Why is the word tropics in quotes? If Gitmo isn't in the tropics, nothing is. By definition the tropics are those latitudes between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer. All or virtually all of Cuba is south of the Tropic of Cancer. Havana, pretty much as far north as anywhere in Cuba, is at 23° 08'N latitude. Gitmo is on the southeast portion of the Island at latitude 20° 05’ N. while the Tropics like between 23.5 degrees South and 23.5 degrees north
Of course the reason it's in quotes is to imply that Cheney was lying and Gitmo isn't really in the tropics, which folks associate with a pretty moderate climate, especially when the place in question is also near the ocean, which since it's a Navy Base, Gitmo is. D@** MSM, especially the French media.