Podcast Summary
Strict security measures and unexpected rules at Guantanamo cause frustration for journalists: Journalists at Guantanamo faced challenges including confiscated notebooks, forbidden coffee, and reprimands for whispering, highlighting the complexities of reporting in a sensitive and secure environment
The reporting experience at the Military Commissions at Guantanamo in 2022 was marked by strict security measures and unexpected rules, causing frustration and indignation for journalists. Sarah Koenig and her team, including Carole Rosenberg, encountered various issues, such as being forbidden to bring coffee into the spectators gallery, being reprimanded for whispering, and having their notebooks confiscated if they doodled. Despite the aggravation, the team managed to keep a sense of humor about the situation, but Carole, a seasoned Guantanamo reporter, was particularly upset by the new rules and the disrespectful treatment by the guards. These incidents highlight the challenges and complexities of reporting in such a sensitive and secure environment.
Challenges for Journalists Reporting from Guantanamo Bay: Veteran journalist Carole Rosenberg faces ongoing challenges reporting from Guantanamo Bay due to disruptive guards and restrictive military regulations, but remains dedicated to preserving its institutional memory and reporting on the complex history of the prison, highlighting the importance of press freedom and transparency in the legal proceedings.
Carole Rosenberg, a veteran journalist covering Guantanamo Bay for over 20 years, faces ongoing challenges in reporting from the military commissions due to disruptive guards and restrictive military regulations. The latest incident involved an army specialist who disrupted court proceedings and made it difficult for Carole and her colleague, John, to do their jobs effectively. Despite the challenges, Carole remains dedicated to reporting on Guantanamo and preserving its institutional memory, making her an invaluable resource for understanding the complex history of the prison. The military's attempts to restrict the press and interfere with their reporting create a hostile environment that undermines the transparency and accountability of the legal proceedings. The ongoing fight for press freedom and the right to report on Guantanamo continues to be a significant issue for Carole and other journalists covering the military commissions.
Reporting on Guantanamo Bay for 20 years: Journalist Carol Rosenberg persisted in reporting on Guantanamo Bay despite restricted access and military resistance, revealing important information and pushing for transparency.
Despite the challenges and restrictions she faced, journalist Carol Rosenberg has managed to report on Guantanamo Bay prison in a comprehensive and impactful way for over two decades. During the early years, she had greater access and was even invited to serve Thanksgiving dinner with the military, which she saw as a co-optation attempt but also a sign of her importance. However, as the prison population shrank and the military became more secretive, her access was limited, and she faced more resistance. Yet, she continues to push for transparency and asks difficult questions, making her coverage singular and valuable. The military's efforts to control the narrative and hide information have only fueled her determination to tell the full story.
Carole's Dedication to Reporting at Guantanamo Bay: Carole gained information through legal means and persistence, faced challenges but continued reporting on controversial practices and conditions at Guantanamo Bay, and her coverage brought attention to a hunger strike and strained the relationship between the press and the prison.
Carole's reporting at Guantanamo Bay was marked by her dedication, persistence, and old-school journalistic methods. Despite rumors of underhanded tactics, Carole gained information through filing records requests, attending hearings, and building relationships. Her tenacity led to some challenges, including being moved to tents and even facing threats, but she continued to report on the prison's controversial practices and conditions. However, the relationship between Guantanamo and the press took a turn for the worse around mid-Obama's presidency due to detainee frustrations over being held despite clearance for release. Carole's coverage of the hunger strike and the ensuing lockdown brought widespread attention to the issue, further straining the relationship between the press and the prison.
Media coverage of Guantanamo Bay during Trump administration: Despite efforts by the Trump administration to limit media access and control the narrative, journalists continued to report on Guantanamo Bay, shedding light on controversial practices and creating political tension.
During the Trump administration, the media coverage of Guantanamo Bay became a contentious issue. General John Kelly, who was in charge of the JTF at Guantanamo at the time, was unhappy with the media's portrayal of the situation and tried to limit their access to information. He believed that the media were being manipulated by the prisoners and their lawyers, and that their reporting was inaccurate and harmful. Kelly's efforts to restrict media access and control the narrative were unsuccessful, and the situation at Guantanamo continued to be a source of controversy and political tension. This period marked a significant shift in the way Guantanamo was perceived, from a place of victory and justice to a burden and an embarrassment for the government. The media became a target for criticism, with some officials and politicians expressing open hostility towards reporters. This created a challenging environment for journalists like Carole, who were determined to cover the story truthfully despite the obstacles they faced.
Fear of Press at Guantanamo Bay: The fear of speaking to the press had become deeply ingrained at Guantanamo Bay, causing media tours to be suspended for over 500 days and public affairs staff to be treated as pariahs.
The perception of journalist Carole Carroll at Guantanamo Bay was not positive, and her attempts to report on the prison were met with resistance. Before even arriving at the base, Daniel, a new public affairs officer, was given a binder of Carroll's stories and tweets, implying she was unethical or a problem. Strange behaviors, such as Maria, a navy commander, putting her phones in a microwave to prevent eavesdropping, added to Daniel's confusion. The fear of speaking to the press seemed to have taken root at Guantanamo around a year earlier, when the previous JTF commander, admiral John Ring, was fired, and some believed it was due to his conversation with Carroll. The public affairs staff was treated as pariahs, and Carroll was seen as Kryptonite. Even Daniel, who had met Carroll years prior, was instructed not to answer her questions or was given false information. The prison's public affairs apparatus seemed frozen, and media tours were suspended, leaving Carroll unable to report in person for over 500 days. The fear of speaking to the press had become deeply ingrained at Guantanamo Bay.
