British Media Criticizing U.S. Handling of Detainees
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: The Defense Department's decision to release photos of detainees at Guantanamo Bay has turned into a public-relations setback in Britain. There, the government is standing firm in its role as a staunch U.S. ally, but the British media, at least some of them, are stoking public criticism. CNN's Sheila MacVicar has more from London.</s>SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The pictures, shot by a U.S. military photographer, first published on the U.S. Department of Defense Web site, captured British front pages: orange- jumpsuited detainees kneeling on stones, their senses muffled, blacked-out goggles over their eyes, earmuffs blocking sound, masks, heavy mittens. Britain's prime minister had asked for time while conditions at Camp X-Ray were investigated. But British newspapers reached their own conclusions. This was sensory depravation, humiliation said "The Mirror," torture said "The Mail."</s>ANNE CLWYD, HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE: They're horrific pictures. And I think it's right that, on occasions like this, if we think they are doing something wrong, which we don't agree with, like with any good friends, you say to them: "Hey, this is not right. We don't agree with that. Will you please attend to it?"</s>KATE ALLEN, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: We would say that there is some very cruel treatment going on here and that what is happening is that we are seeing something that looks too much like revenge and not like justice.</s>MACVICAR: U.S. officials say these are the most dangerous people in the world. An their treatment, they say, has been fair.</s>DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: The fact remains, the treatment is proper. And there is no doubt in my mind that it is humane and appropriate and consistent with the Geneva Convention, for the most part.</s>MACVICAR: The British government has rejected accusations that it is letting its American allies abuse the detainees. A spokesman for the prime minister said the U.S. administration says these photos were taken shortly after the detainees arrived at Guantanamo. The prime minister's office has received assurances, said the spokesman, that detainees were not kept shackled or hooded while in their cages. (on camera): In a further effort to head off a transatlantic growl, a spokesman for the prime minister said today that British officials who visited Camp X-Ray over the weekend have been able to speak freely with the three British detainees, and the detainees had no complaints about their treatment. (voice-over): It will be up to the International Committee of the Red Cross to determine if conditions at Camp X-Ray, as the U.S. administration insists and the British government apparently now agrees, are within the requirements of international law. Sheila MacVicar, CNN, London.