Dangerous underwear stumps Guantánamo officials
MARK WILSON/Getty Images News U.S. military officials have closed their investigation into who brought contraband underwear into the Guantánamo Bay prison. Despite questioning guards, medics, and prisoners’ lawyers, investigators were unable to determine how the underwear—durable, stretchy Under Armour briefs preferred by athletes, as well as a Speedo swimming suit—made their way into two prisoners’ cells. After ...
MARK WILSON/Getty Images News
U.S. military officials have closed their investigation into who brought contraband underwear into the Guantánamo Bay prison. Despite questioning guards, medics, and prisoners’ lawyers, investigators were unable to determine how the underwear—durable, stretchy Under Armour briefs preferred by athletes, as well as a Speedo swimming suit—made their way into two prisoners’ cells.
After three prisoners hanged themselves in June 2006 with makeshift nooses, the prison made inmates change from briefs with wide elastic waistbands to boxer shorts made from flimsy fabric that tears when stressed.
It’s easy to laugh about underwear, but it’s also disturbing that prohibited items have made their way into the highly guarded and isolated prison, which houses 330 suspected al Qaeda members. First it’s underwear; what’s next?
Preeti Aroon was copy chief at Foreign Policy from 2009-2016 and was an assistant editor from 2007-2009. Twitter: @pjaroonFP
More from Foreign Policy

America Is a Heartbeat Away From a War It Could Lose
Global war is neither a theoretical contingency nor the fever dream of hawks and militarists.

The West’s Incoherent Critique of Israel’s Gaza Strategy
The reality of fighting Hamas in Gaza makes this war terrible one way or another.

Biden Owns the Israel-Palestine Conflict Now
In tying Washington to Israel’s war in Gaza, the U.S. president now shares responsibility for the broader conflict’s fate.

Taiwan’s Room to Maneuver Shrinks as Biden and Xi Meet
As the latest crisis in the straits wraps up, Taipei is on the back foot.