FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. - A little known Leavenworth County back road could threaten the reported interest in Fort Leavenworth as a potential site for placement of suspected terrorists.
Unnamed officials told the Associated Press Fort Leavenworth is on the short list because the Army prison is high security and because it is surrounded by a military base.
Although security officers inspect everyone entering through the fort’s main entrance, what we observed along a public dirt road indicates the U. S. Disciplinary Barracks isn’t really surrounded at all.
Military minders wouldn't even allow us close to the front door of the military prison with our cameras, but Leavenworth’s mayor, Shay Baker, showed us the backdoor, and says its an open secret.
“Well, everyone in Leavenworth knows about it,” Baker said standing on a county road about 150 yards from the U. S. Disciplinary Barracks. “It wouldn't be very hard for someone to learn about it.”
Internet aerial maps show just how easy it is for anyone to log on and see how the military prison is not surrounded by the base, but instead sits on the edge of the base along an unsecured road.
The maps also reveal the exact location of the facility at 155th and Coffin Rd. in Leavenworth County.
There is traditional prison fence surrounding the disciplinary barracks.
Other than that, an empty guard shack and field brush was about all that stood between the mayor and our camera crew and the facility which is reportedly being considered to house detainees from Guantanamo.
There was a common farm fence marking the property line.
“I don't think that this rusty old fence is going to keep anybody out. I doubt anyone even realizes that we're here,” Baker said noting no one approached us while we observed the facility.
She fears terrorist sympathizers using Leavenworth County’s Coffin Road, or the Fort's shores from the Missouri River, or the Fort's public airfield as ways to defeat the security at the main entrance and target a facility full of detainees.
There are also trains that go through the fort without stopping for security inspections.
“There are so many opportunities for this to be taken over or unsecured,” Baker said.
Fort Leavenworth’s old military prison, which was in the middle of the base and is now closed, imprisoned World War II detainees.
Grave markers still show the names German soldiers who were executed there.
