On A Tense Press Tour Of Guantánamo's Prison Complex, Signs Of Expansion

www.npr.org ^ | February 20, 2018 | david welna

[bitt]

Two days before I left Washington in early February for my first tour inside Guantánamo's prison complex, an email arrived.

"Media representatives must agree to and sign, initialing each page, Media Ground Rules," it read, "prior to being allowed access to JTF-GTMO's area of operations."

Wait, I thought — hadn't I already signed media ground rules for reporting at Guantánamo?

I'd been going there for the past three years and a 13-page document I had signed and turned over to military authorities at the base had covered me each time.

It was an access agreement that the Pentagon had worked out in 2010 with input from First Amendment lawyers and executives from news organizations, including NPR.

The email was sent by Navy Cmdr. Anne Leanos. She's the Pentagon's new public affairs officer in Guantánamo. She's also a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former Mary Kay saleswoman awarded "multiple Pink Cadillacs and company awards," according to an online bio.

[bitt]

"Another $69 million has been approved to replace a prison we won’t see on this tour. It’s Camp 7, a classified slammer whose very location within the base is a state secret."

https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2018/02/20/587195912/on-a-tense-press-tour-of-guant-namos-prison-complex-signs-of-expansion

article that accidentally gives the tribunals away, back on Feb 18?

[bitt]

thanks, txhurl

[a little elbow grease]

"article that accidentally gives the tribunals away, back on Feb 18?"

_____________

Nice room for storage of Brennan, Clapper,Comey, The Hildabeast, and so many others.

:-)

[Truth29]

Could it be space for the entire leadership of the DOJ, the FBI and Mueller’s coup plotters? Wishful thinking.

[MAGAthon]

one can only hope...

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Days before, President Trump had signed an executive order rescinding President Obama's 2009 directive to shut down the prison.

So your boy Barry had eight years to shut it down and didn't, David. What do you have to say about that?

[bitt]

haha, even NPR got suckered into admitting there is activity down there...

[wbarmy]

As I was reading the article, I saw;

Our first stop is a big metal shed where Jamaican and Filipino laborers are preparing meals for the inmates.

It ain't a "big, metal shed". It is a metal building, fully set into a concrete slab foundation, internal walls, air conditioned, with a really good power system and up to date ovens and cooking equipment (at least for the military). It is as good, if not better, than most chow halls I have been in during my career. But if you want to make a political point, it is a big, metal shed.

[Jane Long]

Not to mention the use of the word laborers. Why mention their nationality, at all? And, why not just say workers or cooks?

Oh, yeah....that political point thing, again.

[1Old Pro]

Good news, this is a great facility and very useful to house terrorists.

[wbarmy]

They are cooks and they are very proud of the job and their abilities. They take turns doing the work for the inmates with working in the military chow hall. And they know what they are doing.

I had to be very strict on my diet while I was there and cut down on snacks and other stuff because the food was really well done. Breakfast was arguably the best, with the cooks making eggs and omelets to order.

[Jane Long]

Thanks for the first hand description.

This leftist author tagged them as laborers. I doubt that’s how they are tefrrred to, by anyone except leftists.

But, it is NPR!!

[Jane Long]

AND....thank you, for your service!

[bgill]

Put those in the old section. Move the jihadists to the nice new section.

[Ancesthntr]

“Could it be space for the entire leadership of the DOJ, the FBI and Mueller’s coup plotters? Wishful thinking.”

---

Hey, don’t forget the Wicked Witch of Chappaqua, Huma, etc. Oh, and Sheila Jackson Lee, just for $hits & giggles.

[azkathy]

Throughout the article I could hear the whining “journalist” who feels so picked on. Reality is they went to see a prison, not a kindergarten.

Thank you for your service and for posting your perspective on the situation.