Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Camp X-Ray Prisoners Finding Ally in U.S. Uniform

Aired February 04, 2002 - 10:13   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: More Al Qaeda and Taliban detainees may soon be transferred to Cuba. Their construction of the prison camp has been wrapped up, and it now boasts more than double its original capacity. Those who are already in prison this morning are finding an ally in a U.S. uniform.

In Cuba this morning, Guantanamo Bay, here is Bob Franken.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Probably no one speaks more with the individual detainees than the Muslim chaplain. Abuhena Saif Ul Islam says that some of the prisoners claim they are shocked to hear about the events of September 11th.

CAPT. ABUHENA SAIF UL ISLAM, MUSLIM CHAPLAIN: When they find out what happened, they know that this is wrong. They know that.

QUESTION: Are you getting a sense of remorse, is that what you are saying?

ISLAM: Yes.

FRANKEN: Inevitably, the detainees and their American captors communicate in a variety of ways. For a few, that communication comes at the nearby 20-vet field hospital.

(on camera): We're not allowed to show them, but inside this ward are seven detainees recovering from surgery. They are surrounded by security force, in their beds, in shackles.

CAPT. PAT ALFORD, FIELD HOSPITAL COMMANDER: There have been a couple of instances where the individuals said "thank you." Whether or not there's been any change of attitude or anything beyond that, I really can't speak to that with any accuracy.

FRANKEN (voice-over): Two other detainees are being treated as psychotics, another two from malaria, which medical officials hasten to say, they caught if Afghanistan before came to Camp X-Ray.

ALFORD: Malaria does not exist in Cuba.

FRANKEN: One of the messages that U.S. officials are trying to convey is that many of their prisoners are getting the best medical care they ever had.

But all of them, injured or not, can expect intense questioning.

MAJ. STEVE COX, TASK FORCE SPOKESMAN: It is reasonable to say that the detainees here at Guantanamo Bay who have been interrogated have information as of value, to not just the United States, but to other nations around the world in global world on terrorism.

FRANKEN: Home for now is a distant dream, as officials try to determine which of these detainees, if any, will ever see home again.

Bob Franken, CNN, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com