FACTBOX-Guantanamo base to host first war crimes trial

July 20 (Reuters) - The first trial at the controversial U.S. military war crimes court in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is scheduled to start on Monday. Here are some facts about Guantanamo U.S. navy base: -- The United States took possession of the land around Guantanamo Bay in southeastern Cuba under a lease established after the Spanish-American War. In a 1903 agreement, Washington rented the land in perpetuity and pays a yearly fee but since 1960 ideological foe Cuba has refused to cash the checks. -- The seaside prison camps housing alleged al Qaeda and Taliban suspects, seen around the world as a symbol of abuse and torture, occupy only a small corner of a military base that hosts a seaport and airport, McDonald's, Subway and Pizza Hut restaurants, baseball fields, a movie theater and abowling alley. -- The base's military... [read full story]