24th Suicide Attempt at Guantanamo; U.S. Military Opens New Psychiatric Wing

Associated Press ^ | Apr 1, 2003 | Frank Griffiths

[mdittmar]

A terror suspect attempted suicide at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba and was transferred to the detention camp's new psychiatric ward for treatment, officials said Tuesday.

The man was saved by guards within seconds of the attempt in his cell late Monday, Army Lt. Col. Barry Johnson said.

There have been 24 suicide attempts by 17 individuals since detainees began arriving at the remote naval base in eastern Cuba in January 2002, officials said. None has been successful.

Johnson refused to provide further details of the suicide attempt but said that "most of them are by self-strangulation."

He said that the detainee did not suffer "significant injury" and remains under observation in psychiatric facility, which opened March 23.

The new ward has 20 detainees staying there, he said. Officials have denied that the 35-bed ward was created solely in response to suicide attempts, saying it is part of planned improvements to health care.

Military doctors are treating about 80 detainees for mental health problems, with 60 percent receiving medication, officials said.

Human rights groups have asked whether the interrogations were contributing to the suicide rate.

The U.S. government says the roughly 660 detainees from 42 countries are suspected of links to al-Qaida terror network or the ousted Afghan Taliban regime. None have been charged or permitted lawyers while they are held indefinitely and interrogated.

[mdittmar]

24 attemps,no deaths,think of the lives saved by having these scum at Guantanamo Bay.

No chance for 24 suicide attacks.

To paraphrase the "Soup Nazi",

No virgins for you!

[3k9pm]

Maybe we should supply some suicide training.
I hate to see a man continually fail due to ignorance.

[Arkinsaw]

The whole Middle East should be a psycho ward.

[Jhoffa_]

I don't blame them.

Even if you don't do it for "Allah" Who would want to live in limbo for the rest of their life?

I don't know why lifers in prison don't do the same thing.

[sinkspur]

I say, if one of these creeps wants to die, take him in a room, give him a loaded gun with one bullet in it, and lock the door.

[Bubba_Leroy]

And we are stopping them from killing themselves because ... ?

[mdittmar]

I don't blame them either,I wish they had succeeded.

[chasio649]

Ever see Lonesome Dove...where ol' Jake Spoon (Robert Urich ) fell in with the wrong folks? I can see these guys getting caught up in the movement and now they have had plenty of time to realize how they have thrown their lives away for a lost cause.

[laz17]

Of course, leftists will claim these idiots want to die because we're mistreating them, but the idiots want to die because that's what they do best. From the moment of birth, they want to die and get their 72 virgins. They live only for the opportunity to kill the infidel by suicide attack. The detainees at Gitmo have been deprived of the opportunity to kill the infidel, so all they have left to restore their "honor" is to commit suicide by strangling themselves. They should be prevented from doing so not out of any merciful desire to save their lives, but to force them to live with a shame they cannot bear. That's the worst punishment they can receive, to be forced to live without being able to kill the infidel and get their virigins.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #1

Fanatic zeal can turn into acute depression, in such an indefinite captivity where there is little chance of escape or martyrdom. If you push too hard and fail, you would get a severe psychological backlash. That is what is happening.

[mdittmar]

I don't know why lifers in prison don't do the same thing.

Sure you do,think!

They value their life,not the lives of their victims.

It ain't brain surgery.

[angkor]

The whole Middle East should be a psycho ward.

I think of Gitmo as the psychological essence of the ME.

[Live free or die]

Man! My unit is being deployed out there to watch these guys. I'll be out there this summer.

I think my idea of a suicide watch is going to be sitting back and watching these guys commit suicide. They don't deserve trial.

[longshadow]

"Human rights groups have asked whether the interrogations were contributing to the suicide rate."

It's not so much the interrogation as much as it is a consequence of forcing detainees to watch "Donahue" re-runs 24/7....

[humblegunner]

A terror suspect attempted suicide at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba and was transferred to the detention camp's new psychiatric ward for treatment, officials said Tuesday.

Unfortunately, the new ward has been placed behind the rifle range and a lapse in communication has caused certain difficulties..

[Petronski]

Just dust their vegetable cakes with fluoxetine and play some soothing chamber music.

[CathyRyan]

It must be all though Barney and Telie Tubbie videos

[Radioactive]

That's the worst punishment they can receive, to be forced to live without being able to kill the infidel and get their virigins.

Noooo.....I can think of something even worse. Put them in a cell with a pig. How about Janet Reno for instance?

[LouD]

Paging Dr. Kevorkian. Dr. Kevorkian, you are needed at Guantanamo...

[LibKill]

Oh no, they don't get off that easy.

Death is as light as a feather, eternal imprisonment in Cuba is hell on earth!

May they live long and SUFFER!