AL-QAIDA DETAINEES AT GUANTANAMO BASE RECEIVING HUMANE TREATMENT

The first 20 al-Qaida detainees being held at Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba are receiving humane treatment in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, a Pentagon spokeswoman says.

"Each day the detainees are given three culturally appropriate meals. They have daily opportunities to shower, exercise and receive medical attention," Defense Department Spokeswoman Victoria Clarke said at a January 14 Pentagon briefing. In addition, a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is scheduled to visit the detainees later in the week, she said.

Clarke reiterated Defense Secretary Rumsfeld's assertion to the press corps that the detainees must be handled with the utmost care.

"You're talking about people who are incredibly dangerous -- incredibly dangerous -- who are willing to blow themselves up or do anything possible to hurt and kill others," she said.

MIITARY OPERATIONS AT ZAWAR KILI DRAWING TO A CLOSE

Military operations at the former al-Qaida complex at Zawar Kili are drawing to a close, according to Pentagon spokesman Navy Rear Admiral John Stufflebeem. Briefing along with Clarke, he said continued air strikes over the January 12-13 weekend were aimed at flattening above-ground structures and closing cave entrances.

"[O]ver the course of the weekend ... we have leveled the remaining structures that were found on the surface, and we have closed all the caves that we would intend not to be occupied. So ... it's now time to go look elsewhere," Stufflebeem said.

Stufflebeem noted that the Zhawar Kili complex covers an area of three square
miles and included more than 60 above-ground structures and at least 50 caves. Its enormous extent was discovered only when U.S. ground forces were able to investigate it, he said.

MILITARY CONTINUES TO PROVIDE COMBAT AIR PATROL OVER UNITED STATES

Asked whether the Pentagon was considering curtailing or modifying the combat air patrols (CAP) being flown over parts of the United States, Clarke said she would withhold details "[s]ince giving a lot of details ... gives an advantage to those who might want to do us harm...."

"[I]t's important to emphasize that we are absolutely committed to providing the best protection possible for the American people. And combat air patrols are part of those. And we'll dedicate the right resources ... to get the job done," Clarke said.

Stufflebeem added that the patrols are being flown largely by the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves. He noted that the process was being carefully monitored to ascertain whether the patrols were subjecting personnel or equipment to excessive stress.