After occupying Cuba (1898-1902) the United States demanded the “lease” of three coaling stations (Naval Stations) as a pre-condition to withdraw its forces from the island. Two naval stations, Bahia Honda and Cienfuegos were closed shortly after, but Guantanamo which occupies 40 square miles at the entrance of one of the world’s best natural waterways, have remained in the hands of the United States, against the will of the Cuban people for the past 119 years and for which, the US government generously offer to pay $4000.00 per year.

In addition to providing jobs for approximately 2000 civil service employees which the Cuban Government discontinued as of 1959, the downside of this military installation was vivid and tragic. Southern type racism was rampant, threats, back room deals, widespread prostitution and massive sexually transmitted diseases was the end result.

Another hallmark of this installation was its ability to corrupt most individuals who came in contact with its environment, that was rife with illegalities. A case in point, was the richest and most powerful individual in the small village of Caimanera outside of the Naval Base, who through his close personal relations with every commanding officer and possibly CIA connections, was granted a lifelong, non-bid distributorship for 4 brands of soft drinks, one brand of beer, three brands of rums, seven brands of cigars and cigarettes, fuel, oil and dry dock services on the base, in exchange among others, for the use of his summer house at the Uvero beach.

The Base later became a CIA beach head from where tens of military trained Cuban counterrevolutionaries were infiltrated into Cuba to execute an auto-aggression on the Base with unpredictable consequences; for becoming a nationwide safe haven for every common criminal sought by the Cuban authorities, who needed only to jump the security chain fence or swim across the bay, where they were sure to receive food, shelter, authorization to work (I-94) and a free airplane ride back to the US.

In 1964, 1800 loyal civil service employees who had faithfully provided their services during WW II, the Korean War and the Viet Nam conflict, were given until the end of their work day, to decide either to stay on the Naval Base with all of their prerogatives or return to their families in Cuba and be on their own. Those who decided to stay on the Naval Base had to wait 15 years to see their loved ones in Cuba. Those who stayed with their families in Cuba, are for the most part “on their own”, old, hungry, sick or dead, with their retirement funds, frozen in Pennsylvania.

And finally, for those who are surprised or incredulous about reports of torture taking place at camp Delta, camp Iguana or camp X Ray as denounced by David Hicks, other detainees and in notes left behind by so called enemy combatants committing suicide, suffice to know that in 1954 Lorenzo Salomon a Naval Base employee was brutally beaten and tortured for 15 days at that facility. In January of 1961, Manuel Prieto another Naval Base employee was detained, tortured and forced to take poisonous pills. In September of the same year, Ruben Lopez Sabariego was arrested by the Military Intelligence personnel, tortured and beaten to death after 18 days, when his mutilated body was turned over to his wife.

In 1962, Rodolfo Rosell Salas, a fisherman was kidnapped, tortured and brutally murdered on that enclave. Ramon Lopez Pena and Luis Ramirez Lopez were two border guards that were shot and killed, while Luis Ramirez Reyes and Andres Noel Larduet, were shot and wounded while performing their border guard duties.

The presence of the United States Naval Base in Guantanamo, have created during the past 50 years, the most dangerous, volatile, heavily armed military installation with the second largest mine field in the world, which serves no strategic purpose, except for the possibility of miscalculation by either side, that could lead to a conflagration that would make Iraq look like a walk in the park.

Removing the Taliban and enemy combatants from Guantanamo and acquiescing to the Cuban people’s 50 year old request to the US government to return this portion of their country that is illegally occupied, could contribute like nothing else to confidence building, peace and friendship, while bringing to an end, the gruesome stories of violence, torture and death that applies equally to Abu Ghraib, Khandahar and Gitmo.

Nothing could be more rewarding for myself and my family, who contributed 200 years of service to this military garrison, to see the image, perception and function of this facility, transformed into an enclave of peace, human development and hope for a better world!