Ash Carter Vows Not To Bow to White House Pressure on Gitmo Detainee Transfers

AYOTTE: "I want to thank the Chairman. I want to thank you Dr. Carter for all your service to the nation and your willingness to serve again. I would like to I'll ask you about -- according to the Director of National Intelligence we know that at least 107 terrorists who were formally detained at Guantanamo and then released have been confirmed of reengaging in terrorism. And in fact an additional 77 are also suspected of that. In fact what we know that public reports tell us that at least two Guantanamo detainees have also joined ISIS. So what I would like to ask you. Number one: there were reports, the Secretary Hagel said that he was under pressure to increase the pace of transfers of Guantanamo detainees by the administration. As you know, the statute says that you as the incoming Secretary of Defense will have to make the determination and only if you determine that the actions -- there's a whole set of factors -- but in particular, you have to determine that actions that have been or are planned to be taken will substantially mitigate the risk of such an individual engaging or reengaging in any terrorist or other hostile activity that threatens the United States or United States persons or interests, or I would assume our allies as well. So I would ask you Secretary Carter -- soon to be Secretary Carter, thank you – but, I would ask you to tell us and to make a commitment to this committee that you will not succumb to any pressure by this administration to increase the pace of transfers from Guantanamo. Will you commit to that?"

CARTER: "Absolutely."

AYOTTE: "And I would also ask you to commit to this committee that you will take with the utmost seriousness because we had General Mattis before the committee the other day and he expressed deep concern over the notion that one of our men and women in uniform could confront a terrorist that we had previously captured and the  implications to them -- that you will commit to this committee and to all of us  that you will not allow the release of someone that you think could reengage in terrorism so that our men and women in uniform will be confronted with them again."

CARTER: "I do Senator. I understand my responsibilities under that statute and as in everything else I do, I will play absolutely straight."

AYOTTE: "We appreciate that. That's very important because we have seen an accelerated release of detainees and, as you know, there have been public reports about one of the Taliban 5 reengaging in terrorist activities. So this is something that I think is of utmost importance. The last thing that one of our men and women in uniform should confront is the terrorist that we had previously captured and I know you agree with me on that."

CARTER: "Yeah."