Guantánamo guards suffer psychological trauma

[Ichingcarpenter]

Source: The Guardian

The guards at the Guantánamo Bay prison camp are the "overlooked victims" of America's controversial detention facility in Cuba, according to a psychiatrist who has treated some of them.

In some cases, a tour of duty at the camp has made guards suicidal and prompted a variety of psychiatric symptoms, from depression and insomnia to flashbacks. The guards' testimony also provides a harrowing insight into the treatment of prisoners.

Professor John Smith, a retired US Air Force captain, treated a patient who was a guard at the camp. "I think the guards of Guantánamo are an overlooked group of victims," Smith told the American Academy of Forensic Sciences annual meeting in Washington DC on Saturday. "They do not complain a lot. You do not hear about them."

The patient ('Mr H') is a national guardsman in his early 40s who was sent to Guantánamo in the first months of its operation, when prisoners captured in Afghanistan were beginning to flood into the camp. Mr H reported that he found conditions at the camp extremely disturbing. For example, in the first month two detainees and two prison guards committed suicide.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/feb/25/guantanamo.guards

[endarkenment]

1. My sympathy level for torturers is very low. nt.

[Mojorabbit]

2. A lot of these soldiers

are young. Their supervising officers should be prosecuted. I feel sorry for everyone involved.

[endarkenment]

3. As I said, not much sympathy.

After we have prosecuted those responsible for ordering these crimes, and compensated the victims, then I will consider the plight of those who were just following orders.

[HereSince1628]

4. The torturers are undoubtedly few, those who saw the outcome

are undoubtedly more numerous. I suspect over the next decade in order to exorcise their demons their stories will be told and those stories WILL finger the responsible. These soldiers may be your and my best chance to see trials.

[endarkenment]

5. Like at Abu Ghraib?

Only the clowns at the bottom of the pile will get nailed. I continue to have little sympathy for those who were 'only following orders'. The order are illegal and are a violation of the geneva conventions.

[HereSince1628]

6. I'd not say it's fair, but pressure on the guys you sweep up can

and usually does create motivation for spilling the beans. A keystone needs to tumble, without the Cheney administration's scaffolding to hold things in place.

It will take some time. Unfair as that is.

[saigon68]

15. Yes its hard work shoving a Flash light up some child's rectum

[HereSince1628]

30. As one Vietnam Vet to another I gotta say

that's misplaced vitriole against other veterans. Not everyone in those facilities is guilty of torture. I'm hardly trying to protect the torturers. That was Colin Powell's job for Mai Lai and its some sort of 'Ollie North-type's' job working for the criminal lawyers hired by members of the Cheney admin.

With a bit of thought you and I both can recognize that the torturers aren't the only ones who see the before and after evidence. The pilots, the rest of the flight crews who illegally moved prisoners, the terminal personnel, the military engineers who watched the facilities built and who maintain these facilities as well as all the support staff that worked there including medics, nurses and doctors, Jag staff, as well as the guys who guard the cages all saw things. And the things they saw do bother most of them and will bother them more over time. Based on the experience of war crimes and crimes against humanity of the past 60 years I'd say that there is a very good chance that non-torturers will come forward and make possible the indictments we yearn for. But it's gonna require precept being laid upon precept. It's gonna take time and dedicated prosecutors.

There is no statute of limitations on Human Rights Violations and War Crimes. There is no "just following orders" defence. There is no "My country passed a pardon so your country can't try me" defense.

I'm no Simon Wesenthal but as powerful as the Cheney administration seems at the moment, there is no reason to believe that over the next decades they will get away with this. Justice has a long memory and a very very long arm.

[The Stranger]

33. The first two sentences of your post seem to contradict the entire rest of it.

Veterans -- especially veterans -- are the ones most angry at what is going on. And that cannot possibly be considered "misplaced." On the contrary, nothing in the world could be better and more accurately placed.

[defendandprotect]

45. Not everyone was a whistleblower on the torture either . . . bless those who were --- !!!!

[olddad56]

20. you should walk a mile in their shoes..very shallow minded

[endarkenment]

26. Nuremburg and our own military code of justice

require that all soldiers, regardless of the chain of command and the orders given, not commit war crimes.

That said, and even with my sympathy level on low, what gets me even more angry is that when anyone is punished, as in Abu Ghraib, it is the idiots at the bottom who were 'just following orders' who get shat on. That part of it I have sympathy for, following orders, not so much.

[The Stranger]

34. Bullshit. It isn't asking too much of someone not to commit war crimes and torture.

[lynnertic]

10. "These soldiers may be your and my best chance to see trials."

That's right. You and I have no idea what these guards were threatened with, and time will only tell if we'll ever know what they saw.

It is remarkable that two guards to committed suicide within the first month of the prison's operation.

I read that most of the guards were reservists from Maryland. These are folk who were reservists for crying out loud, they didn't sign up for Gitmo, they signed up for like Red Dawn or something.

[roguevalley]

39. I imagine these are the guards who do the daily maintenance

of the area. not the torturers.

[eib1]

14. Their supervising officers,

rest assured, are not experiencing panic attacks or nightmares.

