Setting the record straight, "Guantanamo fog"

I could not believe that Amnesty International compared the Guantanamo Bay detention facility to the Soviet Gulag camps. This is absolutely absurd! Gulags were forced labor camps were millions of people died. Around 18 million dead. Prisoners worked on Russian railroads and highways and mined for gold uranium and lead. They worked long hours and were given inadequate clothing, shelter and food. Many Gulag prisoners died from exhaustion and disease.

There are many accounts from Gulag survivors available on the internet. Do a quick search at Google.com for “soviet gulag” and read up. Something that Amnesty International should have done before making their ignorant remarks.

But what has been going on at Guantanamo Bay? I must point you to columnist Michelle Malkin and her piece titled “Guantanamo Fog...” at The Washington Times.

Several detainees indicated they had not experienced any mistreatment. Others complained about lack of privacy, lack of bedsheets, being unwillingly photographed, guards' use of profanity and bad food. If this is unacceptable, "gulag"-style "torture," then every inmate in America is a victim of human-rights violations. (Oh, never mind, there are civil liberties Chicken Littles who actually believe that.)

Erik Saar, an army sergeant at Gitmo for six months and co- author of a negative, tell-all book titled "Inside the Wire," inadvertently provides us more firsthand details showing just how restrained, and sensitive to Islam -- to a fault, I believe -- detention facility officials have been.
Each detainee's cell has a sink installed low to the ground, "to make it easier for the detainees to wash their feet" before Muslim prayer, Mr. Saar reports. Detainees get "two hot halal, or religiously correct, meals" a day in addition to an MRE (meal ready to eat). Loudspeakers broadcast the Muslims' call to prayer five times daily.

Every detainee gets a prayer mat, cap and Koran. Every cell has a stenciled arrow pointing toward Mecca. Moreover, Gitmo's library -- yes, library -- is stocked with Jihadi books. "I was surprised that we'd be making that concession to the religious zealotry of the terrorists," Mr. Saar admits. "It seemed to me that the camp command was helping to facilitate the terrorists' religious devotion." Mr. Saar notes one FBI special agent involved in interrogations even grew a beard like the detainees "as a sort of show of respect for their faith."

I thank God everyday that there are people out their like Michelle Malkin who can set the record straight. Lets not forget our history and the history of others around the world.