Amnesty condemns Pentagon's plans for Gitmo legal compound

Amnesty International today criticized Pentagon plans to construct a massive legal complex at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. US taxpayers will foot the bill for this $75 - $125 million compound, due for completion by July of next year. From a Miami Herald article:

''Once again, the Defense Department seems to be operating in -- even constructing -- its own universe,'' said Larry Cox, executive director of the human rights project's U.S. division.

``The new rules for the proposed military commissions . . . have not been made public, and not a single charge has been filed under the new system. And yet the Pentagon wants to build a permanent homage to its failed experiment in second-class justice.''

The Defense Department has notified would-be contractors that it seeks a design and construction plan for a military commissions compound at the U.S. Navy base in southeast Cuba.

It would have two courtrooms; housing for up to 1,200 U.S. forces, lawyers, members of the news media and other visitors; a 100-car motor pool; an 800-person dining facility; conference and closed-circuit television facilities and a secure work space for classified material.

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