This Is Guantanamo Bay’s $400,000 Go-Kart Track

[mahatmakanejeeves]

I never thought I'd be reading about Guantanamo Bay on Jalopnik.

This Is Guantanamo Bay’s $400,000 Go-Kart Track
http://jalopnik.com/5974947/this-is-guantanamo-bays-400000-go+kart-track

I have no problems with recreational facilities at military bases. All work and no play, etc. About a hundred years ago, I was stationed at NAS Patuxent River. There was a golf course on base, as well as a gym. Fine; no problem. Could not, however, the Seabees have put this go-kart track together, and for a lot less?

ArmyMWR
http://www.armymwr.com/

As long as I have your attention, who "owns" the Guantanamo Bay detention camp? The Wiki says it is within the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. The writer at Jalopnik keeps referring to "soldiers." I don't expect the writer at Jalopnik to distinguish among soldiers, sailors, and Marines, but I know that someone at DU will be able to clear that up for me.

Thanks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Bay_detention_camp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Bay_Naval_Base

[progressoid]

1. And almost 700K to remodel a Starbucks?

[dipsydoodle]

2. In terms of ownership

the answer is Cuba. The US has a lease which only got renewed years ago when some complete plank in the Cuban government cashed a single cheque which they should not have done.

[diphthong]

3. I'm fine with them spending money on the troops' recreation.

I would, however, have tried to come up with something that made a little more sense than a go cart track...

[rickford66]

4. I was in the Seabees

And you know what? You do what you're told to do. Someone decided to build this, blame them, not the Seabees.

[Solly Mack]

5. GTMO is the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, a Joint Task Force base.

Navy, Marines, Army, Air Force, and the Coast Guard (Maritime Safety and Security Team) are all there in varying numbers. The numbers change with deployments, with the army having the largest numbers at the detention center. The National Guard also rotates there. National Guard primarily used at the detention center.

There are even Cubans living and working on the base.

America "owns" the detention center.

[ROBROX]

6. NAVY VET SEZ

I have been to a few naval bases and some just don't have anything or any place to go. I do not think the base personnel are allowed to visit Cuba and spend quality time with the natives. Many Cubans do cross over daily and work at the base. The workers at Starbucks, etc. to serve the service members. Most recreational expenses are a very small issue since it is not a big part of the budget. If there are many different service members there may be a bigger budget. When I was a sailor all the facilities were world are II era built. Talk about maintaining the indoor Olympic size pool. I never wondered about the cost since the pool was used by many different service members for training pilots, etc.

It is good that people at a base have some form of ESCAPE since this veteran considers volunteer service LEGAL SLAVERY........