There is much talk in the media, in our capital and elsewhere about the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. I have paid close attention to this dialogue, and after a year in command, it is clear that there are two Guantanamos: the one that exists in popular culture, and the one most discover when they actually see conditions there.
In his piece, he explains how the least violent offenders, the 20 percent or so who do not attack their guards or each other, or who do not throw feces at US personnel, are provided with a facility pretty much like a summer camp. They are well cared for, in many cases, enjoying a much better lifestyle than they have ever before seen
Here they enjoy a communal, barracks-style environment, with movie nights, classes in Pashtu, Arabic and English, shared meals and prayers, and up to 12 hours of recreation per day.
Even the most hardcore Jihadists are treated well. Each and every detainee is given three meals a day, selected from culturally sensitive diets, designed to meet even their individual health needs. They are provided Korans in Arabic and their native language, if different, and prayers are lead five times a day by Imams selected by the detainees themselves. Each cell block has prayer mats and arrows pointing toward Mecca.
They get a minimum of two, soon to be three, hours of outdoor recreation per day adjacent to three to five other detainees. And they are held in a block of single-occupancy cells where they communicate with other detainees, guards, medical staff, library assistants and mail delivery personnel.
The medical and mental health staff provided these former terrorists is the same as that received by the military personnel on the base. Their medical needs are met, and about 15 peercent of the detainees make use of either a psychiatrist or psychologist. This, he states, is lower than in a typical American Prison population. The care given the prisoners is recognized and appreciated.
Joint Task Force doctors have performed more than 370 surgeries, including restorative eye procedures, and a recent back surgery that restored movement and avoided possible paralysis for a detainee. Shortly after, that detainee sent me a note saying "Thank you, I have been wrong about Americans."
According to Adm Buzby, Guantanao is visited regularly by the International Committee of the Red Cross, and they have provided valuable input to the task force.
This is not the story we see reported in the American mainstream press. It is a pity that the true story is not being told.
Fighting for conservatism one day at a time.