Why is guantanamo called gitmo

Today 39 remain. Established during the presidency of George W Bush, the offshore jail was meant to hold suspected al-Qaeda members, captured during the invasion of Afghanistan in To date, of the detainees, have been released without charge, many after being detained for more than a decade without legal means to challenge their detentions.

Located on the eastern tip of Cuba, the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base is sq km 45 sq miles and has been under US control since the end of the 19th century. The base is a hotly debated issue between the US and Cuba. According to the US military, all remaining detainees are in camps five and six. Since January 11, , at least detainees from 48 countries have been held in Guantanamo Bay. Only 16 were ever charged with criminal offences, according to Human Rights Watch.

The youngest detainee was year-old Omar Khadr , a Canadian citizen who was released in after 13 years locked away. In , the Canadian government paid Khadr a The oldest prisoner still being held is year-old Saifullah Paracha, a Pakistani national who has spent the last 17 years in detention without charge.

Paracha could be returned home in the next several months according to his lawyer. A lot of those cops had ended up in state prisons, along with the guards from Gitmo -by-the-Bay. New Word List Word List. Save This Word! We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.

Words nearby Gitmo git , gitalin , gite , git-go , gitim , Gitmo , gittarone , gittern , gittin , git-up-and-git , Giulini. What is Gitmo? How is Gitmo pronounced? Where does Gitmo come from? How is Gitmo used in real life? During the administration of President George W. Peak population was detainees in June According to Human Rights First, detainees were transferred or released during the Bush Administration and detainees were transferred or released during the Obama Administration.

At least nine detainees have died in custody. Building on the naval station begins that same year. January 18, - The Supreme Court refuses to consider whether the government's plan for military trials unfairly denies the detainees basic legal rights. He was forced to wear a bra, dance with a man and do dog tricks while tied to a leash. Military investigators said that was not considered prohibited, inhumane treatment.

April 19, - Following a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit by the Associated Press, the Pentagon releases the most detailed and extensive list of detainees ever provided. May 15, - The Defense Department releases another list of current and former detainees to the AP.

It says this list of names includes everyone who has ever been held at Gitmo, since The ruling effectively means officials will either have to come up with new procedures to prosecute at least 10 "enemy combatants" awaiting trial, or release them from military custody. September 6, - President Bush acknowledges that the CIA has held suspected terrorists in secret prisons overseas.

May 30, - A Saudi detainee is found dead from apparent suicide. June 12, - The US Supreme Court rules that detainees have a constitutional right to challenge their detentions. He's charged with transporting Osama Bin Laden and some missiles in connection with terrorist activity. August 6, - Hamdan is found guilty of five counts of material support to a terror organization.

He is later sentenced to five years and six months in prison. November 13, - US Attorney General Eric Holder announces that five detainees, accused of complicity in the September 11th attacks, will be transferred to New York to stand trial in a civilian court.

Five other detainees will be transferred to the United States and have their cases heard before military commissions. December 15, - The Obama administration announces that between detainees will be moved to an empty prison in Thomson, Illinois.

Khadr is sentenced to 40 years in prison but will serve eight years as part of his plea agreement. April 24, - Nearly classified US military documents obtained by WikiLeaks reveal details about the alleged terrorist activities of al Qaeda operatives captured and housed at the detention center. May 18, - A detainee identified as Inayatullah aka Hajji Nassim dies by suicide in his cell. September 8, - A detainee is found dead in his cell.

Ten of the detainees are being force-fed, according to Durand. April 13, - Detainees wielding "improvised weapons" clash with guards. April 22, - US spokesman Lt. Todd Breasseale says that 84 detainees are currently on hunger strikes, more than half of the people being held. May 16, - Army Lt. Samuel House announces that of the detainees are on hunger strikes, with 30 being fed by tubes. Three have been hospitalized. May 23, - In a speech at the National Defense University, Obama calls on Congress to close the detention center by saying, "Given my administration's relentless pursuit of al Qaeda's leadership, there is no justification beyond politics for Congress to prevent us from closing a facility that should never have been opened.