Gitmo

As I’m writing this week’s blog, I’m on a military flight on my way back from Gitmo (Guantanamo Bay, Cuba). I’m on a Codel (Congressional Delegation) consisting of Republican Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts (who replaced Senator Ted Kennedy), Democratic Congressman Albio Sires of New Jersey, myself, and a few military personnel and staff.

This is the third time I’ve been to Gitmo. The first time was about nine years ago, in early 2002, shortly after the first detainees, terrorists, enemy combatants, (whatever terminology you prefer), were brought there after being captured in Afghanistan. America needed a safe and secure location to keep the worst of the worst terrorists; not on U.S. soil. The detainees at that time were confined at Camp X-Ray within Gitmo, which wasn’t much more than a bunch of cages at the time. My second trip was about five years later (about four years ago). The conditions were much improved.

Here’s what I saw, learned, and think about Gitmo following my latest inspection of the United States’ principal facility for holding anti-American Jihadist terrorists, until we ultimately figure out what to do with them.

At its zenith, approximately 800 detainees were held at Guantanamo Bay. We are now down to 172. The others have been transferred back to their country of origin (Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, etc.). Some are being held there, others have been freed, and a few have escaped. It’s estimated that 25% have again taken up arms against the United States and our allies. I find this particularly disturbing.

Of the remaining 172 detainees being held at Guantanamo Bay, the country of origin of the highest number of individuals is Yemen, followed by Afghanistan. They range in age from 23 to 63. Most have been there for nine years. They are all male, all Muslims, and in most instances very dangerous. Most eat better and get better medical care than at any time in their lives. They have access to cable T.V. (22 channels), exercise equipment, a Quran, a prayer mat, clothing, and access to legal counsel among other things.

The very worst of the worst, fewer than 20, are kept apart from the others in a separate facility, and for the most part are isolated from each other. We visited this location, were briefed, and observed a number of the inmates in their cells on closed circuit T.V. monitors. This information is classified, so I can’t go into detail about this. However, I can say that the most notorious detainee we observed was Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of 9/11. He’s the guy who was arrested in Pakistan some years back (he looked a little like a startled awake in the middle of the night John Belushi) but looks very different now – long beard, etc. He’s also the guy you might remember who was water-boarded more than 100 times. Since he was one of the very top al-Qaeda leaders, he knew a lot, and the information acquired averted planned follow up attacks on the United States after 9/11.

There have been numerous allegations that the U.S. routinely tortures or otherwise mistreats detainees at Gitmo. As far as I can tell, this is utterly false. Despite being hit with Gitmo cocktails (a mixture of urine and fecal matter) by inmates, the guards at Gitmo have a reputation for restraint and professionalism. I found this to be the case at all three of my visits over the years, and in all the research and oversight I’ve done. Our brave troops ought to be praised, honored, and appreciated, not denigrated by some in the world press and even here at home.

So why haven’t we tried most of these terrorists for their crimes and acts of terrorism? Only four have been tried so far. The problem is that President Obama shut down the military commission process shortly after becoming President, and said that we would try the detainees in U.S. civilian courtrooms, specifically in New York City. There was such an outcry opposing this that he has finally backed off, and they will probably once again be tried at Gitmo.

But this hemming and hawing has significantly delayed the process, and dramatically increased the cost. For example, U.S. taxpayers paid $16 million to build a courtroom at Gitmo, and it has been sitting mostly unused for far too long. Considerable time, energy, and expense was wasted when charges and preliminary motions and hearings which had been held at Gitmo had to be dismissed when the Obama Administration ordered the court proceedings to be moved to the United States. Now that the Administration is reversing itself, and likely bringing the cases back to Gitmo, the court motions and hearings will have to be re-filed and re-litigated all over again, resulting in the same cost being incurred all over again – what a waste.

It’s too bad the Administration didn’t listen to opponents of trying the detainees in the United States the first time around. I argued then, and continue to argue now, that master propagandists like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, should not be allowed to use their trials as a soapbox to spread their vehement, anti-American message. Further, to allow them to mix in with U.S. prison inmates would risk spreading their virulent venom throughout our prisons.

In conclusion, in my view, Gitmo still serves an important role in the war against Islamic Jihadist terrorists, and should remain open into the foreseeable future.

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