Guantanamo Bay Before 9/11

In 1991 my team got the job from Ted Turner Broadcasting (and from Ted Turner himself) to make a two-hour television special on Cuba. The wall in Berlin had come down and the Soviet Union, now becoming Russia, was teetering. At the time, Cuba was dependent upon the Soviet Union for most of its supplies as a embargo was (and still is) placed on it by the USA. For a variety of reasons and just plain luck, we got access to film in all kinds of locations in Havana and around the country - locations that folks outside Cuba had not seen before.
This clip from the film presents Guantánamo Bay Naval Station (before became a detention center). At the time, no one had filmed inside this location from the Cuban point of view.
Historical Overview:
The area around Guantanamo Bay was originally inhabited by the indigenous Taíno people. It was first visited by Europeans when Christopher Columbus landed there in 1494. It became a part of the Spanish colony of Cuba.
During the Spanish-American War in 1898, U.S. forces occupied Guantanamo Bay. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris, in which Spain ceded Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the U.S.
The U.S. obtained a lease for Guantanamo Bay (GITMO) from Cuba in 1903 under the terms of the Platt Amendment, an amendment to the Army Appropriations Act of 1901 that stipulated the conditions for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Cuba after the Spanish-American War. The lease allowed the U.S. to use the bay as a coaling and naval station.
The base was used extensively during both World Wars as a strategic point to control the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico and the Panama Canal. It housed warships and submarines, and served as a staging area for aircraft.
During the Cold War with the USSR, Guantanamo Bay was a critical outpost in America's stand-off with the Soviet Union, particularly after the Cuban Revolution of 1959 brought a Communist government to power in Cuba. The base was a key surveillance post and deterrent.
In 1991, the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was involved in the operations related to the Gulf War (also known as the Persian Gulf War or Operation Desert Storm). The base played a role in supporting the military efforts of the United States during the conflict.
During the Gulf War, Guantanamo Bay served as a logistics hub and staging area for U.S. military operations in the region. It provided support for the deployment of troops, aircraft, and naval assets. The base's strategic location in the Caribbean made it an important asset for the U.S. military to project its power in the region.
Specifically, Guantanamo Bay was utilized for tasks such as pre-deployment training, refueling and resupplying of military aircraft and vessels, medical support, and maintenance of equipment. The base also served as a transit point for personnel traveling to and from the Gulf region.
The decision to use the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base as a detention facility for suspected terrorists after the 2001 September 11 attacks marked a significant shift in its function and global profile.
The prison at Guantánamo Bay, officially known as the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, is a United States military prison that was established in 2002 in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.
The prison became famous and controversial primarily due to its treatment of detainees and the legal and human rights issues surrounding it. The U.S. government began detaining individuals at Guantanamo Bay as part of its efforts to combat terrorism, particularly those believed to be associated with Al-Qaeda or the Taliban.
Some of the key reasons why Guantanamo Bay has gained notoriety are:
Indefinite detention: Many detainees have been held at Guantanamo Bay for extended periods without charge or trial. This has raised concerns about due process, as they have been denied basic legal rights and the opportunity to challenge their detention in court.
Enhanced interrogation techniques (that's what they call it): Reports of the use of harsh interrogation methods, including waterboarding and other forms of torture, have emerged from Guantanamo Bay. These practices have been widely criticized as violating international human rights standards and U.S. law.
Legal controversies: The legal status of detainees held at Guantanamo Bay has been a subject of contention. The U.S. government initially argued that the detainees were not entitled to the legal protections afforded by the U.S. Constitution or international law. This has led to legal battles over their rights and the jurisdiction of U.S. courts.
International condemnation: The operation of Guantanamo Bay has faced widespread international criticism from human rights organizations, foreign governments, and the United Nations. The indefinite detention and treatment of detainees have been viewed as violations of human rights and a breach of international law.

[@nowhereman6019]

My grandfather was a marine stationed in Guantanamo Bay. My grandmother said something about being there changed him, and not in a good way.

[@williambarry8015]

Seems like a strange place.

[@mr.34coffeecups67]

Very interesting

[@JohnDrummondVA]

My Aunt, Judy G. Ward of Gwynn's Island, VA, a fantastic musician, played at Guantanamo for the RSO back in the 60's. While she was there, a new friend played her tapes of this "great new thing" that was called "Reggae music." She said, "I told him, 'I don't see a future in it.'" Gosh I miss her. Cheers, Mr. Hoffman.

