In a humorous exchange with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R- S.C.), Gen. David Petraeus demurred when asked if it made sense to send Guantanamo Bay detainees to the Bagram detention facility that this year the U.S. military will transfer to Afghan control. Petraeus asked if everyone involved in considering such a course of action “sit[s] under a tree till it passes.” Graham said he understood that as a no.
Graham, who is trying to convince the Obama administration to essentially trade the closure of Guantanamo Bay for a military trial for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, asked Petraeus to elaborate on his longstanding position that Guantanamo be closed. “At the very least, it has a symbol attached to it that is one used in our area of responsibility against us,” Petraeus replied. “It’s iconic in certain respects and those respects are not helpful to us.”