Fearing a Trump return to torture, psychologists keep ban at Guantanamo

There is no difference between the American Psychological Association and those who would allow detainees to go on hunger strikes. They know full well that to deprive a person of psychological services could produce severe and even debilitating harm (or worse). To leave a known psychological patient untreated is to contribute to the mental pain and anguish the patient experiences. In 2002 I was part of a mission to repatriate the very first Gitmo detainee, Abdul Razaq, back to Afghanistan. Abdul exhibited such bizarre behavior that the guards affectionately nick-named him "Wild Bill." Razaq would tie things to his genitals, take literal bites out of his flip-flops, that's right, bitten, chewed and swallowed. It took a mental health professional to determine that Abdul was schizophrenic, but he was also in cold turkey withdrawal from a heroin addiction. Deemed no longer a threat to the US nor of any further intelligence value after his diagnosis, Abdul was released. While in transit, and hiding out on the Leeward side of the US Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, before his plane arrived to take him home, through a translator and with a psych nurse present, Abdul told us a story of prostituting himself as a mercenary in order to maintain his heroin habit. Although Abdul suffered mentally and physically during his brief stay at Gitmo, it was the mental health professionals who were able to limit the damage. Without them, the APA is condemning human beings to a life of mental and emotional pain and suffering for their self-importance. Despicable. Sincerely, Major (Retired) Montgomery J. Granger, US Army, and former ranking US Army Medical Department officer, JDOG, JTF 160; author: "Saving Grace at Guantanamo Bay: A Memoir of a Citizen Warrior."