Posted on 01/17/2002 1:06:14 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba -- Several al Qaeda and Taliban suspects penned up here at Camp X-Ray have threatened in both English and Arabic ``to kill an American before they leave Guantanamo Bay,'' the prison camp commander said Wednesday.
``These are not nice people,'' Marine Brig. Gen. Michael Lehnert said ahead of the latest arrival of 30 prisoners in florescent orange jumpsuits, manacled and masked in strict security procedures.
``Several have publicly stated here that they intend to kill an American before they leave Guantanamo Bay,'' Lehnert said. ``We will not give them that satisfaction.''
The new prisoners, who arrived aboard a C-141 transport, were led one-by-one and made to sit on the floor of two awaiting yellow school buses for transfer to Camp X-Ray -- a crude, open-air prison of six-by-eight-foot cells, which could eventually expand to hold 600 prisoners.
Responding to press inquiries, Marine Maj. Steve Cox said guards told the prisoners which way was East, so they could pray in the traditional manner -- in the direction of the Muslim holy city of Mecca.
But Cox said, ``I don't know,'' when asked if the al Qaeda and Taliban detainees understood where they were on the world's map -- 8,000 miles away from Afghanistan -- or had even been told they were now in Cuba.
Like the previous two groups, Wednesday's arrivals were shorn of their hair and beards -- and would be kept shaved throughout their incarceration to prevent lice and other health problems.
Officials said earlier that the chain-link fence compound would not exceed 220 detainees before a new walled complex is built.
Lehnert said Wednesday, for the first time, that Navy Seabees brought in to build a walled prison will not have it ready for at least three months, rather than the 45- to 60-day time frame commanders estimated last week.
So military construction workers will expand the network of cages to accommodate 320 prisoners by Jan. 25, and then add another 300 or so outdoor cells to hold more than 600 detainees until the Seabees build the walled prison of prefabricated materials at a site called Radio Range.
Army Lt. Col. Bill Costello, the prison project spokesman, said the plan was still to build a more permanent prison that could hold up to 2,000.
Meantime, captives and their Army military police guards are exposed to the Caribbean elements -- hot winds by day, mosquitoes and sometimes rain at night. The prisoners sleep on thin, Marine-issue mats, Army green colored pads that resemble aerobic mats and cost U.S. taxpayers $6.80.
Temperatures rose toward 90 by midday Wednesday, offset by whipping winds.
Officers also displayed sample prison rations to illustrate that the captives' daily nourishment requirements were being met a day ahead of the expected arrival of an inspection team from the Swiss-based International Red Cross and Red Crescent.
Breakfast is bread, a bagel and cream cheese, fruit and water. Lunch is hot, a vacuum-packed Halal meal in keeping with Muslim sensitivities that forbid eating pork.
The lunch food package displayed for reporters Wednesday included ``New York Style Baked Bagel Chips,'' 1 1/2 ounce green bags that feature a picture of New York's Empire State Building, and a circle with a ``U'' inside it, signifying they are kosher per rabbinic supervision.
And for dinner on this U.S.-controlled corner of Cuba, captives get beans, rice, bread and more fruit.
Prisoners are issued plastic spoons with their meals and must return them afterward, said Navy spokesman Bob Nelson, a civilian attached to the prison operation.
Other gear being provided include a toothbrush with the handle snipped off to prevent its use as a weapon; a canteen with water, shampoo, toothpaste, soap, a sheet and blanket and flip-flops for the feet. Officers also displayed two ordinary plastic buckets -- one for washing up, and the other in case there is no time to take an inmate to a latrine.
Prisoners are also provided two bath towels -- one for personal hygiene, the other for a prayer mat, which the general said they were using.
Military interrogations have not yet begun.
The spoken threats notwithstanding, the general characterized the detainees as ``a pretty mild lot right now.'' Military officials did not say how many prisoners threatened to kill Americans, or the circumstances of the threat. But the general said the remarks, uttered both in English and Arabic, were ``nothing that the MPs inside the compound can't control.''
Tell them to check in over here: THE BLEEDING HEART LIBERAL DEMOCRAT PAGE
And Bill Clinton.
Too bad the bag doesn't have a picture of the WTC.
Good...I'm not the only one laughing about it...You're a radical Muslim and you hate everyone, including the Jews? Here...have a bagel.
I don't get this. I thought our position is that these people have "hijacked" the Muslim religion. Therefore, our position must be that they are not "real" Muslims. Therefore, they should be getting pork three times a day.
I really don't get why we are catering to the "Muslim sensibilities" of people who are not Muslims. Unless they ARE Muslims, in which case, I guess our official national position is that Islam is the enemy of America, and we ought to be doing everything we can to discourage its spread in our country and its actions against our people.
But the Muslims can't have it both ways. Are these prisoners Muslims, or not?
Good point!
"If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and to aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy."
A little 'quel bete mechant' pimp for all you easily outraged folks.
Our guys probably tune out the "prayers" of the prisoners. What better way to communicate with each other? Let's listen in.
Habada, habada. Okay, before the UN inspectors come, we should all make open sores on our bodies and rub our own filth on ourselves. Hide your excrement so we can all display filthy buckets. Ali, we all know it's gross. Don't be sissy! Soldier coming! Habada, habada, hmmmmm...okay, he's gone.
Hamid, you and Ahmed and those other guys pretend to have malaria. Splash water on your faces to look like sweat. Be sure and have your strangulation cords ready before they take you to infirmary. These compassionate Americans! Wahid, remind your guys to moan and cry when the inspectors come. Eat something disgusting so you can vomit readily. Aziz, let me see your "I'm so sad and sick" face. Good. Everyone, try to look like Aziz. We make the Americans look very bad. Okay, Aziz, stop now. You look silly. Abdullah, Abdullah, Abdullah. What does all this mumbling mean anyhow?
Okay, Fahad, keep smiling at the young guard. He begins to think you are friendly. He holds his weapon more loosely now when he lets you out. Oop! Soldier! Habada, habada, hmmmm! Okay, he's gone. Jamal, you pretend snake came and bit you. Remember to make holes so they bleed. Arm, foot, I don't care! Don't ask me. Hamad, you back up his story. You saw the snake crawl under the mat. It may be there still! Wave arms and look afraid. Yeah, like that! Jamal be sure and shake like seizure. Spit at mouth.
Okay, my turn at latrine. I go now. Hijazi, you continue the meeting. Habada, habada, hmmmm.
(Speaking in broken English) Oh, kindly soldier! Thank you for visit to latrine. I'm so grateful!(Then in his own language) We were just talking about you! (looks over shoulder and winks as others pretend to pray).
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