A S THE number of al Qaeda and Taliban prisoners at the United States Naval base in Guatanamo Bay, Cuba increases daily, U.S. leaders and policymakers increasingly are coming under fire for what could become a clear cut issue of human rights violations. While these prisoners have continued to make threats against Americans even while held in their cells, and according to United States officials present a clear and present danger to the security of the United States, they nonetheless deserve to be treated with the respect afforded inhabitants of the prison system in the United States.
In order to help ensure compliance with these basic guidelines for treatment of detainees, the U.S. military should both allow a limited yet diverse media presence inside the camp, the so-called Camp X-Ray, as well as permit various coalition members to inspect the camp as they see fit to ensure compliance in guidelines for treatment of prisoners.
At Camp X-Ray prisoners currently are held in small, chainlink fenced outdoor cages. Each is given basic hygiene essentials, including a toothbrush, shampoo, soap and towels, unlimited access to water, and they are fed three meals a day, plus snacks upon request. They sleep on foam rubber mats. According to U.S. officials, the military even has taken to broadcasting the Islamic call to prayer over the loudspeaker system five times a day ("Detainees Treated Humanely, Officials Say," CNN.com, Jan. 27).
Despite measures to ensure the basic comfort of these detainees, and what U.S. officials have deemed is treatment appropriate for suicidal terrorists, the United States remains under pressure from foreign governments to maintain a great degree of openness about Camp X-Ray regarding detaining procedures, to ensure sound and humane treatment of its prisoners.
Teams from the International Red Cross as well as the British government have completed tours of the camp, making suggestions that British officials say were well-received and beginning to be implemented.
Unfortunately, a very limited number of inspections - by groups closely affiliated with the United States to begin with - assuredly will bring more controversy to Camp X-Ray, perhaps that these groups are holding their tongues to appease the United States. By allowing in a small but diverse international team of media, rather than a limited number of foreign officials, the U.S. military can enable the world to see that the United States treats the most anti-American people on earth with the same deal of dignity and regard as would be given any other prisoner inside the U.S. judicial system. Additionally, by allowing photographers and reporters in from a variety of nations, solidarity in this war on terrorism can be shored up further - other coalition members will be able to observe with their own eyes and ears that this is a worldwide effort, and although largely spearheaded by the United States, it is not exclusively our affair.
In terms of processing the detainees through some kind of judicial system, allowing in various members of the coalition fighting against terror will help ensure that these prisoners get charged and processed quickly, either through U.S. or international courts, or the courts of the prisoners' home nations. In times of war, human rights, as well as rights to due process, can become subordinated or overlooked entirely in the midst of fighting a greater evil. The United States should permit coalition member representatives to tour the camp, to interview prisoners as the International Red Cross has done, and document living conditions. This will help to speed along the prosecution of these prisoners, primarily by drawing an international spotlight to the situation. Detention and prosecution of the Taliban and al Qaeda will no longer simply be an American priority.
However, the detainees at Camp X-Ray are held without being informed of the charges against them or right to counsel. If this continues, increasing the numbers of prisoners at Camp X-Ray will begin to be seen less and less legitimate, and instead more like an American sponsored terrorist witch hunt with no real judicial backing or support. Over time, if no charges are brought against these prisoners, the United States will find itself backed into a corner. International pressure to either charge or release the detainees will mount, while the United States maintains its desire to fight terrorism worldwide. This potential schism is exactly what we do not need during this war.
Permitting international media members and inspection teams into Camp X-Ray only can further bolster worldwide solidarity in this war on terror. By not leaving anything to speculation about the treatment of its prisoners or its methods, the United States will help to reassure its allies it is doing the right thing by trying to eliminate one of the greatest evils in the history of mankind.
(Austen Givens' column appears Mondays in the Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at agivens@cavalierdaily.com.)
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