A Tale of Two Gitmos

This has been a popular link with the Bush apologists this week. Some reporter went on a press tour of Gitmo and came back with stories of Barcoloungers and bahklava. How desperate do you have to be, to believe in this stuff? This is the self serving pap the White House stenos always offer. Does anyone really think a Pentagon sponsored press junket is going to be shown what really happens behind the cell doors?

Try balancing that carefully orchestrated view with this one. Take a look at what the guards say when they're partying at the local bar.

A 19-year-old sailor referred to only as Bo "told the other guards and me about him beating different detainees being held in the prison," the statement said.

"One such story Bo told involved him taking a detainee by the head and hitting the detainee's head into the cell door. Bo said that his actions were known by others," but that he was never punished, the statement said. The paralegal was identified in the affidavit as a sergeant working on an unidentified Guantanamo-related case. [...]

Other guards "also told their own stories of abuse towards the detainees" that included hitting them, denying them water and "removing privileges for no reason."
"About 5 others in the group admitted hitting detainees" and that included "punching in the face," the affidavit said.

"From the whole conversation, I understood that striking detainees was a common practice," the sergeant wrote. "Everyone in the group laughed at the others stories of beating detainees." Vokey called for an investigation, saying the abuse alleged in the affidavit "is offensive and violates United States and international law."

Which one rings truer to you? I have a feeling those kids are going to be sorry they tried so hard to impress the cute young paralegal at the cantina.