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 ...

By , copy chief at Foreign Policy from 2009-2016 and was an assistant editor from 2007-2009.
598613_071019_guantanamo_05.jpg
598613_071019_guantanamo_05.jpg

MARK WILSON/Getty Images News

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

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