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Mistreatment Allegations 'Just Plain False'
Tuesday, January 22, 2002
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

“... if someone looked down from Mars on the United States for the last three days, they would conclude that America is what's wrong with the world. America is not what's wrong with the world. And what's taking place (in Guantanamo) is responsible, it's humane, it's legal, it's proper, it's consistent with the Geneva Conventions, and after a period (of time) that will sink in."

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld today said charges that U.S. military personnel are mistreating Al Qaeda and Taliban detainees at the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, "are just plain false."

Rumsfeld, speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, said the troops are handling a tough assignment "in a professional and truly outstanding way." He said the military guarding the detainees are doing a difficult and dangerous job. Professional, smart military officers and NCOs lead the effort.

"Let there be no doubt the treatment of the detainees in Guantanamo Bay is proper, it's humane, it's appropriate and it is fully consistent with international conventions," Rumsfeld said. He said no detainee has been harmed or mistreated.

"The numerous articles, statements, questions, allegations and breathless reports on television are undoubtedly by people who are uninformed, misinformed or poorly informed," Rumsfeld said.
(More: DoD News Source)
2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

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