''What happened to Ali al Marri is un-American,'' Savage said. But, ``those days are gone, and I personally don't believe we will see that again.''

Now Savage argues that the brig's background of having held and then transferred Marri and two others before him leaves it uniquely suited to the post-Guantánamo assignment.

''This is a highly skilled, highly trained, highly committed staff,'' said Savage, noting that the compound of segregated cellblocks meant for U.S. service members has received high marks from the American Correctional Association.

Once the interrogations stopped, Savage said, Marri not only bonded with his guards but each side treated the other with respect -- and ultimately Marri and his lawyers were provided extraordinary access.

By the time Marri was sent to Illinois, said Savage, the Qatari's detention was supervised by a 41-member, 80-bed Special Housing Unit. He could range between three cells, speak daily by telephone with his lawyers, and meet both Savage and his wife, Cheryl, who brought kosher-style food in consideration of his Islamic beliefs.

''It's not about the brick and mortar. They are entitled to some due process,'' he said.

CLASHING VIEWS

But Frank Sally, 66, is furious.

The Hanahan brig is his backyard, behind a chain-link fence he can see from his wood shop.

''The problem is we don't have a military man running this country,'' said Sally, a Gulf War veteran who chose to retire in the area.

''It's a beautiful community to live in,'' says Sally. ``I hate the idea of them bringing those people to this base. I hate the fact that we're going to give them the freedom to sit in court and have a fair trial -- not cut their heads off.''

Counters Lillian Lawrence, 53, who grew up in the Navy here and now lives 10 miles from the brig: ``I feel we have to do our part as citizens and support whatever they decide.''

At the height of Cold War, she remembers, the Pentagon brought nuclear warheads to Charleston by train for the submarines. That's why the base is called a Naval Weapons Station.

''We had nuclear submarines here,'' she said. ``How could we not have already been a target?''