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CNN Saturday Morning News

Detainees in Cuba are Carefully Monitored

Aired January 12, 2002 - 11:08   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 Afghan prisoners being held in Cuba, they're considered the most dangerous of hundreds of war detainees held by the United States. Pool reporter Brian Andrews has more now from the prison camp in Cuba.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN ANDREWS, POOL REPORTER: The Army colonel who is running security over Camp X-Ray tell us that last night was an peaceful night. All 20 of the detainees, said to be in their 30s, spent the night in their individual cells on a foam rubber mat with a sheet. There was a little bit of rain last night, but the shelter over their heads held up. No major issue.

At last check, they were having breakfast this morning. This afternoon they will be having lunch, which consists of what they call a halal meal, which is a dietary neutral meal. The latest package that we saw seemed to indicate it had pasta noodles and vegetable stew inside.

These are the worst of the worst Taliban and al Qaeda fighters. They are bad news. That's why Guantanamo wanted to get these guys into this prison base first. There is a multi-tiered security layer at Camp X-Ray. The Army colonel in charge of security says there is no way that anyone could escape.

We're also being told that today at this camp, there will be medical evaluations of these people. We have been told last night by the military that at least one of the detainees had tested positive for exposure to Tuberculosis. There is no confirmation that he has TB, but nonetheless there were security and health precautions taken, and that gentleman and others will receive a medical evaluation.

These people have to have exercise at some point. It is a basic human right, so they're going to be able to let them out in an area where they can stretch their legs, but not that much. After all, these men are prisoners and they will be shackled 24 hours a day.

As far as the military is concerned, everything went smooth. This was a home run, so to speak, for the folks who run security out of Camp X-Ray, and they say that it's just the first one because, as you know, they're expecting more detainees here at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

That's the latest from Gitmo. I'm Brian Andrews, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, let's talk more about the military campaign with CNN Analyst Major General Don Shepperd. He joins us this morning once again from Washington, D.C. General, hello.

MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, we got this breaking news just moments ago about five of the seven Marines being recovered in Pakistan since this plane crash. No doubt, an extremely tough recovery effort.

SHEPPERD: Indeed. The aircraft went down in a very rugged terrain is what it amounts to, in a very violent manner, evidently, a lot of fire and a lot of explosion. Reports are that five of the seven have been recovered. Efforts will go on to recover the other two.

What we do in these type of accidents is, we bring the remains back to the mortuary facilities at Dover Air Force Base, and basically then prepare them for the families and appropriate burial. It's a very sad day, but it's good that we recovered five. We always try to bring this to a closure for the families involved.

PHILLIPS: Absolutely. On that note, General, I have a question for you and that is, among these seven Marines there was a female, and that was brought up in the coverage, that this was the first female to die in this War against Terrorism.

On the other side of things, I heard a lot from other female pilots within the military that they didn't like how she was singled out, that they want to be looked at as equal members among the aviators in the military. What do you think about that? How do you feel about that, and do you agree with that point?

SHEPPERD: I absolutely agree with the point. We have gone to great lengths to bring women into the military and to establish them in appropriate ways, under the laws of armed conflict and the various expertise areas that they can qualify for.

Basically, they don't want to be singled out. They want to be seen as members of the military like everyone else. Unfortunately, we're still a society and it's still a male-dominated society, especially in the area of warfare and the military. And so, it's always going to be, at least for the foreseeable future, a case where the death of women is viewed differently than the death of men. It's a sad reality.

On the other hand, I believe the women are right. They want to be just one of us because they're qualified to do every job that they're in and they don't want to be singled out. I understand that, unfortunately, society rules.

PHILLIPS: Let's talk about Kandahar for a minute, the new developments there, the arrival of the 101st Airborne Division. Let's talk about the role of these soldiers.

SHEPPERD: Yes, it's the lead elements of the 101st Airborne Division, an air assault and an air-mobile division who have lots of helicopters, and they won't bring the whole division in likely, but major elements will be brought in.

Now the lead elements can be brought in very quickly, within a week or two weeks type thing, but then it takes a while to get the heavier forces. Now remember the Marines from the MEUs, the Marine Expeditionary Units, numbering about 2,200 of which 1,000 go forward in a reinforced battalion, are designed to hold from 30 to 90 days.

Then you bring in the heavier forces, and that's what the 101st is about. Up to 15,000 people, I believe in this division, and they will be expanding the perimeter and providing General Franks with more options to do the things he wants to do across the country, with heavier equipment and more people.

PHILLIPS: CNN Analyst Major General Don Shepperd, thank you so much, and we'll see you back here tomorrow morning.

SHEPPERD: A pleasure.

PHILLIPS: All right, thanks General.

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