Gulf News cannot show you everything from here. All of the photographs and video images that are released from Guantanamo Bay have to meet the approval of US military’s Public Affairs Officers (PAOs) under strictly-imposed terms of entry.
It took Gulf News four months to obtain access to the naval base and had to agree to a long list of conditions.
The PAOs review images taken by journalists at the end of each day in a process called ‘OpSec review’. Opsec is an acronym for “operational security”.
PAOs screen each photograph or video, cropping out any detail that may compromise operational security. Images or video files that do not meet OpSec standards are permanently deleted.
Failing to adhere to OpSec review can result in detention and removal from the base at the earliest opportunity.
What we can’t show you:
■ Name tags on the uniforms of any military staff.
■ Any name of any military staff member other than with very limited exceptions.
■ Any military facility on the base.
■ Any military operations in the base.
■ Any tower on the base that overlooks Cuban territory.
■ Any communications facility on the base.
■ Any camera or surveillance equipment.
■ Any lock or similar mechanisms.
■ Any paperwork that may be on display.
■ Any signage that is not approved.
■ Any identification badge worn by any member of the military or civilian staff.
■ Any area or building that is not approved.
■ Any bunker on the base.
■ Any warehouse on the base.
■ Any detainee’s face.
■ Any detainee’s distinguishing marks.
■ Any security item such as handcuffs or body armour that may be in plain sight in secure areas.
