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GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA – After people ask me if I have been to the detainee camps at GTMO (the answer is yes) and what I'm covering (Omar Khadr's military commissions trial), they usually ask me, "What do y'all do for fun at Guantanamo Bay?"
Well, first I would say that the 32 U.S. and international TV and print journalists who made the trip this time have a very limited amount of downtime. In my case, I'm up by about 7 a.m. to make sure we can go live for any NBC or MSNBC show by 8 a.m. I will watch court proceedings, write, shoot tape and edit video until at least 7 p.m. On Tuesday night, I had to setup a 9:30 p.m. live shot, so the days can be quite long.
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(Click above to see a typical live shot NBC's Shawna Thomas helped produce from GTMO with Michael Isikoff).
But when I’m done with work, the answer to the above question for myself, and many members of the media here, is pretty straightforward: alcohol, cheap alcohol. It’s the Red Stripe, red wine, Jameson's and vodka kept in freezers in the media operations center (MOC) to facilitate the making of Bloody Mary's, once court and work has concluded for the day.
The MOC is our communal home away from home. We take notes, write stories, watch movies and log tape together in these three rooms where we spend more than 12 hours a day. Either we buy the booze at the Naval Exchange, the base's version of Target, or we go out on the town.
I use the term "out on the town" loosely. Unlike many other military bases around the world, you can't go out into Cuba when you're at Guantanamo Bay. All you have is what's on the base. And in the case of journalists who are covering military commissions, you are limited to where you can be escorted by a military public affairs officer (PAO) on the windward side of GTMO (the military’s abbreviation for the base).
So if we want to go to the bar, a PAO is right behind us. Majority rules among the journos at GTMO, so we have to agree on where the group is going for dinner or drinks.
In other words, there's no striking out on your own to find a frothy beer and a cute guy or gal to flirt with.
There's a choice of three bars on this side of the base, though the favorite tends to be O'Kelly's. Yes, the top choice is an Irish bar on an American base that sits on a Communist island. Unfortunately, O'Kelly's is closed for renovations right now, which leaves the restless media with the Tiki Bar and the Officers Club.
The media mingles with the military, lawyers and human rights activists who are here because of the ongoing trials. However, we're easy to avoid striking up a conversation with because we are required to wear red and green badges around our necks that have the word “MEDIA” emblazoned on them and we travel in packs.
There are also beautiful beaches here, but that tends to be a weekend event. Other activities include bowling (never been there), outdoor movies (haven't partaken) and my favorite, karaoke night on Wednesdays.
Yes folks, last time I was here I was able to convince someone to stay with me at the bar so I could indulge in my love of singing popular songs in front of strangers.
By the way, the last time I sang Metallica's “Enter Sandman” in front of at least 50 or 60 members of our armed forces. Tonight, if I can find an escort, I plan on going back. Any ideas for what song I should choose this time?
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Wow! Last time I was there (1988) there was one bar for enlisted and one for ocifers, how times have changed.
I seem to remember when I stopped over there in the 1960's that there was an O-Club, an NCO Club, and a club for enlisted swine (as they were called then.) LOL Could that be the three bars?
I guess it's possible, I wasn't a Chief.
Plus the girl at the bar made a mean Long Island Iced Tea, served it in a beer picher for like $5, there could have been an amusment park for all I know! :D
Paradise City
"Let the Bodies Hit the Floor" - Drowning Pool
In '78 when I was there it was "Baker Street", or Exile's "Kiss You All Over". And according to Casey Kasem, who's American Top 40 was repeated on the radio about 40 times a week, Nick Gilder held the record for longest run to number 1 with "Hot Child In The City".
"Sober"-Tool
Hmm, how about "Hanky Panky" as sung by Madonna in the movie Dick Tracy?
Of course he's going to "look like anything but a hardened Al-Qaeda operative". He was 15 at the time, and it's EIGHT YEARS later. He's been in custody all of that time, so of course he isn't going to LOOK the part, lol. What's that saying? "You can't judge a book by it's cover!"
Dang bleeding hearts, ya'll gonna let as many terrorists as you can slip through our fingers because they "don't look" the part? Nice, I'm sure they'll thank you for it.
However, maybe next time they strike, it'll be someone close TO YOU that winds up being their next victim. Maybe, just maybe, then you will see, LOOKS don't make a damn when it comes to the way someone THINKS OR FEELS...or ACTS...
Too many people today are being judged by the way they "look" or don't look. Heck, if that's the case, we would have to make prison cities to house all the people who DO look the part.....would that make ya'll happy? I guess the cost of these cities wouldn't be a problem for you either....
*by the way.. These 2 comments are about the related Nightly News video attached to the end of the 2nd paragraph of this story*
I fail to see how in the world the US Military should allow non-military or dependents access to the exchange, Officers' Club or MWR facilities. I know the base is isolated and the rest of the island is off limits, but if they can't provide their own beer, booze and amenities from the States, then they should go with out or stay home.
Based on the articles I've read, ninety-nine percent of those media types are only there to bash our government, military tribunal process and provide aid and comfort to the enemy. Let them get their own booze.
Ummm ...that is what AMERICA stands for. For the right of its citizen to scrutinize, disagree and perchance condemn the actions of its goverment and its military, whenever they are in the wrong. Striving to stand true to the ideals this nation was founded upon is not the same as providing "aid and comfort" to the enemy.
Or maybe you are right and it's just the starry eyed new American in me that is spewing all this crap .
starry eyed MrIndia?.....you musta had some bad pork
Colon_cleanser - i am not sure what you meant by that but if you were trying to insult me you should have used COW instead of PORK in your message cause i am a Hindu and hindus are supposed to worship cows.
(PS - Even then i would not have been insulted cause hinduism is a religion without any dogma and this particular hindu likes to worship his cows in the form of a juice medium rare steak)
Don't care what they are singing...but I'd be feeding 'em Pork Chops with a nice side of bacon wrapped pigs feet. And then I'd send out pictures of these assclowns eating em all over the internet.
Okay - so he was a child soldier. Enlisted into a war he didn't understand and didn't want at a very young age. He did not make that decision.
BUT
For a very long time he was brain-washed by his own family to become a jehadi in body spirit and mind. He eventually did become one and was actively fighting against US interests at the time of his capture.
Is it possible that there is still a part of him that does not want bloodshed ? That does not want to kill ? Hard to say. Especially for us arm-chair warriors. This determination is best left to to the professional psychiatrists, experts, military commanders and what have you.
But i know one thing - to let him go scott free without any consequence and without any oversight is the stupidest crap i have ever heard about.
Wow. Don'r they have a juvenile section at GITMO? And another thought, why are we still at GITMO? Are you telling me it takes 10+ years to prosecute people? Imprison the guilty in the States and release the ones we have no reason holding on to. This is coming from a conservative. I'm tired of people wasting our taxes!
“Jump” by Van Halen. Enjoy the weather and the beach’s there. It is perfected for the outdoor movie’s. I remember seeing Mel Brooks “young Frankenstein there in the mid 70’s. Just be sure and put mosquito repellent on any skin that is exposed, they will eat you alive, lol.
Time is on my side...yes it is...