Deadly Dennis

Governor Jeb Bush has just declared a state of emergency in Florida, with Hurricane Dennis making its way toward the Gulf.

Track Map

The category 4 storm killed five people as it struck Haiti and Jamaica.

Guantanamo Bay has been spared major damage so far.

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba -- Strong winds from Hurricane Dennis buffeted the U.S. prison camp for terror suspects in southeast Cuba, kicking up heaving surf that spilled over a fence but causing only minor damage to the high-security base.

Tropical storm force winds reaching 40 mph tore apart a bus shelter, scattered tree branches, knocked down a few power lines, and caused minor flooding Friday morning after the storm had passed, officials said.

"Actually, everybody fared real well," said Navy Cmdr. Anne Reese.

A day earlier, as Dennis approached, troops watched from a cliff as the churning Atlantic Ocean threw up massive waves of salt spray that towered over the razor wire fence surrounding the camp that holds some 520 terror suspects.

A life guard tower at Windmill Beach was uprooted and pulled into the heaving sea.

...In some places, the prison itself is just 150 yards from the sea. there, cells with wire mesh windows that normally are left open were barred with protective steel shutters. Loose objects such as wall clocks and fans were secured.

As the storm neared, Brig. Gen. Jay Hood, the commander of the detention operations, said there were no plans to evacuate prisoners or military personnel.

Steel shutters were put in place to protect the detainees in their cells.

Why bother to shelter them? According to Dick Durbin, it's a gulag. It's a death camp. It's akin to Pol Pot's Killing Fields.

Oh, I forgot. No one has died at Gitmo! Detainees get great medical care and have actually gained weight since arriving at the facility because of its fine cuisine.

With Dennis approaching, loose objects, like clocks and fans, were secured. I hope to God all the Qurans and prayer rugs were secured, too.

What if a Quran gets wet? That would be an embarrassment to the U.S., an international incident that would have global repercussions.

I wonder if Amnesty International is poised to step in to check for damp pages.

Will the International Red Cross whine if the beach's lifeguard stand isn't replaced immediately?
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My prayers are with all those affected by the wrath of Hurricane Dennis.