Whoops!

And the award for "Worst Time to Make a Political Point" goes to... the town of Amherst, Massachusetts.

Just a little over a day after town officials voted to bring in Guantanamo detainees to resettle in the town, FBI agents have arrested a man and charged him with plotting terrorist attacks. Why is this significant? The man was arrested in Sudbury, Massachusetts, a town about 70 miles away. Federal authorities claim that this man plotted to attack and shoot people in malls in America. Allegations state that on several occasions he flew overseas and attempted to join terrorists training camps. Furthermore, the FBI has tied him to two other man who were involved in the plot. FBI Agents state that this investigation has been ongoing for several years and that back in 2006 they arrested this man for lying to FBI officials.

So, there you go! Good job Amherst. Sadly, this is the second time this town has been awarded this. Back on 10 September 2001, just a day before 9/11, the town of Amherst voted to take down 29 flags that had been flying on phone poles downtown. The board and others stated that the flags were oppressive and scared them. I applaud you Amherst.

You can read about the arrest here.

Only in the People's Republic of Mass

Ok… maybe also in Vermont.

From the files of “Did I Just Read That Correctly” comes this article about a town in Massachusetts called Amherst.

Town officials voted last night (2-1) to offer their town as a resettlement home for two Guantanamo detainees if they are released from the military prison. According to officials these two men have been cleared by the military, have done nothing wrong, and should be freed to the town. There is only one minor issue standing in the way of this vote. That being current policy of the administration and the United States of America which states that no detainees can be relocated onto sovereign U.S. soil. In reality, this case is just another attempt of this small college town trying to dictate national policy.

I don’t know where to begin with this issue is just so mind-boggling. First, how about we send them to their homes and back to their friends and family. I mean, are we to grant these “gentlemen” legal status or citizenship? What message does this send to the families of 9/11 especially since two of the planes left from Boston’s Logan Airport? Even if these men were cleared and given the recent record of finding releases of Gitmo detainees being found fighting for jihad, isn’t it a bit dangerous to locate them in near a college with 35,ooo students?

What do you think? I honestly just can’t comprehend the thinking behind this!