Guantanamo Bay Lawsuit Shows Gitmo's Still As Secretive As Ever

Impact

The detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba has long been a secretive base, whether it be Colonel Nathan Jessup covering up murder in A Few Good Men or President Obama's administration refusing to answer questions regarding Camp 7 to a Miami Herald reporter.

The Herald's Carol Rosenberg has been covering the Guantanamo Bay detention facility since it opened in 2002, and is currently suing the the Pentagon under the Freedom of Information Act over the refusal to disclose how much it Camp 7 cost to build and to operate. Camp 7 is where 16 of the high-value detainees, including alleged 9/11 conspirators, are being held. According to the lawsuit, all other construction and operating costs have been revealed for the rest of the camp. The Pentagon claims that the information is classified and that it would cause an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, despite releasing it for all other areas.

If the president and the Pentagon are serious about transparency at the detention center than it must finish releasing the documents on the operational and construction costs for Camp 7. If the detention facility is going to remain open then it has to be transparent. Any number published regarding the housing of alleged 9/11 conspirators could be justified by the president's team, and those who support the facility on the right. The refusal to reveal this information when it has been revealed in all other contexts is confusing, especially considering the ease by which this policy could be justified by both sides of the aisle supporting the continuation of the detainment policy. Hopefully Rosenberg's lawsuit is successful so that at least we understand more about this facility that has gained such a negative reputation.