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CNN Saturday Morning News
Detainees Have Spent First Night at Guantanamo Naval Base
Aired January 12, 2002 - 09:10 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The first 20 Afghan detainees have spent their first night incarcerated at the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
CNN Havana bureau chief Lucia Newman was there as the military transport plane arrived.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN HAVANA BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): The Cuban military observation tower at Tres Piedras overlooking the U.S. naval station of Guantanamo provided an ideal view of the C-141 cargo plane that brought in the al Qaeda and Taliban detainees.
As soon as the plane landed, it taxied to about halfway up the runway and then pulled off, to be surrounded by U.S. military personnel. After the cargo plane unloaded, two white passenger buses escorted by Humvees pulled up to the plane and then began unloading the prisoners one by one.
The Cuban military, which had never before allowed foreign journalists to come to this point inside their military base in Guantanamo, seems to be taking an almost relaxed approached, convinced, they say, that the United States is taking all the necessary security precautions to keep the detainees within the base.
A successful escape from here, of course, is unlikely. One of the main reasons, say U.S. military officials, for picking the Guantanamo base to house these high-security prisoners.
The entire land perimeter is surrounded by cacti and Cuban mines meant to keep anyone from getting in or out from inside Cuba, which considers the base enemy territory. The only other escape route are the shark-infested waters of Guantanamo Bay, an inhospitable scenario at best.
(on camera): Most ordinary Cubans tell us they see the arrival of the prisoners on what they consider to be Cuba's sovereign territory to be a provocation. Yet for whatever higher political considerations, President Fidel Castro is not making an issue of it, at a time when nobody wants to appear to be on the wrong side of the war against terrorism.
Lucia Newman, CNN, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, in Afghanistan, more captured Taliban and al Qaeda fighters have been brought to Kandahar airport, and that's where our Bill Hemmer has been holding down the fort for the past numerous weeks, we shall say.
Hi, Bill.
BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kyra, good evening from Kandahar.
We've moved indoors because there's something very rare happening right now in southern Afghanistan, it's raining outside. We felt a few drops about four days ago, but outside of that, this is about the hardest it has come down, just a drizzle outside. But for a country that's in about four and a half years of drought right now, that is rather significant for Afghanistan.
To this date, 391 detainees, Kyra, 30 more brought in last night, and again this base continues to build out. The runway was expanded, finished earlier today, with repairs done to it to bring that big C- 141 here. It seems like, again, all the detainees will be funneled through this area before they take off eventually for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
A sad reminder for Marines today. A memorial service, a prayer service, held this morning here at the airport to honor the seven Marines who died in that plane crash in southwest Pakistan on Wednesday night. Six men, one woman died there. The recovery process said to be ongoing, and the Pentagon reiterated yesterday that they do not believe that enemy fire was responsible for that.
More talk about fire, the Marine firefight from Thursday night, the Marines, Kyra, tell us right now that after recon missions in Friday, they found footprints and shell casings and a few rocket- propelled grenades, just about 400 yards from the exterior perimeter here just outside the fighting holes for the Marines where they guard the base here.
The Marines say after that recon mission, they feel like they have the upper hand now. They say they know the hiding places of the opposition forces, they know where they are.
One other note from Kandahar, Kyra, the 101st Airborne Division, the colonel for that division came in today and talked with reporters. They should be hands-on here within two weeks' time at 2,500 strong -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, Bill, for as many times I've been talking to you during your time there, this is the first time I've seen you inside. Do you think maybe you can sort of tell us about the -- your living conditions there behind you? What are the guys doing now? What's behind you? Can you pan out and maybe give us a visual?
HEMMER: These are humble, feeble, meager surroundings, Kyra. That's where the public affairs officers all set up shop back there, and a couple members of the media from all over the world, basically. Those three light bulbs were just installed, Kyra, honestly, about four days ago. Before that, we had one light bulb and a string of Christmas lights. It's all run by generator here.
And if you stick with us long enough, Kyra, you're going to see it dim a little bit, because that's what it does all night long, it dims, and it comes back with strength throughout the evening here. You know, we're working with whatever we have, certainly.
PHILLIPS: No doubt. Our Bill Hemmer there in Kandahar with the Marines. Thanks so much, Bill.
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