Life at Gitmo
November 17, 2013 4:00 PM
Lesley Stahl gets a rare view inside Guantanamo Bay prison, where 164 accused terrorists have been locked up, most for 11 years without charge or trial.
Life at Gitmo
Web Extras
Scroll Left Scroll Right
Recent Segments
-
Gitmo, The Giving Pledge, The Recyclers 43:24 November 17, 2013
-
The Recyclers: From trash comes triumph 13:19 November 17, 2013
-
"Cosmic Roulette" update 1:09 November 17, 2013
-
The Giving Pledge: A new club for billionaires 12:31 November 17, 2013
60 Minutes Overtime is a weekly web show that begins where the weekly television broadcast ends
-
Price of success: Will the Recycled Orchestra last?
November 17, 2013
-
Guantanamo Bay in 1972: "Strangely tranquil"
November 17, 2013
-
A debrief with the 60 Minutes team who went to Gitmo
November 17, 2013
- 1
- 2
- Next »
See all 25 CommentsThere is a larger picture here that people have ignored for years and will continue to do so until enough Corrections Officers speak up for themselves. My husband and I have both worked in the field. He still continues to do so, therefore I will exclude him from any of my further comments. I however do not still work there. There are Corrections Officers that are spit on, kicked, raped, thrown feces at, degraded 12 hours a day, stabbed and even killed. These men and women deserve just as much respect as any other law enforcement agency. Yet they get the least.
In prison, I've worked in one state but am familiar with how another states system is ran. We are not like cops on the street who get to carry weapoons. Do not misunderstand me Law Enforcement on the street is deadly and dangerous. Yet I raise this point. Those of us who worked/work in prisons don't carry a firearm for safety. We carry chemical agents. To ANY person who has ever experienced OC spray you know that it does nothing but send you into a rage (sure it feels like a terrible sunburn but mostly it just makes you mad). I know this because I've experienced it for training. Now imagine that being your only line of defense to control people already CONVICTED of crimes. When a peace officer makes a stop and books someone into jail that person has not been convicted yet peace offices have access to a gun and various other tactics to get someone to submit to their orders. As Corrections Officers we deal with the already convicted, it seems after they are already convicted they have more rights. The guns go away except for 3 posts that are outside the prison facility. Those are the only 3 armed positions in most states. Some inmates are in there for life or facing death sentences, who have nothing to lose by killing or assaulting an officer. Take some time and research some cases about this. There is a case from 2004 where a woman was taken hostage for 15 days and raped repeatedly by 2 men. As you delve further into the media's portrayal of the story some news outlets had the audacity to say that this woman wanted this to happen. No woman would want for this to happen. Was she complacent? Yes, did she make a mistake? Unfortunately she did, but NO one is perfect and this woman still deserves NOTHING but our FULL respect for the job that she did and the fact that she survived!
I urge 60 minuets to take a walk though a maximum security STATE prison and meet the men and women who never know if they are going home to their families. These are true heroes, I'm not going to say that they're better than serving in the armed forces because they are not but they deserve respect. A "Correctional Officers" job whether it be at GITMO or a max state facility is incredibly dangerous. These men and women do NOT earn the respect I believe that they should. I have felt this way for years since before working in the business. It's mentally and physically draining. It's not a job that you walk out of the gate and forget. For 8-12 hours a day you are locked in the same razor wire and buildings with some people that have created/participated in/carried out some of the most heinous crimes. These are people who were found guilty by our judicial system and then it falls to a Corrections Officer to choose their role wisely and at all cost protect themselves in any situation.
Funding that Correctional Officers receive for gear to help save their lives should be examined as well. Often times states run so low on money that providing an officer with a radio that functions isn't possible. How would you feel in even a minimum dorm style unit (that means no cells and no bars, just wide open space) with 60-240 men that at any point can kill you with you even being able to even radio for help? Sure your partner should be watching you from above yet by the time help arrives, the damage is already done.
60 minuets I love your reporting. I would be greatly honored as I'm sure 100's of thousands of men and women in this profession would be if you could do a story on a life as a Corrections Officer. They are truly men and women to be admired in our society. I will always pay my respects to our veterans (my father served in Vietnam), I will always pay my respects to our first line of defense which is our Peace Offices and I will always pay my respects to our Corrections Officers. With out even one of these 3 branches just image the country that we would live it. I'll say it again these people are deserving of our respect.
My absolute amazing,expert,genius,most beautiful honey in the world Margaret Brennan CBS news mentions gitmo probably based on to held terrorist who involve with terror activity,which is necessary person who held,had or has include with terror and charged.
Margaret also mention regarding video we can see plenty innocent people held in gitmo,tortured physically,mentally,which is not good,we seen in video there is innocent people caught twice while he has order of released but no released yet been made and he is still behind the bars!
Margaret mentioned rather then caught innocent people or people who don't have any charged to prove need to be released,i think its true to show some transparency,actually united sates has bad reputation in the world regarding help innocent people name of terrorism,if they show transparency and released people who have no connection with terror or make some condition to released them.what all need transparency.
You claimed that the only way to come aboard Naval Base Guantanamo was by boat. There are two airfields on the base, Leeward Point and McCalla Field. Did you really travel by boat all the way from Florida or did you just take one of the ferries that connect the two halves of the base?
You claimed that the commanding officer was Col. John Bogdon USA. It is highly unlikely that an Army officer would be the CO of a Naval Base. Capt. John Nettleton USN,is actually the CO of Naval Base Guantanamo Bay. The Col. may be the CO of the prison compound.
You imply that no vessels are allowed into the bay. There are a few towns located in the inner bay which is Cuban territory. Ships and fishing vessels regularly transit the bay to reach the sea.
The implication is that the housing and other amenities are a result of the prison. My brother-in-law was career Navy and lived aboard GITMO in the 80's with his wife and daughters. They lived in comfortable housing and used the ball fields and other community services that were available. Military dependent housing was abundant in 1964 when I visited the base as were all the amenities that you would expect on a US base. The McDonald's has been there since 1986.
I'm not sure what your point was with this story but these terrorists are the most pampered prisoners that the world has ever seen. It would be nice if 60 min. was more accurate
- 1
- 2
- Next »
See all 25 Comments