Military

DATE=01/23/02

TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP

TITLE=AFGHAN PRISONERS IN CUBA

NUMBER=6-125541

BYLINE=ANDREW GUTHRIE

DATELINE=Washington

EDITOR=Assignments

TELEPHONE=619-3335

CONTENT=

INTRO: A conflict is developing in some of the foreign press concerning the treatment of al-Qaida and Taleban prisoners confined at a U-S naval base in Cuba.

Some papers, especially the tabloid British press, accuse the United States of torture and inhumane treatment of the men. Some other European dailies have echoed those sentiments. But inspections of Camp X-ray as it is called, at the Guantanamo Naval Base, by the International Red Cross and a British diplomatic mission, have produced no complaints.

Though spartan, the Pentagon says the prisoner's treatment conforms to international standards. And now some of the U-S press is firing back at its journalistic colleagues in other countries, while other U-S papers are partially agreeing with some of the criticism. We get a sampling now from ___________ in today's U-S Opinion Roundup.

TEXT: The 158 prisoners so far at the sprawling U-S Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay get three meals a day, prepared under Islamic dietary laws; regular showers and delousing; prayer mats, copies of the Koran; and a U-S Navy Muslim chaplain to conduct services. They live in small outdoor cells of chain link fencing under constant guard. At least one has voiced death threats to the guards, and there has been one reported fight with the guards. The New York Times however, says their treatment "cannot be left to the whim of the Pentagon."

VOICE: There have been disturbing reports about the conditions under which some of these detainees are being held. . It is in America's interest to afford all the prisoners humane conditions of detention and basic standards of due process. The United States should stand for the rule of law, even when it comes to prosecuting violent enemies.

TEXT: Baltimore's Sun adds that: "The United States should maintain the same standards of treatment of Taleban and al-Qaida prisoners that it would demand for any U-S citizens taken prisoner by another country."

New York's Daily News however, feels the prisoners are being well treated, and doesn't understand all the concerns being raised.

VOICE: .the U-S military, even in the face of death threats, [from the prisoners] continues to provide them with exercise periods, medical care, copies of the Koran, prayer mats and meals prepared under Islamic dietary laws. Why? It's how a civilized nation treats prisoners. Try telling that to the I-hate-America crowd. Human rights groups have been wringing their hands over the hoods, chains and blindfolds used to restrain the criminals. . Does our military not have a right to protect itself?

TEXT: Michigan's Detroit Free Press tries to balance the criticism from overseas against the facts and feelings of the American people toward these prisoners.

VOICE: There is an understandable reaction of annoyance to all the concern about the treatment of the suspected terrorists being held by the U-S military in Guantanamo Bay. These are, after all, men from the same stock as the fanatics who traveled halfway around the world to murder innocent Americans. If the captives are half as dangerous as the suicidal attackers of September eleventh, they are very, very dangerous and must be securely held. But at the same time, as the United States tries to keep intact a global coalition against terror, the treatment of the prisoners sends a powerful message about the values we are defending.

The International Red Cross has been satisfied with its access to the facility, and British officials say their three nationals . have no complaints. It would appear that the quality of life in the Guantanamo compound is significantly superior to winter in the caves of Afghanistan.

TEXT: An attempt at balance from the Detroit Free Press. As for that British criticism, New Hampshire's Manchester Union Leader advises the folks in London:

VOICE: . take a deep breath, calm down and put the past four months into perspective. The prisoners held . at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base are captured fighters who believe they were in a holy war against the United States. .One has attacked a guard, and another seems to be preparing for a revolt. Some [critics] have likened the prisoners' Cuba quarters .to . inhumane . cages . The British press reported [however] that a study of the camp by British diplomats found no signs of torture, abuse or ill treatment. . None.

TEXT: An editorial rebuttal from the [Manchester] Union Leader.

Echoing those sentiments, in Oklahoma, Oklahoma City's Oklahoman quotes Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld from his Tuesday [1-22] news conference before making its own assessment.

VOICE: [Secretary] Rumsfeld said there wasn't a shred of evidence the detainees are being mistreated -- notwithstanding a London newspaper's use of the word "tortured" in a headline. . That position was echoed by the office of British Prime Minister Tony Blair . Are they illegal combatants or prisoners of war? There's time for a debate. In the meantime, absent any credible evidence of .inhumane treatment, the Pentagon and . the U-S government ought to get the benefit of the doubt.

TEXT: Taking a somewhat more critical tone, The Boston Globe is more concerned with the prisoners' status than their temporary living conditions.

VOICE: It would be a terrible mistake for the United States to reverse the positions of violator and violated by refusing to abide by the Geneva Convention governing prisoners of war and other agreements applicable to the detainees. Secretary of Defense . Rumsfeld . is utterly wrong to say they "do not have any rights under the Geneva Convention."

TEXT: Back to that foreign criticism, The Cincinnati [Ohio] Post accuses the tabloid segment of the British press of going "nuts" [Editors: "crazy"] as regards its reporting of the prisoners. It also notes the denials of abuse from the British Foreign Office after an inspection, adding:

VOICE: [the prisoners] . receive three meals that accord with Islamic dietary laws, showers, medical attention, access to the Red Cross, Korans, the daily calls to prayer and now a U-S Navy Muslim chaplain. The Pentagon should continue to give diplomats, the Red Cross and recognized and reputable human rights groups access to the camps and prisoners.

TEXT: To the North, The [Cleveland, Ohio] Plain Dealer suggests standards of confinement are not the biggest problem.

VOICE: The real predicament here is what ultimately is to be done with these men. The Bush administration isn't quite sure.

TEXT: While in California, The San Francisco Chronicle deals with a parallel issue, complaining:

VOICE: Washington is dodging the obvious by refusing to call [the] captured fighters. what they truly are: prisoners of war. The . prisoners . are dubbed "unlawful detainees" by the Pentagon. It's more than semantics because prisoners of war are entitled to greater rights including military trials and appeals. The Pentagon claims the inmates are terrorists who don't follow conventional rules of war and shouldn't have the protections that captured soldiers receive.

. Clearly, these deadly inmates don't deserve sympathy. They remain violent and dangerous, "the worst of the worst," the Pentagon says. But they amount to captured soldiers and should be accorded prisoner of war status. The United States should honor the rules of war . This country's cause is ennobled by extending fair treatment to foes, even the most unregenerate such as those captured on Afghan battlefields.

TEXT: On that viewpoint from The San Francisco Chronicle, we conclude this editorial sampling as regards the treatment of al-Qaida and Taleban prisoners at a U-S Naval base in Cuba.

NEB/ANG/RH