[The Stranger]

32. That's no excuse for committing known crimes.

Not even in the military.

[coalition_unwilling]

36. Their supervising officers (with command responsibility a la Nuremburg like

Gen Tom Hartmann, no relation to the Tom Hartmann of Air America radio) and the civilian leadership of the Defense Dept and Justice Dept should be on trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Instead, John Yuu (author of one of the Justice Dept memos authorizing torture) is now a professor at the U. of California-Berkeley. My tax dollars as a CA state taxpayer are going to pay this war criminal's salary. Abso-friggin-lutely unbelievable.

[olddad56]

19. What is a junior enlisted man's options one he is there?

Face a court martial, dishonorable discharge, and federal prison time for failing to obey a direct order? Dessert, wich duringa time of war is punishable by death byu a firing squad? Or stand his post and suffer from PTSD the rest of his life. Perhap you would have magically flown away, but most of those soldiers are stuck between a rock and a hard spot.

[gratuitous]

21. Yes, quit

This government has broken its trust with everyone in the military, and none of them signed up for torture. If we can have serious discussions about trying 14-year-olds as adults, how much more culpable are our military people, who are at least four years older?

This is no more about honor or integrity or duty or any of that other rah-rah patriotic bullshit. This is about war crimes, crimes against humanity, and at the very least permanent psychological damage. It's time to leave.

[lonestarnot]

24. Yes excellent idea!

:applause:

[Winterblues]

43. Lt Wasika did just that and what did he get but 20 years in the slammer

It is real easy for someone sitting in their chair pounding on a key board to say almost anything but quite another to actually be there and do the deed. Few have the courage to stand up against the forces of the US Government.

[gratuitous]

44. And quite possibly saved his soul

I know it's not very fashionable to talk about such things, but there it is. The real world consequences of compromising one's conscience can be far worse than any stretch in jail.

And yes, it is rather easy to pontificate from behind a keyboard. Which is why I was pretty damned nervous facing armed militia folks in Chiapas Mexico.

[atreides1]

49. You Mean Lt Watada??

Who by the way hasn't been court martialed yet, so he's not serving any sentence at the moment. Unlike Sgt Kevin Benderman who was court martialed in July 2005 and was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment and given a dishonorable discharge.

But as you say few have the courage to stand up for what is right and just, I guess they prefer doing the what they're told without question.

So tell me what makes those who wear the uniform of the US military any different from those who served in the Werhmacht or the Waffen SS?

[olddad56]

50. quit and do the prison time for desertion?

[frebrd]

7. Let's face it...

they're there because they voluntarily enlisted. They weren't drafted.

[yardwork]

22. Not true. I know a man in his fifties who was called to Gitmo.

He had been in the Reserves for decades. Not active duty. Got dragged down to Gitmo away from his regular job.

[Breathe]

8. The are National Guard not active duty soldiers

It's not fair to blame them for what is happening in Guantanamo. Most people who join the Guard, join to help out in national emergencies like hurricanes and tornadoes and blizzards and things like that. They signed up to help their communities. They didn't sign up to be prison guards -- especially in a place where innocent people are rounded up and tortured. Plus, what are they supposed to do? Break them out? Secret them off the island? I suspect many of these emotional traumas come from sheer feelings of helplessness in addition to all they've seen. While the people who are sadistic by nature will enjoy such a post, people who are good by nature will also be tortured by it. If we want to place blame, let's place it where it belongs -- on the people who set up this system. They are torturing not only the people at that prison but the honorable men and women of our armed services who signed up to serve their country and protect the homeland.

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

11. i'm curious

I looked at your profile and wonder,

Are you a Soldier?

[Breathe]

12. I'm from a military family

My brother is in the Navy and my dad was too. My brother was due to retire over three years ago ... only they won't let him. Stop gap. It's like the Hotel California. You can check out any time you like but you can never leave.

[BeHereNow]

18. I'm sorry about your brother...

Hopefully he will be able to get out soon?

My nephew, his wife and my brother all
got out. I am SO relieved.

All have sworn they will NEVER go back.

BHN

[tuckessee]

54. Uhlans? n/t

[BeHereNow]

17. Welcome to DU and AMEN sister.

I agree with you completely.
Many people in the NG are there not only to
serve their communities, but also because they NEED
the extra income.
I'm sure NONE of them expected to end up
in a place like Gitmo.
Most normal people which I think the majority
of National Guardsmen/women are, would be
traumatized by the experience, yes, they are victims too.


BHN

[bdamomma]

51. terrible to what has happened to our National Guard

to think that they signed up for only weekends and to protect the country were being shipped off for this despicable man who sits in the WH. National Guard is supposed to be here based in the US not in torture camps or illegal occupied countries.

It is truly disgusting how much damage has been done.

[Auntie Bush]

25. Good understanding 3rd post Caroleeena.

Welcome to DU. I hope you're prepared to witness a lot sh** being flung around.

