Where Does Gitmo Fit In? The Long, Winding History Of Prison Camps

GITMO FIT IN WHERE DOES The Long, Winding History of Prison Camps For much of human history, prisoners captured during war were enslaved, held for ransom or simply executed. While such practices are now considered abhorrent and illegal, the U.S. operates one of the most controversial prison camps in the world, housing hundreds of terrorism suspects in Cuba. Explore the history and public perception of Guantanamo Bay. prisoners and enemy combatants, as well as the cost A HISTORY LESSON Here are a few key periods in the evolution of prisoner treatment: 1,2, 3, 4 Early history of warfare Enemy prisoners are killed or enslaved; other members of the enemy tribe or community are often treated in the same way. During wars based on religion, it's often considered pious to put non-believers to death Middle Ages Killing and enslavement of prisoners begin to fall out of favor as ransom or exchanges become more popular. 1648 1748 The Treaty of Westphalia brings an end to the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Dutch and the German phase of the Thirty Years'War. It's also credited with marking the end of widespread enslavement of prisoners of war. French political philosopher Montesquieu suggests that a captor has only the right to prevent a POW from doing harm, not to end his life or hold him for ransom. Other writer/philosophers, such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Emerich de Vattel, expand on the same theme, and treatment of prisoners generally improves around the world. 1861- 1865 Far deadlier than any single battle, an estimated 56,000 men die in prison camps during the American Civil War. Research indicates most of the prisoners die not from abuse but from lack of nutrition and sanitation. More than 150 prisons were established during the span of the war, and all were filled beyond capacity. 1874 A conference in Brussels results in a declaration on prisoners of war, but it's never ratified. This is followed in 1899 and again in 1907 by efforts to establish international guidelines on the treatment of POWS. 1929 The Geneva Convention, establishing international expectations of the treatment of prisoners, is signed and ratified by France, Germany, Great Britain, the United States and many other nations; it goes unratified by Japan and the Soviet Union. 1939- 1945 Prisoners during World War Il experience a wide range of treatment, from excellent to barbaric. About 5 million POWS die during the war. 1949 The Geneva Convention of 1929 is replaced by the Geneva Convention of 1949, broadening the term "prisoner of war to include militia, volunteers, members of resistance movements and others, including war correspondents and some civilian 1960 and early "70s contractors. American airmen shot down over North Vietnam and captured by North Vietnamese forces are treated as war criminals, and the captors refuse to provide a list of men held prisoner or allow inspections in accordance with the 1949 Geneva Convention. The prisoners are eventually released, though there remained controversy over whether all prisoners were freed. 2002 Shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, the U.S. begins detaining prisoners it terms "unlawful enemy combatants." Many of these prisoners are held indefinitely, and American authorities contend they are not entitled to the Geneva Convention's protections. Most are held at Camp X-Ray and subseguently Camp Delta, U.S. detainment camps in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Guantanamo Bay Naval Station, nicknamed Gitmo, has been the site of U.S.-run detention centers for hundreds of terror suspects since 9/11. And despite vocal rhetoric, suspects continue to be housed at the 45-square-mile base on the southeastern coast of Cuba. GRAPPLING OVER GITMO The financial toll $454 $45 million billion Spent by the U.S. in 2013 on Gitmo's Total cost to U.S. detention centers 5 since 2002 6 =$10 million Average annual per-inmate costs: $3 $30,000 $70,000 Federal maximum million Federal prison system 6 security prison 6 Gitmo 5 =$500,000 The human toll -779* -10 Total imprisoned at Gitmo since prison opened in 2002 5 78 Still imprisoned after being cleared for release by the U.S. government 5 FBI FBI FBI FBI FBI 13 13 FBI FBI FBI FBI FBI FBI FBI FBI FBI FBI Age of youngest-ever Gitmo prisoner 5 FBI FBI FBI FBI FBI 21 200+ FBI agents who've reported prisoner abuses at Gitmo 5 Number of children who've been A =10 housed there 5 The political toll "I believe closing Guantanamo is in our nation's national security interest. Guantanamo is used not only by al-Qaida, but also by other nations, "We aren't using Guantanamo Bay anymore to take additional terrorists. That was the perfect facility to be able to use to governments, and individuals - people good and bad- as a symbol of America's abuse of Muslims, and it is fanning the flames of anti-Americanism around the world." extract information from people to keep the American ICHELE HMANN U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, 2009, on the floor of the U.S. Senate 8 PRESIDENT people safe." -U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minnesota, 2011, during presidential candidacy 54% After pledging to close Gitmo shortly after taking office in 2009, President Barack Obama again stoked anti-closure sentiment as a prisoner exchange saw long-captive American Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl released by the Taliban in exchange for five prisoners being held at Gitmo, 10 Americans who say the prison should remain open 9 SOURCES 1. http://www.britannica.com 2. http://news.nationalgeographic.com 3. http://www.icrc.org 4. http://www.wilsoncenter.org 5. https://www.aclu.org 6. http://thinkprogress.org 7. http://www.pbs.org 8. http://www.feinstein.senate.gov 9. http://www.huffingtonpost.com 10. http://www.politico.com INFO GRAPHIC WORLD www.lnfographicWorld.com