Mayor Daley on Gitmo North trials in Chicago: Feds need to pay security tab

Once the roughly 100 Guantanamo Bay terrorists arrive at Gitmo North in northwestern Illinois, some will end up being put on trial. Such facilities already exist on within Camp Delta in Cuba--which is not the case in Thomson.

The federal courthouse in downtown Chicago is where these brutes will likely be tried. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley wants the federal government to pick up the security expenses--likely to be massive--that will accompany these trials.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Like New York City, Daley said Chicago is in no position to foot the bill for security and related city services. Not after erasing a $520 million budget shortfall by draining reserves generated by the 75-year, $1.15 billion lease that privatized Chicago parking meters.

"They're gonna pay for every police [officer] — any emergency whatsoever. Any city services at all in the city. We could not afford that. These cases are very, very controversial," the mayor told reporters after his annual Christmas visit to La Rabida Children's Hospital, 6501 S. Promontory.

"All major cities across the country have said if there's any prosecution of any type of prisoner in their cities, the federal government has to pay for it because your city services could not pay for anything like that. Whatever cities they're gonna be in, it'll be a cost to the federal government — not a city government. New York couldn’t even afford that."

Thomson does not have a hospital to treat inmates--Gitmo does. If a terrorist becomes ill or is seriously injured at Gitmo North, he'll have to be treated in Rock Island, Dubuque, or perhaps Chicago--posing additional security risks.

As well as additional security expenses.

During such trials, it's likely the terrorists will be housed at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago's South Loop. Ironically, it's where Barack Obama's friend and fundraiser, Tony Rezko, resides these days.

Is the MCC capable of incarcerating hardened jihadists?

UPDATE 10:40pm: Apparently some military tribunals will be held at Gitmo North. As for the congressman who represents Thomson, Don Manzullo (R-Egan), he will do a media blitz about his new quasi-constituents tomorrow morning.

Technorati tags: politics Democrats Illinois Politics Chicago Richard Daley news Gitmo guantanamo War on Terror Rezko Tony Rezko Obama Barack Obama