| The occupation of Guantanamo Bay, (Gitmo) Cuba | | | | water was obtained from the Yateras River (about 4 |
| by the United States troops came about during the | | | | ½ miles northeast of the base). In 1964 the |
| Spanish-American War when the U.S. fleet was | | | | Cuban government stopped the flow of water |
| attacking Santiago. It was in 1898 and the fleet took | | | | through the pipeline. The U.S. had about 14 million |
| refuge in Guantanamo's perfect harbor to ride out | | | | gallons in storage and began water rationing. Then |
| the summer hurricane season. Guantanamo Bay is | | | | the U.S. began having the water barged in from |
| located at the southeastern end of Cuba and is a 45 | | | | Jamaica. The Cuban government accused the base of |
| square mile piece of land and water that the U.S. has | | | | stealing water. The Base Commander ordered that |
| occupied since 1903 when the U.S. Government | | | | the pipelines be cut and a 38-inch section be |
| obtained control of all of Cuba from Spain. A | | | | removed to prove to the Cuban government that |
| perpetual lease for the area around Guantanamo Bay | | | | they were not using their water. After this resolution |
| was offered from the first President of Cuba, who | | | | the families were allowed back to the base. Shortly |
| was an American citizen, Tomas Estrada Palma. This | | | | after this the U.S. government built the desalination |
| became the Cuban-American Treaty and gave the | | | | plants. This is a process that takes the sea water, |
| U.S. complete jurisdiction and control of the area for | | | | removes the salt and puts the salt back into the sea. |
| coaling and naval stations. It is the only base in | | | | This process makes the water fit for human |
| operation in a communist country, and as of 2006 | | | | consumption. |
| was home to 9,500 U.S. troops. | | | | After the revolution many Cubans sought refuge on |
| In 1934 a treaty reaffirming the lease granted Cuba | | | | the base and were allowed to stay. In late 1961 |
| and her trading partner's free access through the bay | | | | Castro had his troops plant an 8 mile barrier of cactus |
| for a modest fee of $4,085 U.S. dollars. This lease | | | | along the northeastern section of the fence. This |
| became permanent unless both governments agreed | | | | was called the Cactus Curtain. The U.S. Troops placed |
| to break it or the U.S. abandoned the base. | | | | 75,000 land mines across the "no man's land" |
| Many of the workers on base came from the | | | | between the U.S. and Cuban border (this created the |
| thousands of Cubans that commuted daily from | | | | second largest minefield in the world). In 1996 |
| outside the base. During the 1953-1959 revolution, | | | | President Clinton ordered them removed (although, |
| vehicular traffic was stopped and workers were | | | | the Cuban government has not removed their |
| required to walk through the base's gates. Public | | | | corresponding minefield on their side of the border). |
| Works busses were put into operation to carry the | | | | In 2005 the Navy completed the construction of a |
| workers to and from the gate daily. The Cuban | | | | $12 million wind project. They erected four wind |
| government prohibited new recruitment so through | | | | turbines that are capable of supplying about a quarter |
| natural attrition, as of 2006 there were only two | | | | of the base's peak power needs, thus reducing the |
| elderly Cubans that still cross the gate to work on | | | | diesel fuel usage. |
| the base. | | | | In the last 25 years the base has been used as a |
| Then in 1962 the Cuba Missile Crisis hit (also called the | | | | detention base for Haitian refugees, who were |
| Bay of Pigs). All families of servicemen were | | | | intercepted fleeing their countries after military forces |
| evacuated and were instructed to pack one suitcase | | | | overthrew democratically elected President |
| per family member. This happened on October 22nd. | | | | Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The camp was declared |
| They were all flown out or put on ships for | | | | unconstitutional in 1993 and the last Haitian immigrant |
| departure. The families were not allowed back until | | | | departed in 1995. Since 2002, as we all know, the |
| after the resolution which came in December 1964. | | | | base has been used to detain al-Qaeda and Taliban |
| The Cuban Missile Crisis was a dispute from the | | | | members. |
| Cuban government that the U.S. was stealing water. | | | | In 1986 a top fast-food chain made their entrance |
| Water was supplied to Guantanamo (Gitmo) since | | | | onto the Gitmo scene. McDonald's became Cuba's |
| 1939 for a fee of approximately $14,000 a month for | | | | first. Since then the base is home to a Subway, as |
| roughly two and a half million U.S. gallons a day. The | | | | well. |