(15 Jan 2008)
14 January, 2008
1. Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, and officials walking towards podium
2. Soldiers seated
3. Wide of Admiral Mullen at podium speaking to soldiers
4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff:
"It is my judgement, as was quoted in the article, that I think that Guantanamo Bay has hurt the United States of America from an image standpoint, having nothing to do with the justice side of this, which I think needs to be carried forward in a just, fair way for the individuals who are there."
FILE - Date unknown
5. Various of fence and detainees at Camp Delta
14 January, 2008
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff
"I didn't say it has to be closed at some point. When asked about what I thought about whether it should be closed or not, I think it should be closed. I know enough about it to know it is an extraordinarily complex issue to make sure that we get it right from a justice standpoint for the detainees, that in fact should they be found guilty in whatever format, or whatever justice procedures we go through, that they in fact be held accountable for their actions."
FILE - Date unknown
7. Detainee seen through fence in Camp Delta
14 January, 2008
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff
"I do think it should be closed. That doesn't mean there's anything immediately pending, where that would be the case and I know we've got to work our way through some very complex issues in order to get to a point where that would ever be the case."
FILE - Date unknown
9. Tracking shot of fence
10. US soldiers in vehicle, detainees handcuffed sitting in the back
STORYLINE:
The chief of the US military said on Sunday the Guantanamo Bay detention centre in Cuba should be closed as it has "hurt" the image of the United States.
"I think it should be closed," Admiral Mike Mullen told Associated Press Television, and other reporters who toured the detention centre with him on his first visit since becoming chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in October.
"Guantanamo Bay has hurt the United States of America from an image standpoint," the admiral told troops stationed there.
Friday marked the sixth anniversary of the centre's opening in January 2002.
He stressed that a closure decision was not his to make and that he understands there are numerous complex legal questions the administration believes would have to be settled first, such as where to move prisoners.
The admiral also noted that some of Guantanamo Bay's prisoners are deemed high security threats.
"It is an extraordinarily complex issue to make sure that we get it right from a justice standpoint for the detainees, that in fact should they be found guilty in whatever format, or whatever justice procedures we go through, that they in fact be held accountable for their actions."
During a tour of Camp Six, which is a high-security facility holding about 100 detainees, Mullen got a firsthand look at some of the cells.
Mullen, whose previous visit was in December 2005 as head of the US Navy, noted that US President George W Bush and Defence Secretary Robert Gates also have spoken publicly in favour of closing the prison.
But Mullen said he was unaware of any active discussion in the administration about how to do it.
Critics have charged that detainees have been mistreated in some cases and that the legal conditions of their detentions are not consistent with the rule of law.
At one time the population exceeded 600.
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