Guantanamo Bay Prison

The prison at the U.S. naval station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (often abbreviated “Gitmo” or GTMO), is a detention facility for terror suspects, and has been in operation since its establishment by President George W. Bush in 2002. The legality of Guantanamo, particularly its military commissions and interrogation techniques, has been the major source of controversy surrounding the prison since its inception. While the Obama administration made a pledge to close Guantanamo within the president’s first year in office, there has been little change in the operations of the detention center. Guantanamo currently remains open and operational, and has held about 800 detainees since its establishment. This entry examines the history and controversies surrounding the Guantanamo Bay prison.