GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – A member of the House Armed Services Committee received a first-hand look at the Joint Task Force last week.
U.S. Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), who also serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, was briefed with other congressional officials Friday by key JTF officers. Turner also toured Camp Delta, which houses the enemy combatants detained by the JTF, and the Expeditionary Legal Complex, which houses the military commissions courtrooms here.
Joint Detention Group – the entity charged with direct oversight of the JTF's detention mission – commander Army Col. Bruce Vargo, who hails from Turner's congressional district, discussed the detainee operations here, as well as tactics employed by detainees to create disruptions. Vargo said many of these tactics are similar to those practiced by the Irish Republican Army.
Vargo, responding to a question from a congressional staffer, emphasized that detainee segregation should not be confused with isolation.
"In the U.S. [correctional system] you have segregation where you see absolutely nobody," the JDG commander said. "We don't have that here."
Thomas agreed, noting that interrogation and isolation are the two largest misconceptions regarding the Joint Task Force.
"Prisoners in the U.S. aren't treated as well as detainees here," Thomas said.
Some information for this report was provided by the Dayton Daily News.
www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil
| Date Taken: |
08.01.2008 |
| Date Posted: |
08.04.2008 15:24 |
| Story ID: |
22115 |
| Location: |
GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: |
227 |
| Downloads: |
189 |
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