[maquisard]

41. They could testify

Okay, so jailbreaks are probably not within the means of the avergae Guard soldier stationed in Gitmo, but I imagine there's more they could do than sit around and be depressed. Couldn't they write to, oh, say, members of the Senate oversight committee and suggest that Congress do something about the war crimes being perpetrated in Gitmo?

[Arctic Dave]

9. "overlooked victims"

Did I misread my dictionary? What I'm seeing is the inmates should be the victim and the guards are the perpetrators. I would like to know what agonizing events were inflicted on the guards that makes them think they are victims? :eyes: I think what's going on is that they are finally beginning to realize that what they did to these people was wrong and they were complete fucking douche bags for doing it. But then again 9/11 changed everything.

[gratuitous]

13. It's undoubtedly tough to see the inhumane treatment

But imagine being on the receiving end of that treatment for six years, without charge, without seeing an attorney, without outside contact of any kind, and without promise or even a hope of resolution for your situation.

[endarkenment]

27. "tough to see the inhumane treatment"?

The guards are the ones doling out 'the treatment'. They are not passive observers.

[gratuitous]

28. I was being as charitable as I could be

I would suspect that National Guard Weekend Warriors aren't given the primary interrogation duties, although considering the current state of the U.S. government, there are no guarantees. Participating surely scars those inflicting the torture, but being a passive observer has to be a soul-searing experience as well. It's time for those whose consciences have not been seared over to get out of the military and leave these illegal posts. It will be difficult to make that break with our national religion, but there is a physical, mental, psychological and spiritual toll being taken that will ripple through our country for decades to come.

[endarkenment]

29. Ok there is a misunderstanding about 'the treatment'.

Our basic torture technique is 24/7 sensory deprivation, deliberate disorientation, and sexual humiliation. It is a continuous process. Interrogation itself is a minor part in 'the treatment'. The guards, each and every one of them with any prisoner contact, are direct participants in the process itself.

[tom_paine]

16. Victims like the SS? Reagan said they were victims, too.

:puke:

[Arctic Dave]

23. What is with all the rationalization?

If a senior enlisted or officer gives you an order that goes against UCMJ then tell them NO. If they threaten you with a dishonorable or time in the brig, so fucking what. I would find it an honor to tell them to piss off and get discharged then to stay. Perhaps it's time to start acting like a good human being then a good soldier.

[The Stranger]

35. That is exactly right.

I fear though that many have become so lost, they don't see something so simple. That, and the fact that it there is massive denial about what has been done, and who is responsible. To face up to the crimes that have been committed is just too much.

[Javaman]

31. There is a foul wind blowing upon this nation. And I fear that

we are only witnessing the coming attractions to the main event.

We will become the pariah's of the world very soon and because we have treated everyone so horribly, the world will let us twist in the wind as we deserve.

we all should be ashamed.

[coalition_unwilling]

38. To quote Tonto out of context, "What do you mean 'We,' white man?" Seriously,

though, many of us have been out in the streets demonstrating and vigiling for the past 7 years (seems like a lifetime some times). I have been vigiling locally in Southern California at least twice a week for the past 7 years. I do not feel I 'deserve' to twist in the wind nor do any of my friends, colleagues and associates in the peace and anti-imperialism movement.

I do feel America is long overdue for some serious war crimes action at the Hague for these neo-fascists and their enablers and look forward to that day finally arriving. In my opinion, the war crimes trials should start with Henry Kissinger, McGeorge Bundy, Robert McNamara and move forward from there to include HW Bush, John Poindexter, Bill Clinton, Albright and BFEE. That's a maximalist approach, I know, but it's change I can believe in (no disrespect to Obama intended).

[Javaman]

40. oh I totally agree, but sadly, many of my european and south american friends

are simply appalled at us.

To quote one friend, "if america is such a paragon of democracy and freedoms, why do you have free speech zones?"

I had no answer to give him.

:(

[bdamomma]

53. Again people in Europe would never stand for all this shit

in their own countries why is that?, maybe its because their own countries were involved in WW2 and they saw destruction, and we never had a conflict other than the Civil War on our own soil. Makes a person wonder.

And of course their media is definitely better than ours, ours is to sanitized.

[bdamomma]

52. yes, javaman, we should all be ashamed.

.......sigh..........

[DiverDave]

37. When I was in the Army

we were told that to obey an unlawfull order would get us in deep shit.

The enlisted folks CAN refuse an order they feel is unlawful.

This came about after Mei Lai.

[Hydra]

42. National Guard should never be where they've been placed

Oh, well. Not like we speak up for them. Or against Bush.

I'm sick of living in a country of good germans.

[defendandprotect]

46. You can't be involved with s * * * like this, dehumanize people --- and not end up

making s*** of yourself and losing all respect for yourself --- your own humanity depends on
recognizing the humanity of others.

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Supersedeas]

48. nothing to see here -- feed them more celebrity news, more snow in winter, more poll #'s

[otherlander]

55. Boo fucking hoo.

So refuse. Refuse to cooperate. What'll happen? They'll get sent to jail? If they're willing to fight and get shot for their country, why shouldn't they be willing to go to jail for their principles? If they make the CHOICE to continue cooperating, they shouldn't complain about how disturbing they find it.