2008 Fox News NH Republican primary debate, Jan. 6, 2008: on Homeland Security

Fred Thompson: Habeas corpus does not apply at Guantanamo; so keep it open

HUCKABEE: I felt we should keep Guantanamo open until the court case had come down indicating that there was no real substantive difference in whether they were in Guantanamo or Leavenworth. I don’t think where we keep these people is as important as it is that we keep them and we don’t let them go.

HUCKABEE: The courts are in a case right now to decide whether or not that that’s going to be held. Whether in Leavenworth as Guantanamo, it shouldn’t matter where they are geographically.

THOMPSON: That’s not the situation. It would be different if they were in Guantanamo vs. Leavenworth.

Mike Huckabee: Keeping Guantanamo prisoners more important than location

HUCKABEE: I felt we should keep Guantanamo open until the court case had come down indicating that there was no real substantive difference in whether they were in Guantanamo or Leavenworth. The fact is, I don’t care what the rest of the world thinks. I care what America thinks. And it’s become a divisive issue. I visited Guantanamo, & I visited every prison in my state. The truth is, Guantanamo was too darn good. The conditions down there were amazingly hospitable. I thought a little bit too much for my taste, considering what these people had done. So it’s a matter of a policy that brings this country together and not tears it apart. I don’t think where we keep these people is as important as it is that we keep them and we don’t let them go.