# Are US military bases property considered US soil? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 16, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-us-military-bases-property-considered-us-soil/525201 "2010-01-16T16:34:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dandmb50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba9def/32.png) [@Dandmb50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandmb50)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-us-military-bases-property-considered-us-soil/525201/1 "2010-01-16T16:34:42Z")
If that is the case and the [US military bases](http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/dandmb50/Watermarks/AirForce.jpg) around the world are considered US soil why does it NOT apply to Gitmo? If the US military base is US soil why can’t the prisoners there be given a civilian trial? You can’t have it both ways. Why move them to Illinois? Just give them trials there. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-us-military-bases-property-considered-us-soil/525201/2 "2010-01-16T16:44:01Z")
> [@Dandmb50](#): > > If that is the case and the [US military bases](http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/dandmb50/Watermarks/AirForce.jpg) around the world are considered US soil why does it NOT apply to Gitmo? It isn’t the case. US military bases are there by permission of the host country. They are not US soil, and are dependent on the SOFA for legal jurisdictions. > **[Status of forces agreement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Status_of_Forces_Agreement)** > > A status of forces agreement (SOFA) is an agreement between a host country and a foreign nation stationing military forces in that country. SOFAs are often included, along with other types of military agreements, as part of a comprehensive security arrangement. A SOFA does not constitute a security arrangement; it establishes the rights and privileges of foreign personnel present in a host country in support of the larger security arrangement. Under international law a status of forces agreeme Wh... ---
**Author:** ![Dandmb50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba9def/32.png) [@Dandmb50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandmb50)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-us-military-bases-property-considered-us-soil/525201/3 "2010-01-16T16:50:02Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > It isn’t the case. US military bases are there by permission of the host country. They are not US soil, and are dependent on the SOFA for legal jurisdictions. > > [Status of forces agreement - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Status_of_Forces_Agreement) I had thought that I had read somewhere/sometime that people were charged on US bases around the world when they committed a crime on the US base. Maybe I am mistaken. But thanks, always wondered? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-us-military-bases-property-considered-us-soil/525201/4 "2010-01-16T18:33:13Z")
You asked [this exact question](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=539358) two months ago. ---
**Author:** ![busterpickle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@busterpickle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/busterpickle)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-us-military-bases-property-considered-us-soil/525201/5 "2010-01-16T18:33:20Z")
> [@](#): > > I had thought that I had read somewhere/sometime that people were charged on US bases around the world when they committed a crime on the US base. Maybe I am mistaken. But thanks, always wondered? This applies differently to people in the military versus people who are not in the military. As a member of the US military I am subject to the UCMJ wherever I go no matter where I am. That is probably what you heard about. Some member of the military doing something dumb and getting caught. But, a normal civilian is not subject to the UCMJ even if you are working/living on a military installation abroad. Also, IIRC, I don’t think Cuba has signed the Geneva Conventions so that sucks for any POW’s or any captured insurgents in Cuba. So that doesn’t apply. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-us-military-bases-property-considered-us-soil/525201/6 "2010-01-16T22:22:17Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > You asked [this exact question](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=539358) two months ago. nice pickup ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-us-military-bases-property-considered-us-soil/525201/7 "2010-01-16T22:47:57Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > You asked [this exact question](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=539358) two months ago. Given that the same poster asked the same question a few months ago (and received some good factual answers), and from the OP would seem to have a political debate in mind, I’m going to close this. If the OP wishes to discuss the best place to try the prisoners held in Guantanamo, he may open a thread in GD. Colibri General Questions Moderator