Strawberry Fields (Guantanamo)
Encyclopedia
In 2003 a secret compound was constructed near the main Guantanamo Bay detention camps, in Cuba
, to hold CIA detainees, known as Strawberry fields.
Matt Apuzzo and Adam Goldman, in an exclusive report for the Associated Press
, reported that "high value detainees"
Abu Zubaydah
, Abd al-Nashiri, Ramzi bin al-Shibh and Mustafa al-Hawsawi
were transferred to Guantanamo on September 24, 2003.
They reported that the CIA thought they had learned the bulk of the information to be extracted from these individuals, and, at the time, they thought the men could be held securely in Guantanamo, without any prospect of the public learning that they had been subjected to "waterboarding
", and other controversial interrogation techniques.
When describing the camp, in August 2009, David Johnston
and Mark Mazetti, writing in the New York Times, quoted CIA officials, who said that the camp's nickname was a sly reference to the Beatles' song "Strawberry Fields Forever
", because the detainees would be held there "forever".
However, as the habeas corpus
petitions collectively known as Rasul v. Bush
made their way to the United States Supreme Court the four men were returned to CIA custody.
Apuuzo and Goldman report they were returned to CIA custody three months before the Supreme Court's ruling would have compelled information about their status to start to be shared.
According to Scott Horton
, writing for Harper's magazine
, the men were removed from Guantanamo on March 27, 2004.
Horton described the men's covert removal as an instance of "Three-Card Monte at Gitmo".
In January 2006 US District Court Judge Jed S. Rakoff
ruled that the United States Department of Defense
would have to publish a list of all the detainees held in Guantanamo by March 3, 2006.
In fact the DoD published a list of 759 names on May 15, 2006.
This list does not include Abu Zubaydah, Abd al-Nashiri, Ramzi bin al-Shibh or Mustafa al-Hawsawi.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, to hold CIA detainees, known as Strawberry fields.
Matt Apuzzo and Adam Goldman, in an exclusive report for the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, reported that "high value detainees"
Abu Zubaydah
Abu Zubaydah
Abu Zubaydah is a Saudi Arabian citizen, sentenced to death in Jordan and currently held in U.S. custody in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.Not neutral: Arrested in Pakistan in March 2002, he has been in US custody for more than eight years, four-and-a-half of them spent incommunicado in solitary confinement...
, Abd al-Nashiri, Ramzi bin al-Shibh and Mustafa al-Hawsawi
Mustafa al-Hawsawi
Mustafa al-Hawsawi is a member of the militant Islamic organization al-Qaeda and allegedly an organizer and financer of the September 11 attacks....
were transferred to Guantanamo on September 24, 2003.
They reported that the CIA thought they had learned the bulk of the information to be extracted from these individuals, and, at the time, they thought the men could be held securely in Guantanamo, without any prospect of the public learning that they had been subjected to "waterboarding
Waterboarding
Waterboarding is a form of torture in which water is poured over the face of an immobilized captive, thus causing the individual to experience the sensation of drowning...
", and other controversial interrogation techniques.
When describing the camp, in August 2009, David Johnston
David Cay Johnston
David Cay Johnston is an investigative journalist and author, a specialist in economics and tax issues, and winner of the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting....
and Mark Mazetti, writing in the New York Times, quoted CIA officials, who said that the camp's nickname was a sly reference to the Beatles' song "Strawberry Fields Forever
Strawberry Fields Forever
"Strawberry Fields Forever" is a song by The Beatles, written by John Lennon and attributed to the Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership. It was inspired by Lennon's memories of playing in the garden of a Salvation Army house named "Strawberry Field" near his childhood home."Strawberry Fields...
", because the detainees would be held there "forever".
However, as the habeas corpus
Habeas corpus
is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations...
petitions collectively known as Rasul v. Bush
Rasul v. Bush
Rasul v. Bush, 542 U.S. 466 , is a landmark United States Supreme Court decision establishing that the U.S. court system has the authority to decide whether foreign nationals held in Guantanamo Bay were wrongfully imprisoned...
made their way to the United States Supreme Court the four men were returned to CIA custody.
Apuuzo and Goldman report they were returned to CIA custody three months before the Supreme Court's ruling would have compelled information about their status to start to be shared.
According to Scott Horton
Scott Horton (lawyer)
Scott Horton is a New York attorney known for his work in human rights law and the law of armed conflict, as well as emerging markets and international law. He graduated Texas Law School in Austin with a JD and was a partner in a large New York law firm, Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler...
, writing for Harper's magazine
Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts, with a generally left-wing perspective. It is the second-oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S. . The current editor is Ellen Rosenbush, who replaced Roger Hodge in January 2010...
, the men were removed from Guantanamo on March 27, 2004.
Horton described the men's covert removal as an instance of "Three-Card Monte at Gitmo".
In January 2006 US District Court Judge Jed S. Rakoff
Jed S. Rakoff
Jed Saul Rakoff is a United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York.-Biography:Rakoff was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania August 1, 1943. Rakoff graduated with honors in English literature from Swarthmore College , earned his M. Phil. from Balliol College at Oxford University...
ruled that the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
would have to publish a list of all the detainees held in Guantanamo by March 3, 2006.
In fact the DoD published a list of 759 names on May 15, 2006.
This list does not include Abu Zubaydah, Abd al-Nashiri, Ramzi bin al-Shibh or Mustafa al-Hawsawi.