In addition to the organised protests, some people made a visit to the nearest branch of Starbucks to highlight the company's support for the Guantanamo torture camp. After making several customers rather uncomfortable they were asked to leave by a member of staff who didn't believe that his employers would open a branch at Guantanamo Bay. Well here's what the company has to say:

"Starbucks does not physically operate a store or sell coffee to military troops on Guantanamo Bay; rather our coffee is served in dining facilities operated by Naval Supply (NASUP), headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia"

However, Starbucks also say that they "... refrain from taking a position on the legality of the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay" and that "Starbucks has the deepest respect and admiration for U.S. military personnel."

They certainly aren't bothered about minor irritations like torture and detention without trial getting in the way of their profits. For people who, like the worker at Starbucks, don't know much about Guantanamo, here are some facts:-

There are approximately 460 prisoners held at Guantanamo, and about 300 others have been released (without charge) or transferred to other governments.

Inmates are classed as "enemy combatants" rather than prisoners of war (POWs) in order to evade the protections of the Geneva Convention.

According to the US Administration, the prisoners in Guantanamo may never be granted a trial, either military or civil, and may be detained until the end of the war on terrorism (i.e. indefinitely).

There have been 41 'official' suicide attempts at the camp. Defense lawyers contend that the actual number of suicide attempts is higher.

At times as many as 131 inmates have been on hunger strike. Force-feeding methods including the use of a restraint chair have been used to keep them alive.

The use of certain interrogation techniques and the dehumanising conditions prisoners have to endure have been labelled as torture by many, including Amnesty International.

No one in Guantanamo Bay has been convicted of an offence.

For information on other actions linking Starbucks with Guantanamo see the following links:
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/birmingham/2006/10/354093.html
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/06/341924.html

Front page news: Al-Qaida members confesses to everything!

Don't get too excited though. After undergoing the hell of Guantanamo and procedures such as 'waterboarding' (near drowning whilst immobilised) I think I'd sign whatever the CIA gave me too. It's rather handy that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed seems to have 'fessed up to just about every terrorist act going:

· I was member of al-Qaida council

· I was director for planning and execution of 9/11, from A to Z

· I was commander for foreign ops

· I was directly in charge ... of cell for biological weapons, and follow-up on dirty bomb ops on American soil

· I was responsible for shoe bomber operation to down two US planes

· I was responsible for Bali bombing

· I was responsible for second wave attacks after 9/11: California; Chicago; Washington; Empire State, NY

· I was responsible for operations to destroy American vessels in the Hormuz, Gibraltar, and Singapore

· I was responsible for planning operation to destroy Panama canal

· I was responsible for planning assassination of ex-US presidents, including Carter and Clinton

· I was responsible for planning operation to destroy Heathrow, Canary Wharf and Big Ben

· I shared responsibility for assassination attempt on John Paul II in Philippines

· I was responsible for operation to assassinate President Musharraf

Reliable evidence though? Hardly. That's probably why he was tried in total secrecy.

How much longer will this shit go on?