Detainees at Guantanamo Bay
Dena Gudaitis' Masters degree thesis Research Project
All information cited in material below was collected from primary interviews, media materials and government documents. The material was collected August 2003-January 2004. The research has not been modified since March 2004 as more updated news information may be available from other sources.
I. INTRODUCTORY SUMMARY OF THE GUANTANAMO BAY PRISON
The events of Sept. 11, 2001 dramatically changed the course of U.S. Foreign Policy as the U.S. government begins efforts to combat a new type of war. After the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the U.S. government has established the goal to uproot clandestine terrorist organizations operating throughout the globe. Al Qaeda was the first organization that the Bush Administration launched and offensive war aimed at disrupting financing and communication channels.
When the U.S. invaded Afghanistan in 2002, U.S. and local forces collaborated to capture individuals identified as Al Qaeda operatives. Many individuals were captured after the U.S. government posted a bounty for members who were affiliated with these clandestine groups. Many of the Guantanamo Bay detainees were captured through this method.
The official numbers of the Guantanamo Bay detainees are unknown to outside sources. The U.S. government has issued reports indicating that there are over 650+ individuals currently held on the base in connection with terrorism. According to many experts, Law and Human Rights organizations, the U.S. government is violating Human Rights and International law standards at Guantanamo Bay. While the prisoners are given adequate survival amenities, the U.S. government holds these captured individuals in isolated 8 ft. x 6 ft. 8 in. x 8 ft. cells. Issues of Debate:
• Detainees have no access to judicial proceedings (although the Bush Administration says it will develop military tribunals to try the detainees)
• Many of the detainees are held in indefinite detention and do not know if or when they could be released
• Some of the detainees are experiencing negative psychological effects of detainment that have initiated suicide attempts |
