Well-known Terrorist Released from Iraqi Prison

Friday, November 16, 2012

Senator Chuck Grassley released the following statement after learning that terrorist Ali Musa Daqduq was released from an Iraqi prison.  The U.S. government turned over the well-known terrorist to the Iraqi government less than a year ago.  Grassley sent several letters to the Obama administration urging them to try Daqduq before a military tribunal.  Those letters can be found here.  Grassley is the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

"Daqduq has one of the most significant records of terrorist activity with Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Quds Force, even training them.  Yet, the Obama administration decided to turn him over to the Iraqi government knowing that it likely would result in his freedom.  Now, it appears that our fears have been realized and Daqduq has been released from the Iraqi government's custody and is in Lebanon. The United States does not have an extradition agreement with Lebanon, so there's little recourse for the U.S. government and Daqduq is expected to remain free.  A military tribunal would have been a far better avenue to bring this terrorist to justice.  Instead, it's probably just a matter of time before he finds his way back to the battlefield where undoubtedly innocent people will be killed."