What Is The Purpose Of Guantanamo Bay?

The Guantanamo Bay detention camp, also known as Gitmo, is used to hold suspected terrorists captured by U.S. military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan .

Are there still prisoners at Guantanamo Bay?

Marines transport a detainee in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, in 2002. Nearly 800 detainees have passed through the prison since it opened that year. Today, 39 men are still being held there .

What is the Guantanamo Bay used for?

At the time, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said the detention camp was established to detain extraordinarily dangerous people, to interrogate detainees in an optimal setting, and to prosecute detainees for war crimes . In practice, the site has long been used for enemy combatants.

How did Guantanamo Bay treat prisoners?

GUANTÁNAMO BAY, Cuba — For years, starting from the time they were held and interrogated by the C.I.A. after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the prisoners spent their days and nights in isolation , each man locked alone in a cell, at times engulfed in darkness and white noise.

What is so special about Guantanamo Bay?

The military facilities at Guantanamo Bay have over 8,500 U.S. sailors and Marines stationed there . It is the only military base the U.S. maintains in a communist country.

Why was Guantanamo Bay built in Cuba?

When Spanish settlers took control of Cuba, the bay became a vital harbor on the south side of the island. ... During the Spanish–American War of 1898, the U.S. Navy fleet attacking Santiago needed shelter from the summer hurricane season. They chose Guantánamo because of its excellent harbor .

Is there a McDonald’s in Guantanamo Bay?

It takes just a few minutes to drive from the abandoned shell of Camp X-Ray, one of the most notorious prison camps in the world, to Guantanamo Bay’s very own McDonald’s — from one symbol of America to another. To get there you drive past rows of wood panelled-houses with neat gardens and barbecues out back.

Can you live in Guantanamo Bay?

Guantanamo Bay At A Glance

Because there is no living “out in town ,” lodging options are limited until housing is assigned, and assignments may be made based on availability, not strictly by eligibility (i.e., officers in enlisted housing of the appropriate size).

Is Cuba owned by us?

From the 15th century, it was a colony of Spain until the Spanish–American War of 1898, when Cuba was occupied by the United States and gained nominal independence as a de facto United States protectorate in 1902. ... Since 1965, the state has been governed by the Communist Party of Cuba.

Who is kept at Guantanamo Bay?

Of all prisoners at Guantanamo, Afghans were the largest group (29 percent), followed by Saudi Arabians (17 percent), Yemenis (15 percent), Pakistanis (9 percent), and Algerians (3 percent). Overall, 50 nationalities were present at Guantanamo.

Are there any female prisoners at Guantanamo Bay?

Arocho-Burkart was an interrogator at the American prison in the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay. She is known as one of the female interrogators who used sexual humiliation, and sexual taunting, to break the will of her devout Muslim captives. ... Arocho-Burkart was not charged over her choice of interrogation techniques.

Does Guantanamo Bay have a gift shop?

Yes , the notorious Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp actually has a nearby gift shop that sells branded merch such as T-shirts and coffee mugs, as seen in “The Mauritanian.”

Which country has no McDonald?

Iceland had McDonald’s before its financial crisis in 2009. Following the collapse of its currency, Iceland closed all of its McDonald’s locations due to the high cost of importing the chain’s required food products.

Can US citizens visit Guantanamo Bay?

The Guantanamo Bay Museum of Art and History is pleased to be able to help you plan your visit to the museum. Thanks to the generous donations of several foundations and anonymous individuals, admittance to the museum is free to the global public .

Do you need a passport to go to Guantanamo Bay?

A passport is required for travel to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

How large is Cuba’s military?