Ugh! The widespread myth that other prisoners make life miserable for scum like Moussaui just nauseates me. Grow up people! Please.
High profile prisoners like Moussaui are kept in what passes for solitary confinement in the U.S. He will be in a not-too-unpleasant cell in Colorado. The cell is small, but not as tiny as you might imagine. It only has a bed, toilet and sink. It does have a window and plenty of sunlight gets into the cell. He will be in that room for around 23 hours a day, with two hours allowed for exercise and other activities. He'll be able to shower and attend to his personal needs. While he's out of his cell, it will be cleaned for him. He'll have fresh sheets and blankets.
He will get three meals a day, of food that suits his religious and cultural needs. He'll have a Koran if he wants one, and maybe other books. He'll be able to write and receive letters. Although he won't have visitors right away, as the years pass he may receive visitors.
He will have a life of partial, but not total solitude. It will not necessarily be an unpleasant life if he enjoys solitude. He will get medical and dental care.
As has happened with other Al Queda prisoners in U.S. prisons, he'll be able to use his letters to communicate in code with other terrorists. His letters will be used as recruiting tools in the Islamic world. He'll have the satisfaction of continuing to participate in the jihad if only vicariously.
From within top-security American prisons, men who were convicted of the first World Trade Center bombing were able to participate in setting up the bombing of the Spanish trains a couple of years ago. Our prison officials didn't recognize the hidden messages in their letters to people outside. No one was aware of their continued terrorist activities until after the train bombings. The Spanish government turned up the evidence during their investigation. This information was shown on MSNBC this morning.
Prison officials, by law, cannot read an inmates mail. The CIA, FBI or other law enforcement agency can......if they want to.