Governor Huckabee's News Column: Visiting the U.S. Military Detainment Camp in Cuba

Statement

Governor Huckabee's News Column - Visiting the U.S. Military Detainment Camp in Cuba

After I return from visiting with Arkansans serving in the military abroad, I like to mention these men and women by name when writing about my trip. These soldiers have put their lives on hold - and in extreme danger - to serve their country. Their actions deserve praise and notoriety.

Following my recent visit to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, however, I was told that I could not mention the names of the Arkansans I met serving there. These Arkansans, who guard detainees with ties to terrorists, run the risk of retribution from terrorists if their names are mentioned. The U.S. military believes the lives of their family members back home might be in jeopardy if their identities were known.

It is clear the 479 detainees at the Guantanamo Bay detainment camp in Cuba are extremely dangerous, and they make their hatred toward our country loudly known. They speak openly regarding their delight of 9-11, supporting terrorist actions against our country. They pray for new attacks against the U.S. - attacks that involve greater loss of American lives than what we saw at the World Trade Center. Despite the constant scorns and mocking they deal with, our troops do their jobs with extraordinary professionalism, and I was proud to see their resolve to do the right thing.

Perhaps you have heard news reports or stories about the U.S. detainment camp at Guantanamo Bay. During my recent visit there, I was able to tour the facility first hand, analyzing the living conditions of these detainees and the techniques of our troops. I am convinced these men with ties to terrorists are being treated fairly and properly by our government, contrary to criticisms I heard before my trip there. I appreciate the invitation by the U.S. Department of Defense to travel to Cuba, a trip that allowed for the fruitful sharing of ideas regarding corrections facilities and detainment techniques.

While there, I learned that detainees are fed with foods that are respectful to their religion - at a cost of three times greater than the food provided to our own troops. Each detainment cell is properly marked showing the direction toward Mecca, allowing the detainees to worship freely and comfortably. Facilities are sanitary and, in my opinion, more comfortable than many Arkansas state prison cells.

Along with a tour of the facilities, we were able to witness the interrogation of a detainee with known ties to terrorist cells. Instead of whips and torture, we saw a lengthy, yet polite exchange between interrogators and the detainee. Interrogators were attempting to build a feeling of trust between themselves and the detainee, a technique that has worked in the past to extract helpful information from these individuals.

The trip was also an opportunity to share ideas about corrections and containment facilities. Military authorities asked us as many questions as we asked them, wanting to ensure they were not overlooking any aspect of their duties. Their questions were thoughtful and well-organized, demonstrating to me a genuine attempt to better their operations.

While there, I was also able to eat lunch with several Arkansans, representing the Army, Navy and some reserves units. The likelihood that their families would be in danger if their identities were known makes me angry, yet honored to know their work there is for a needed purpose. The real possibility of such personal and dreadful attacks against their families is one of the many reasons such a detainment and interrogation process remains necessary in Cuba.

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