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Via Kristen Schremp: Move America Forward Executive Director Catherine Moy’s First-Hand Account of Guantanamo Bay
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba – Delegates from Move America Forward (MAF), the nation’s largest pro-troop organization, were given access to visit the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center holding some of the world’s most lethal detainees (the word terrorist is not spoken inside the detention centers) yesterday. The delegation traveled to Cuba to conclude their nationwide tour to honor soldiers serving away from their loved ones this holiday season.Catherine Moy, Executive Director of MAF, initially felt as if she was somewhere other than the notorious detention center when she became aware that “They watch movies weekly, eat a menu of six different diets from which they choose, and they are given every consideration for their religion. The detainees at Guantanamo Bay are treated with kid gloves."
But, she was quickly reminded why many of the men are being held at the center, when “one detainee made motions to me like he was cutting my throat. These are not nice characters. It is imperative that Guantanamo Bay Detention Center stay open, or we risk putting Americans and other innocents in danger.”
Soldiers at Guantanamo Bay told the MAF delegates that they are tired of hearing about the bad things politicians and the media say and write about them. It is frustrating and insulting, especially when they bend over backwards to ensure that the Geneva conventions are followed to the letter.
Melanie Morgan, Chairman of Move America Forward adds, "I went to the Gitmo detention center and I was stunned. I saw nothing but the highest professionalism from the men and women of our Armed Forces, and I expected no less. Those prisoners are shown too much respect. We visiting women had to cover our arms and our legs completely so we didn't offend the radical Muslim prisoners.
"Well, what really offends me,” continues Morgan, “is the talk from Barack Obama's upcoming administration that he wants to close the prison. He better go down there and take a look at the facilities - and read the menus and look at the movie library - before he makes rash decisions that will endanger American lives."
Gold Star Mom, Debbie Lee, whose son, Marc Alan Lee was the first Navy SEAL killed in Iraq, commented on her experiences inside the detention center; saying, “Today I looked my first terrorist in the eye. My visit to the detention center where the non-compliant worst offenders are kept revealed the dark depravity of their souls and hatred towards the ‘infidels.’”
Some of the facts about the detainees that have not been reported in the media include:
· There are three medical personnel (doctors, nurses) for every ONE detainee.
· Detainees get prayer rugs, prayer caps, prayer beads and brand new Korans. The guards may NEVER touch the Korans. Only a Muslim may deliver the books to the terrorists. If the terrorists are especially good, they get a fancier prayer rug.
· They get to choose from six meal plans, which include vegetarian, vegetarian with fish, and high fiber. They are allowed to ask for fresh fruit if their fruit is bruised.
· They get to take art classes and learn how to speak English. This keeps their minds busy so they don’t think of other things to do.
· They most violent and “non-compliant” prisoners stay in state-of-the-art quarters. They have air conditioning.
· They get to play games such as soccer, chess, checkers, and exercise on exercise machines. They have a foosball table, but all of the faces of the little plastic guys are cut off because they offend the terrorists – seeing them as “false idols,” which is against their religion, therefore the military removed to not offend them.
Move America Forward has been conducting a nationwide tour to support sending care packages to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The tour began in Sacramento, California, with a parade to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the California Vietnam Memorial and will now end at the U.S. military facility in Cuba.
The trip was facilitated by Kylie Williams, official ambassador for veterans’ advocacy for the State of Florida. Traveling on the tour in addition to Morgan and Moy are MAF staff members Danny Gonzalez and Ryan Gill. Also accompanying the group is Gold Star Mom and MAF spokesperson Debbie Lee, whose son Marc Alan Lee was the first Navy SEAL killed in Iraq.
Lee said, “Move America Forward made possible a trip to Kuwait and Iraq so that Melanie and I could join our troops during the holidays last year and personally distribute Christmas and Hanukkah cards to our troops. This year we are honored to travel to Guantanamo Bay to express our thanks and see for ourselves the honorable work done under difficult circumstances by our military.”
Morgan noted, “With so many politicians irresponsibly criticizing the job being done by American troops at Guantanamo Bay, we thought it was important for us to go there and personally tell them that the American people are 100% behind them – despite what a few self-serving politicians have to say.”
In the wake of Obama’s announcement to close Guantanamo Bay because of inhumane treatment, Moy commented, “The detainees here are given better medical care than our troops who are serving in Guantanamo Bay. It makes me wonder if President-elect Obama has ever been to the detainee centers or if he's just listening to radicals who have never seen the prison with their own eyes."
