Amnesty International today criticized Pentagon plans to construct a massive legal complex at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. US taxpayers will foot the bill for this $75 – $125 million compound, due for completion by July of next year. From a Miami Herald article:
"Once again, the Defense Department seems to be operating in —
even constructing — its own universe," said Larry Cox, executive director
of the human rights project's U.S. division."The new rules for the proposed military commissions . . . have
not been made public, and not a single charge has been filed under the new
system. And yet the Pentagon wants to build a permanent homage to its failed
experiment in second-class justice."The Defense Department has notified would-be contractors that it
seeks a design and construction plan for a military commissions compound at
the U.S. Navy base in southeast Cuba.It would have two courtrooms; housing for up to 1,200 U.S.
forces, lawyers, members of the news media and other visitors; a 100-car
motor pool; an 800-person dining facility; conference and closed-circuit
television facilities and a secure work space for classified material.
