Guantanamo Guards | National Geographic

TL;DR

Guards at Guantanamo Bay discuss the importance of treating detainees fairly and impartially, recognizing their humanity despite their actions.

Transcript

if you treat him like a human being not like a c animal not like a person who's a terrorist they know what they did was wrong or what they did was for a cause but still they're still a human being you get to go home you get to call your families you get to check your email get to watch TV and all that they've been locked inside these cells for seve... Read More

Key Insights

• 💂 Treating detainees as human beings is emphasized by guards at Guantanamo Bay.
• 💂 Guards recognize the detainees' understanding of the rules and their long-term confinement.
• 🕵️‍♀️ Cultural sensitivities must be navigated by female guards in their interactions with male detainees.
• 👶 New guards undergo training to prepare them for their roles and interactions with detainees.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do guards at Guantanamo Bay view their role in relation to the detainees?

Guards see themselves as facilitators, not judges, and strive to maintain fairness, firmness, and impartiality in their interactions with detainees.

Q: How do guards handle cultural differences when interacting with detainees?

Guards understand the cultural sensitivities, such as devout Muslims averting their eyes in the presence of women, and take precautions to ensure respectful interactions.

Q: How do new guards prepare for their role at Guantanamo Bay?

New guards receive training to familiarize themselves with the rules and protocols, as well as to understand the background and experiences of the detainees they will be interacting with.

Q: How do detainees feel about their time in Guantanamo Bay?

Detainees express a range of emotions, with some feeling petrified and others experiencing the intense reality of living in a cell for several years.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Guards emphasize the importance of treating detainees like human beings, acknowledging that they know the rules and have been locked in cells for years.

• New guards undergo training to prepare them for their interactions with detainees, who may come from different backgrounds.

• Female guards navigate cultural sensitivities when interacting with male detainees, who may avert their eyes in the presence of women.