Retired Brig. Gen. Cam Crawford told Chamber members Wednesday that Guantanamo detainees are treated humanely and have not been abused.

"The two things you gotta know about Guantanamo are all detainees are treated in a humane, compassionate and fair manner and there has never been any abuse by military personnel," said Crawford, who was Deputy Commanding General with Joint Task Force Guantanamo in 2007. "It just didn't happen."

Crawford, an Oregon native who lived in Albany for 15 years, was the featured speaker at the Chamber's forum luncheon.

He said some mistakes were made, but they have been in the nature of college hazing, and the camp is operated in accordance with all laws.

"People manning the facility are doing a difficult job in a dangerous place and doing it to a high standard," Crawford said. "If anything, they are being abused."

He pointed to physical and verbal abuse suffered by guards, who are cursed at, hit, bitten and scratched. Most of those assigned to Guantanamo are right out of boot camp, he added.

"I never once saw a guard do anything inappropriate. Their performance has been exceptional."

About 250 detainees are in the facility, which opened in 2002. Prisoners are only shackled when being moved and they receive all materials necessary for personal and religious needs, he said.

Food and medical care are exceptional, he said - the camp has 10 doctors.

"They get medical and dental attention faster than we could," Crawford said.

National Guardsman Neal Conrad of Albany, who served in Guantanamo at Crawford's request, explained that war crime tribunals are in progress but to date only one has made it through the entire process.

Crawford said there have been many misconceptions and little of what goes on at the facility is classified.

"Interrogations are nothing like you might think. Mostly we chat and build relationships. We have obtained information that has stopped things from happening and been effective in our war on terror," he said. "It's amazing the amount of information you can get with a smile and a Snickers bar."

Guantanamo's future is somewhat uncertain, Crawford said.

"A vast majority have been released. Those before tribunal and the super bad people will stay until the conflict is resolved," he said. "The media hype and legal issues have been overdone. The mission will eventually tail off and become a footnote in the war on terror."