Tour to Guantanamo Bay

October 10-15, 2005, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Contact: Washington Foreign Press Center Program Officer Doris Robinson
Telephone: 202-504-6353, Email: Robinsondm@state.gov

Six journalists from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia were the first reporters from their countries to view first hand detainee operations during the week-long tour.  The journalists toured the now abandoned Camp X-ray and Camp Delta, the detention hospital, where they met with the Joint medical group commander who answered questions and dispelled myths about tube feedings.   The journalists later sat down with several military guards who spoke about their experiences while working at the camps.

A highlight of the reporting tour was an opportunity for the journalists to observe an Administrative Review Board session.  Maj. Gen. Jay Hood, who commands the Joint Task Force (JTF) at Guantanamo Bay, also gave the journalists an on-the-record interview in which he explained why some detainees are held for lengthy periods of time by saying, "We continue today to gather significant pieces of information about Al Qaeda... Some (detainees) have only begun providing information in the last six months."  He also told the group that he does not know how long the detainees will remain in the detention camps, but does not think "it's appropriate" to keep them there any longer than necessary.