Explorer Season 5 Episode 1 Inside Guantanamo

Explorer season 5 episode 1, titled "Inside Guantanamo," takes viewers inside the world's most notorious prison, located on the southern tip of Cuba. The episode seeks to shed light on the controversial detention center, interviewing former guards, prisoners, and the families of those who remain locked up there.

The episode begins with a powerful overview of the prison's history, with emphasis on its use following the September 11 attacks. The narrator highlights the divisiveness of opinion surrounding Guantanamo, with some people seeing it as an important tool in the fight against terrorism, while others view it as a blatant violation of human rights.

Viewers are given a tour of the prison and its various buildings, with commentary from former guards. They detail the strict guidelines they had to follow while working there, such as never using the words "prisoners" or "cells," instead referring to the detainees as "residents" and their living quarters as "camps." The former guards explain that they were instructed to treat the detainees respectfully and humanely, and that they believed they were doing the right thing by keeping the men imprisoned.

The episode also includes interviews with former detainees, who speak about their experiences at Guantanamo. One man tells a harrowing tale of how he was captured in Afghanistan and sent to the prison, where he was held for several years without ever being charged with a crime. He describes the torture he endured, including beatings and being forced to stand for hours on end.

Family members of current detainees also share their stories, describing the pain of not being able to see their loved ones or know when they will be released. They talk about the toll that the detainment has taken on their families, and their hope that their family members will eventually be set free.

Throughout the episode, the narrator provides context and analysis, explaining the legal and ethical issues at play in the detention of the men at Guantanamo. The use of torture, the lack of due process, and the seeming disregard for the detainees' humanity are all scrutinized.

The episode culminates in an interview with a former high-level CIA official who was involved in the decision-making process surrounding the use of Guantanamo. He defends the prison, arguing that it was necessary to keep the detainees there as they were considered to be too dangerous to be released. He also argues that the use of harsh interrogation techniques was justified in order to extract important information about potential terrorist attacks.

"Inside Guantanamo" offers a gripping and eye-opening look at one of the most controversial institutions in the world. While it may not provide easy answers, it does force viewers to confront difficult questions about the nature of justice, the limits of government power, and the price of freedom. This is an episode not to be missed by anyone interested in current events, politics, or human rights.