Guantanamo Bay Naval Station began taking prisoners of war 10 years ago on Jan. 11, 2002. Prisoners in the war on terror were transported to the naval base from Afghanistan once American forces invaded the country to bring alleged terrorists to justice. Time magazine reports there are still prisoners on the base, two years after President Barack Obama vowed to shut it down.
Here's a look at the naval base, 10 years ago and now.
Base Premises
The U.S. military began housing ships and sailors at the base in 1903. The base sits on 45 square miles of land and sea and was originally used as a coal refueling station for the U.S. fleet. Today, it is used a launching point for ships into the Caribbean to provide support of U.S. interests including immigration.
Sailors stationed at the base were kidnapped June 27, 1958, as part of the Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro. They were released 22 days later. Ever since, the base has been a vital part of the U.S. presence in Cuba since there are no diplomatic relations with the country.
Prisoners of War
President George W. Bush ordered the first 20 detainees to the base after their capture in Afghanistan during the war on terror. The move was controversial. The United States had to find a way to detain enemy combatants in U.S. facilities without labeling them as prisoners who would be subject to due process under American law. Plus there were international issues of which countries may take the prisoners back.
The population of prison maxed out at 800 about two years after the war began. Journalists seeking entry into the prison were heavily monitored. When more prisoners were delivered, a prison camp turned into a full-service detention facility with isolation rooms for each prisoner kept there.
Current Status
When President Obama took office, he issued an executive order to begin an immediate review of all detainees at Guantanamo Bay. It was a step towards fulfilling a campaign promise Obama made in the lead up to the election in 2008. That order was made Jan. 22, 2009, just two days after officially taking office.
As of the 10th anniversary, there are still 171 prisoners being held at Guantanamo Bay Naval Station. Only 36 are awaiting trial for war crimes. Many of the others there are still being detained by order of Congress. Still others are unable to go to their home countries due to upheavals in government overseas.
When the prison will close, no one can say for certain. Despite a change in administration and the conclusion of the war in Iraq, the prison facility at Guantanamo Bay is still in operation.
William Browning is a research librarian specializing in U.S. politics. Born in St. Louis, Browning is active in local politics and served as a campaign volunteer for President Barack Obama and Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill.
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