Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made the following statement in response to comments made by U.S. Senator Richard Dubin (D-IL). Durbin compared the treatment of Guantanamo prisoners to actions taken by Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, and former Cambodian leader Pol Pot. Graham, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said: “Comparing treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay to practices engaged in by some of the worst regimes in human history provides additional fuel to the anti-American propaganda machine. This directly and indirectly puts our troops who serve abroad at additional risk. “Also, characterizing the actions of American service members at the same level of those among the most notorious in history is not only unfair, it’s bad for morale. It should be the last thing coming out of the U.S. Senate at a time of war. “It’s my belief that keeping Guantanamo Bay open, with proper reforms, will help win the War on Terror. Closing the facility will be a setback. “I hope Sen. Durbin will correct the problems he has caused and rise above the political moment to set the record straight. Our men and women in uniform deserve nothing less.” #####