ABCNEWS Goes Inside Guantanamo
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba, Sept. 14, 2003 — -- The people who guard it call it simply "The Wire."
At the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, miles of razored coils wrap the Delta Prison Camp, binding 660 men U.S. officials deemed "enemy combatants," mostly during the Afghanistan phase of the war on terror.
But "The Wire," and the facility's magnetically locked doors, are perhaps more significant for what they're keeping out — lawyers, family members, and the protections of U.S. and international law.
"I think it's maybe the most lawless set of actions the United States government has taken in my lifetime," said Stuart Taylor, a legal columnist for the National Journal.
The military prefers to keep the focus on the physical conditions of the facility, which it has worked hard to improve.
"The treatment of the detainees here at Camp Delta reflects the very best traditions of how our nation treats our enemies," said Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Miller, commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo.
Cameras are kept out, though military-approved photos have been released. ABCNEWS got a partial glimpse inside the facility, and produced some sketches.
The cells are spartan, but fairly cool.
There are three teenagers among the detainees, who hail from 42 countries.
The prisoners, mostly Muslims, are allowed to observe their religion. They have daily calls to prayer, among other things.
Good behavior wins special privileges, a place at Camp Four, where they have group meals outside.
Three juvenile prisoners have views of the sea. For some, it's the first time they have ever seen it, and it appears to fascinate them.
But the three juveniles apparently love to watch videos on their television, too.
Staff Sgt. Molly Jaffe, a guard, said some prisoners are curious about their captors, saying, "They want to know just as much about you as you may want to know about them."
Still, many argue that humane treatment is no substitute for basic legal rights. Taylor and others say the Geneva Conventions require hearings to determine why the men are being held.