Forced out of job due to unfounded investigation: Unfounded investigations can damage reputations and lead to consequences for individuals and their families.
The cultural adviser at Guantanamo Bay, known as Zac, who helped military commanders understand the mindset and behavior of prisoners and trained guards on Islam, was forced out of his job despite his long-standing service and dedication. He was investigated without clear reason, and his reputation was damaged, leading to whispers and suspicion in his community. The investigation began after he wrote a book about his experiences at Guantanamo, and he believes it was due to a combination of petty jealousies, resentment over his comfortable living conditions, and a shift towards harsher treatment of detainees under the new JTF leadership. Zac's experience highlights the potential consequences of unfounded investigations and the impact they can have on individuals and their families.
False accusations and investigations based on association with a journalist: Associating with a perceived enemy or controversial figure can lead to unfounded accusations and hinder professional duties.
During the Guantanamo Bay detention camp's operation, two individuals, Zach and Daniel, faced unfounded accusations of being spies and leaking information due to their association with a journalist, Carole, who was perceived negatively by the military leadership. Both men defended her, leading to their own investigations and banishments from the JTF area. The atmosphere of fear and suspicion led to false accusations, causing significant distress and hindrance to their professional duties. Despite the lack of evidence against them, they were subjected to lengthy investigations, leaving them unable to perform their roles effectively.
Military's obstructive handling of media at Guantanamo Bay: The military limits access to info at Guantanamo Bay, controls narrative, halted media tours, and reluctant to engage with reporters, underscoring importance of transparency and accountability in journalism.
The military's handling of media coverage at Guantanamo Bay Prison is deliberately obstructive. Daniel Bernardi's experience of being shut out from getting answers and interviews for a story is not an isolated incident. The military's strategy appears to be to limit access to information and control the narrative. This is evident in the way they stopped granting media tours and the reluctance to engage with reporters. The removal of the word "transparent" from the mission statement further underscores this. Reporters like Carol Rosenberg face significant challenges in getting accurate and timely information from the prison. Despite these obstacles, she continues to report on the situation, highlighting the importance of transparency and accountability in journalism.
Limited Access to Information at Guantanamo Bay: Journalists are now barred from entering Guantanamo Bay's prison compound, and all inquiries are routed through liaisons to SouthCom in Miami. Privacy and security concerns limit photo taking and public identification of service members.
Access to information and communication at Guantanamo Bay's naval base has become restricted for reporters. The prison compound no longer allows journalists inside, and there's no on-site public affairs officer to answer questions. Instead, liaisons are present to forward questions to SouthCom in Miami. This setup creates tension and raises questions about the purpose and cost of having these liaisons on the base. Additionally, service members' privacy and security are prioritized, leading to restrictions on taking unidentified photos and naming or photographing approved faces. While concrete examples of past incidents were not provided, it was mentioned that there have been instances where service members' identities being made public posed potential threats.
Tension between reporters and military over transparency at Guantanamo Bay: Despite the importance of transparency, the military has tried to limit or remove reporters' access to Guantanamo Bay, leading to legal battles and uncertainty for journalists.
The tension between reporters, like Carol, and the military personnel at Guantanamo Bay over photography and transparency has been an ongoing issue for years. Reporters believe the public has a right to know what goes on at the facility, while the military sees them as unwanted guests. This has led to numerous attempts to limit or remove reporters' access, with some instances being more serious than others. In one instance, reporter Carol Rosenberg was permanently banned from the base for revealing the identity of an interrogator, despite having a valid news reason for doing so. The incident left Carol feeling defeated and uncertain about her future with the Miami Herald. However, she was eventually represented by a first amendment attorney and fought to regain her access. The incident underscores the importance of transparency and the role of the press in holding powerful institutions accountable.
Realization of journalistic rights at Guantanamo Bay: Carol, an American journalist, finds strength and motivation from the constitution to ask tough questions and hold those in power accountable, despite emotional toll and potential danger, symbolizing the rule of law and individual rights.
For journalist Carol, the constitution serves as a source of strength and motivation in her reporting from Guantanamo Bay. The realization of her rights as an American journalist, which she received from a call with Dave Schultz, crystallized her commitment to asking tough questions and holding those in power accountable. Despite the emotional toll and potential danger, she continues to report from Guantanamo due to her sense of duty and belief in the importance of journalistic integrity. Her tears, a response to the significance of this moment, are a testament to her unwavering dedication to her craft. The constitution, though a subject of legal debate regarding its application to detainees, is a powerful symbol of the rule of law and individual rights that Carol carries with her in her reporting journey.
Exploring the consequences of revealing secrets: A woman at the airport stirs the pot, highlighting the potential disruptions caused by revealing secrets, which is further explored in the next episode featuring a prisoner's story about CIA custody. The podcast's production involves a team of journalists, fact checkers, editors, and musicians, with contributions from numerous writers.
Some individuals, driven by a strong sense of outrage and a desire to share their experiences, may feel compelled to reveal secrets despite potential consequences. This was exemplified by a woman at the airport, who despite completing her mission, continued to "stir the pot" and cause disruption. This concept is further explored in the upcoming episode of the podcast, where a prisoner shares his story about the United States' biggest secrets regarding CIA custody. The production of this podcast involves a team of dedicated individuals, including journalists, fact checkers, editors, and musicians. The reporting for this series was informed by numerous journalists and writers, and special thanks were given to those whose work contributed significantly. Ultimately, the series aims to shed light on important issues and provide a platform for voices that might otherwise go unheard.