[@ItsJF-p8d]

Wow I graduated Gloucester High 1990

[@matthewfarmer2520]

Hi David Hoffman 👋 you really do uour homework on these videos in the description, i always read them completely cause your a good writer well spoken, the movie A Few Good Men i saw that in the theaters with my mom she paid for the tickets 🎟️ at a Dollar theatre during the summer, in the movie they when to court over one of the Navy solider with tie up and gaged like a socks in his mouth and was killed in the night. That was base on true event. The movie was good and Jack Nicolson said in the movie in court it was also the most famous "You cant Handle the Truth". Thanks for sharing this video of Guantanamo Bay. That movie i saw was great.

[@larryb982]

Really like hearing James Earl Jones,doing any narration! Great description read. Very informative great writer.

[@livelumber629]

Thank you so much for uploading this. I was at Gitmo in 99

[@clayn931]

Good evening David. Where could I find the 2 hr special so I could watch all of it? Also, where can I purchase one of your hats at as well? Keep up the great work and please continue to upload videos as I enjoy each and every one of them. -Clay

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Clay. I have not yet posted the entire film. Here is the link to my merch. teespring.com/stores/david-hoffman-positive-sayings David Hoffman Filmmaker

[@jeremyathey8569]

Built it in 2 weeks initially, the man in charge of running it talked about the failures in the prison and of the bounty system.

[@patriciastaton6182]

Thank you David i try and catch your videos 💙

[@ProjectXv2]

Whoa…James Earl Jones??

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Yes. David Hoffman Filmmaker

[@floridanick]

Amazing footage

[@crazycookfyrelomenot]

Very good stuff and great view of american mindset

[@HotHeadCJ]

Why do the English speaking Cubans accent sound so Jamaican?

[@Marcus-p5i5s]

They don't. They sound Cuban.

[@user-iz9hm9lp1s]

Mid 80's I was a Navy Diver at Guantanamo Dive Locker (before the prison) for my one and only Navy enlistment (I know nothing about the real Navy). A buddy and I hiked and camped every square foot of that base, we were allowed (Windward and Leeward) and some places we were probably not allowed. Our attitude was, "forgiveness is easier than permission", so we went where we wanted to. We built a secret camp and spent more time there than the barracks. We had enduro motorcycles and rode the tank trails. We hunted (without a license), fished, spear fished, snorkeled and dove. We rented boats and explored every nook and cranny of the Bay, shoreline and GTMO river we could, without going into communist territory. I actually despise the Navy and glad I got out. Although, I sure did have fun in GTMO but only because we walked a fine line with breaking the rules. I don't think one could get away with what we did in GTMO since after the prison.

[@Sailaboat]

America has a lot to be ashamed about. No more war !.

[@Marcus-p5i5s]

what ARE you babbling on about?

[@stevef.9659]

It's saf that those workers lost their jobs after 9/11.

[@chesterproudfoot9864]

Sadder that they thought working for the invaders was a good idea.

[@bluzcompany2293]

I changed all the windows in the US naval hospital Guantanamo bay.

[@randybloomfield5090]

Man this world is dirty. I understand why though. Love the content Mr Hoffman 👍

[@gracelandone]

This clip makes me want to see the film. Most Americans (including me) don’t have context for what we know and have read about the military prison on-site. The historical importance of the base is no longer covered in the press.

[@WalterGoodfellow]

historical importance or historical pretense?

[@MakersTeleMark]

Nice CUCV sighting.

[@misters2837]

Darth Vader is talking about Gitmo! Very Cool Video w/James Earl Jones as Narrator.

[@Punisher1830]

General Solomon from Tiberian Sun.

[@jackwiegmann]

Hi David. Thank you for posting these great films of yours. May I suggest shortening the title? I think something like "Guantanamo Bay before 9/11 turned it into a prison" might be more succint

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Thank you Jack. I did what you suggested. I hope that it helps. David Hoffman filmmaker

[@juansilot894]

😂😢😮😅😊 éxodo de balseros a la base naval militar de guantanamo 45 .000 miles de cubanos refugiado alli 28 agosto 1994 al 12 octubre 1995 )😊😅😮😢😂😂😢😮😅😊

[@mitchell.9632]

What was this titled when broadcasted? And which specific network (TBS TNT et cetera)?

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Please read the description Mitchell. David Hoffman filmmaker

[@mitchell.9632]

@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker I did. It just still says "Ted Turner Broadcasting" that is why I asked if it was TBS, TNT, et cetera. Also Still not clear on the title of the program either.

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

I never use the acronym but it was TBS which was called Turner Broadcasting back then. David Hoffman filmmaker

[@mitchell.9632]

@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker Thanks! Seem to recall that though it have changed hands like so much consolidation that has happened over the decades. Wonder if this will be released by you as the full film or by the Marion Stokes collection if she taped and archived this documentary.