20 years of Gitmo

On 14^th January, the Guantanamo Bay detention centre — established in the wake of the 9/11 attacks — completed 20 years of its existence.

The US was clearly in a state of shock and fear following the attacks that left more than 3,000 people dead. Many stories have appeared on how 19 terrorists were able to access the highly fortified and restricted airbases and get hold of several aircraft, breaking the codes, getting the engines started, and hitting their targets. However, no convincing evidence has been found thus far, which could be relied upon to understand the suicide bombers’ motives, and the results they wanted to achieve by launching such horrendous attacks and killing thousands of innocent people.

However, the tragic event did create ideal conditions for an administration that would soon launch a no-holds-barred, violent counterattack against everyone and anyone who could be known to have any contact with any Islamist group or movement. The Bush administration seized the opportunity to change the political landscape of the region and the wider world. President Bush and his coterie of advisors knew there would be no accountability because a furious American public wanted quick and effective reprisals against whoever was regarded as a culprit having anti-US bias.

In launching this tirade of relentless attacks, killings and devastation of villages and houses, the American administration went overboard in utilising all known weapons of mass destruction. The attack on Afghanistan to dismantle a government that had nothing to do with 9/11 attacks was a major component of the so-called ‘war on terror’. In destroying the Taliban government, Americans were unrestrained by any standard of justice, fairness or human values, or lives. Indiscriminate bombing, shelling, killings and arrests were no big deal.

Beyond the use of destructive weapons to cause havoc in a population that just didn’t realise why such brute force was unleashed against them, there were more sinister experiments happening at the cost of many innocent individuals. Principles of morality and humanity were completely disregarded.

A prison camp was set up to employ all the known and hitherto unknown methods of torture against victims who had been hauled up without any trial. To detain victims and keep them in custody without any trial whatsoever was a gross violation of basic human rights. However, it was not mere detention without trial. Mad dogs were let loose on innocent victims who were chained and helpless. Detainees were locked up in torture cells where they could not lie down to sleep. The detainees were only allowed to go to the toilet once in 24 hours! Sleep deprivation methods were among key torture tactics. The cells were always lit, and loud music was played in the evenings lasting the entire night. Electric shocks were administered on the naked bodies of chained victims, and prisoners were undressed for days. Also, the horrible technique of waterboarding was extensively used, leaving the victims in a frenzied state between life and death. Physical beatings were a routine. Lastly, prisoners were sexually abused, many were just killed, and their body organs were gifted as ‘trophies’ to colleagues.

These were all crimes against humanity the likes of which the world had not seen in contemporary times. The war criminals would get away with this litany of unpardonable crimes. There would be no accountability. History would pass its judgment but who cares. Bush, Rumsfeld, Cheney, and those who followed, did what they wanted to do. But the question is whether the US interests were served or promoted by inflicting such torture on people based on mere suspicion? Whether such torture helped the cause of peace? Whether those who were guilty of the crimes of 9/11 were truly identified and punished? Whether the real culprits or their handlers were held to account? Whether the US image of a great power got a boost?

Guantanamo tortures left a deep scar on the conscience of humanity. Sadly, there were few voices of dissent within the US and beyond. This speaks volumes about the criminal indifference of the entire world, international leaders, and the media to crimes of such magnitude being committed so brazenly in full public view with scant regard to any accountability or public rebuke. Even wild beasts would not be tortured in a manner that was practiced in the notorious prison camp of Guantanamo.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th, 2022.

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