees from the guantanamo facility. these include profiles whether detainees pose active threats to our allies or the u.s. to echo ryan's remarks, we take the engagement very seriously. tothe community works to keep decision-makers informed with threats to the united states. as you know, we faced threats from a wide range of actors, from al qaeda and its affiliates, to isil end those inspired by extremist messaging the full force is felt most acutely in iraq syria and regionally in the middle east in north africa. the threa

defensek> undersecretary brian mckeon told the senate armed republican-packed pill wouldflj(ñ effectivelers from guantanamo for two years and block progress toward the detention center. that is just fine withj,g> freshman >> the only problem with guantanamo bay is there are"pz too many empty bells and cells there right now. we should be sendingwtb3sjut terrorist there is for further interrogation to keep this country safe. as far as i'm concerned, every last one ofjo:rqs can rot in&n hell, but as long as they don't do hcahat, they can rot in÷a5fñqj8ñ] guantanamo bay. >> john mccain wants to see the prison closed but the administration has not provided what he says is a responsible plan towfacility. >>> for as long as there have been reporters-- s and wars --r á+y5o[áah r =rpy an rpg. >> but that is false. im÷ williams was not on the chopper that was hit as he reported pack in 2003. >> on the ground, we learned the chinook ahead of us was almostéf%(t&háhp &hc% blown out of the sky. >> several soldiers on that mission told the stars5 ÷ and stripes newspaper they were disturbed by the accou

secretary mckeon has presented testimony principal underdeputy department of defense and mr. rasmussen is director of the national intelligence center office of national intelligence and admiral frost myers is head of nuclear defense and joint staff. do you have a statement? >> i believe -- >> please. >> mr. ranking member, thank you for the opportunity to appear today. specifically the analysis the intelligence community provides. the community provides a range of tailored assessments. >> could you adjust your mike? ? sorry. >> the intelligence community produces a range of assessments helping policymakers make decisions about the potential transfer of detainees from the guantanamo detention facility. these assessments include profiles of relevant factors whether individual detainees pose threats to the united states or our allies. to echo brian's remarks, we take the risk of reengagement very seriously. the community is continuously evaluating global threat environment and makes those makes decisions including congress of threats to the united states. as you know, we contin

mccain -- mckeon in early december senator hagel sent a letter about the classified five. it's been almost two months now. we would like to receive a response to that letter before proceeding with mr. carter's confirmation. can you talk to the secretary and see about getting us a prompt response to that letter? >> sir, certainly. i know the answer should be coming shortly, for reasons that are not clear to me although the letter was dated in early december, i think we only received it in the department about 3 1/2 weeks ago. >> mr. rasmussen, you said in your opening statement anti-american incite mentment or statements does not necessarily equal resid virms or re-engagement. does it violate the memorandum of understandings we have with the receiving countries? >> i can't speak in this session about the specific understandings we have with the partners with whom -- the countries with whom we have worked to transfer detainees but one of the key features of any of those agreements is monitoring ongoing activity by the detainee covering a wide threshold constitute reengagemen

when a federal judge sided with searcy and mckeon, striking down a gay marriage ban in alabama, no oneess than the chief justice of alabama's supreme court stepped in the way. >> definition of marriage is between one man and one woman. >> reporter: the famously anti-federal chief justice roy moore is still ordering county probate judges to refuse marriage licenses for gay couples. arguing that he and the county judges are not required to listen to the federal judge in mobile. >> under federal law, federal courts can't mandate their decisions on local courts. >> we have a supremacy clause in our constitution. when federal law is in conflict with state law, federal law wins out. >> reporter: the u.s. supreme court will decide the case in june. one of its justices showing her hand. >> as more and more people came out and said this is who i am, as the rest of us recognize that -- they are one of us. >> reporter: but the fight in alabama could continue even if the supreme court sides with gay couples. the resistance here to the federal government is strong. for "this week," steve osunsami,

mckeon, they may get their wish. this is a form of dementia.o terrorism, al-qaeda and isis is based on a couple of things shame, regret, and guilt. we need to demonstrate to the world that we've done something wrong. we're going to make amends for it. we're not going to show orange jump suits. we're going to close guantanamo bay and show the world how good the american justice system is. when we walk past the world trade center today when i walk past it today, i should feel shame, guilt, regret. not anger. >> the other guys, the blind sheik made it a circus when they did this and they were able to get the go sign to others around the world. >> let's see how the congress reacted yesterday to this kind of nonsense about gitmo and trials in new york for terrorists. listen to this. >> to say that it is a security decision based on propaganda that our enemies get is a pretext to justify a political decision. in my opinion, the only problem with guantanamo bay is there are too many empty beds and cells there right now. we should be sending more terro

listen to this exchange with undersecretary of defense brian mckeon. >> look at propaganda value. at guantanamo bay on september 11th, 2001. >> zero. >> how many were there in october 2000 when al qaeda bombed uss cole. >> zero. >> what about 1998 when they bombed our embassies. >> the facility was not opened before 2:00 two, senator. >> 1992 first world trade center bombing. >> same answer. >> 1983 when hezbollah bombed our embassy and marine barracks in lebanon? answer is zero. >> correct. >> islamic terrorists don't need an excuse to attack the united states. they don't attack us for what they do. they attack us for who we are. it is not a security decision. it is political decision based on promise president made on his campaign. to say that it's a security decision based on propaganda value our enemies get from us is pretext t to justify a political decision. the only problem with guantanamo bay there are too many empty beds and cells there right now. we should send more tourists there for further interrogation to keep this country safe. as far as i'm concerned every last one

mccain, -- mckeon, in early december senator hagel sent a letter about the classified five. it's been almost two months now. we would like to receive a response to that letter before proceeding with mr. carter's confirmation. can you talk to the secretary and see about getting us a prompt response to that letter? >> sir, certainly. i know the answer should be coming shortly, for reasons that are not clear to me, although the letter was dated in early december, i think we only received it in the department about 3 1/2 weeks ago. >> mr. rasmussen, you said in your opening statement anti-american incite mentment or statements does not necessarily equal resid virms or re-engagement. does it violate the memorandum of understandings we have with the receiving countries? >> i can't speak in this session about the specific understandings we have with the partners with whom -- the countries with whom we have worked to transfer detainees but one of the key features of any of those agreements is monitoring ongoing activity by the detainee covering a wide threshold constitute reengageme

mckeon. isn't it true -- and i'll just try to be brief and we'll wrap up. isn't it true that a person connected with al-qaeda, a person connected with isil and other terrorists, i'll just say those, too. if captured, they qualify as prisoners of war? >> if they meet the standard for law or detention aurnd the muf and laws of war, yes, sir. >> and certainly, mr. al libi would have qualified as that would issue authorization against al-qaeda. >> sir, i would say on the case of mr. al libi, there is a preference to capture for the intelligence gain. but the judgment is made primarily by our military colleagues, whether that is feasible. >> just trying to wrap up. >> i understand, sir. i just want to give you the whole picture. >> we all know that. so, the question, so, under the laws of war, a person who's unlawful, who is a prisoner of war, can be detained until the conflict is over on the general principles of war. >> technically, sir, there are unlawful enemy combatants are not considered pows. >> they could be both, could they not? and see, i don't know wh