Bruce Vargo
Encyclopedia
Colonel
Bruce Vargo is a Military Police
officer in the United States Army
.
He was appointed the commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo
's Joint Detention Group -- its guard force.
Vargo was oen of theo officers interviewed for a National Geographic documentary entitled "Inside Guantanamo
".
Vargo confirmed the existence of secret Camp 7, and confirmed that he was responsible for the security at all the other camps, but not camp 7.
Vargo was interviewed in February 2008, about attempts to treat captives more humanely, and to offer classes to provide intellectual stimulation.
He defended the new humane efforts on the grounds that captives distracted by classses would be less likely to attack the guards under his command.
Vargo was interviewed about the use of extreme force in the force-feeding of hunger striker Ahmed Zaid Salim Zuhair
.
Vargo was previously an award winning amateur wrestler.
Vargo has also competed on the US team of a form of unarmed combat developed in the former Soviet Union
called "SAMBO
"(short for SAMozashshita Bex Orvehiya" ).
Following reports that Guantanamo captive Mohammad Ahmed Abdullah Saleh Al Hanashi
took his own life on June 1, 2009 former captive Binyam Mohammed reported that Saleh had been escorted from Camp 5 to a meeting with Vargo and JTF-GTMO commander Admiral
David Thomas
, on January 17, 2009. Mohammed said Saleh had been chosen to be the prisoners' representative to the camp administration.
Mohammed said Saleh never returned from this meeting with Vargo and Thomas and that the captives were told that he had been transferred to the camp's Psychiatric wing.
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Bruce Vargo is a Military Police
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
officer in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
.
He was appointed the commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo
Joint Task Force Guantanamo
Joint Task Force Guantanamo is a U.S. military joint task force based at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Guantánamo Bay, Cuba on the southeastern end of the island. JTF-GTMO falls under US Southern Command...
's Joint Detention Group -- its guard force.
Vargo was oen of theo officers interviewed for a National Geographic documentary entitled "Inside Guantanamo
Inside Guantanamo
The National Geographic produced a documentary entitled Inside Guantanamo, first broadcast in early April 2009.The Director, Jon Else, wrote: Neil Genzlinger, reporting for New York Times, wrote:...
".
Vargo confirmed the existence of secret Camp 7, and confirmed that he was responsible for the security at all the other camps, but not camp 7.
Vargo was interviewed in February 2008, about attempts to treat captives more humanely, and to offer classes to provide intellectual stimulation.
He defended the new humane efforts on the grounds that captives distracted by classses would be less likely to attack the guards under his command.
Vargo was interviewed about the use of extreme force in the force-feeding of hunger striker Ahmed Zaid Salim Zuhair
Ahmed Zaid Salim Zuhair
Ahmed Zaid Salim Zuhair is a citizen of Saudi Arabia formerly held in extrajudicial detention in the United States's Guantanamo Bay detention camps, in Cuba.On August 13, 2008 it was reported that Ahmed Zaid Zuhair had been on a hunger strike since June 2005....
.
Vargo was previously an award winning amateur wrestler.
Vargo has also competed on the US team of a form of unarmed combat developed in the former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
called "SAMBO
Sambo (martial art)
Sambo is a Russian martial art and combat sport. The word "SAMBO" is an acronym for SAMooborona Bez Oruzhiya, which literally translates as "self-defense without weapons". Sambo is relatively modern since its development began in the early 1920s by the Soviet Red Army to improve their hand to hand...
"(short for SAMozashshita Bex Orvehiya" ).
Following reports that Guantanamo captive Mohammad Ahmed Abdullah Saleh Al Hanashi
Mohammad Ahmed Abdullah Saleh Al Hanashi
Mohammad Ahmed Abdullah Saleh Al Hanashi was a citizen of Yemen, held in extrajudicial detention in the United States Guantanamo Bay detainment camps, in Cuba.Al Hanashi's Guantanamo Internment Serial Number was 78....
took his own life on June 1, 2009 former captive Binyam Mohammed reported that Saleh had been escorted from Camp 5 to a meeting with Vargo and JTF-GTMO commander Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
David Thomas
David M. Thomas (US Navy)
David M. Thomas is an officer in the United States Navy.-Early life:Thomas's father was a career Navy officer.Thomas, and three of his brothers, are graduates of the United States Naval Academy. All are active duty, including one in the Marine Corps. Another brother served in the Peace Corps...
, on January 17, 2009. Mohammed said Saleh had been chosen to be the prisoners' representative to the camp administration.
Mohammed said Saleh never returned from this meeting with Vargo and Thomas and that the captives were told that he had been transferred to the camp's Psychiatric wing.