The Government Taken To Task Over Torture

Former President George W. Bush repeatedly renditioned and tortured people, many of whom were innocent

The U.S. Government has refused responsibility in a number of legal cases, where domestic and international civilians, were mistakenly renditioned and tortured as suspected terrorists, by the CIA and FBI. The government has been cowardly hiding behind "sovereign immunity" in cases, which is codeword for "guilty" in attempting to escape the legal consequences of their actions and the injury inflicted on innocent civilians.

This conduct is positively un-American. Furthermore, there is no concrete proof that barbaric acts of torture have made America safer. Many experts believe it has made the nation less safe, provoking the anger of Muslims worldwide, who in turn, undertake bloody acts of retaliation for perceived wrongs committed against their brethren. It is a vicious cycle.

U.S. President Barack Obama has continued the tradition of torture

A number of domestic and international entities have been taking the government to task for this criminal misconduct, as not only does torture violate the Geneva Conventions, which the U.S. Government is signatory to, it is endangering innocent American civilians at home and abroad.

The world, as seen in cases springing forth from international judiciaries, is not going to tolerate said misconduct much longer and a change in behavior is necessary to avoid isolationism.

STORY SOURCE

US courts must lift lid on torture

CIA: We Are Hypocritical Exporters Of Terrorism

The website Wikileaks has done it again, with an embarrassing CIA memo, revealing the agency's fears the world will, "Internationally understand that the United States is an exporter of terrorism." Oh snap! The leak speaks of "US double standards in international law."

The CIA memo also disgracefully revealed the brazen self-interest of the agency in protecting its "extrajudicial activity." This is in reference to acts such as kidnapping, rendition and torture.

The sad part about it all is, the average American does not support such misconduct. However, it is a global fact, some Presidents and their cabinets, have secretly engaged in criminal conduct that has provoked this world view.

The document also reveal the hypocrisy of the government in demanding foreign extraditions, but seeking to dodge such legal proceedings when the shoe is on the other foot, by not being a signatory to the International Criminal Court.

This encourages corrupt behavior from government officials, who believe they are above the law and can do anything, including ordering rendition and torture. Case in point, Germany demanded the extradition of 13 CIA agents that kidnapped and tortured an innocent Muslim man, under a case of mistaken identity.

However, the U.S. government refused to extradite the CIA agents. Such deeds do not command international respect for the government, but global condemnation. With the U.S. economy in significant financial decline, previous international threats of the government withdrawing financial support from a foreign nation, if demands are not met, shall be deemed an empty threat, especially with how Obama is spending. What worked in the past, will not in coming years, due to the current financial dynamic in Washington. If the money is not there, financial threats or incentives cannot be issued.

In viewing these documents, the Judiciary Report, is once again reminded, the international interference by the U.S. government in other nations, is uncalled for and unethical. The government should work on building up America, which is in a financial depression. The government should focus on the positive in the nation.

Washington and Langley need to desist forcefully tearing down other governments and foreign citizens. It is counterproductive, costly and unbecoming. This cannot be the way. As any astute historian should be able to detect, the wars, international conflicts and massive spending, is breeding the end of the empire.

STORY SOURCE

http://file.wikileaks.org/file/us-cia-redcell-exporter-of-terrorism-2010.pdf

Gallup Poll: 74% Of Americans Dissatisfied With Country's Direction

U.S. President Barack Obama

A Gallup poll revealed a whopping 74% of Americans are dissatisfied with the direction the country is going in. Too bad the government is not listening, as unproven financial and social policies threaten to uproot America as the nation knows it, replacing it with a financially weakened, socialized society run by a government that ceases to recognize its democratic roots.

America is going in the wrong direction. However, the commanders of the ship, are intent on having their way, with the will of the people a secondary concern. Obama is succumbing to all the pitfalls Bush did, in believing the hype and not making the relation that it is about the office of the presidency and not them.

The fawning, special attention and international focus may make it seem like the world revolves around the man, but it is the office of the Presidency people are focusing on and what it means for them if things unravel.

To make the mistake of letting the title go to one's head, believing one is invincible and can do whatever one pleases, whether it is legal but immoral or illegal and based in corruption, is self-deceit that will bring one down to the lowest levels of society. Just ask President Bush and Nixon, who left office in disgrace.

When a head of state forgets who they are, believing they are greater than the job or it is solely about them, they inevitably fall at the hands of an angry populace.

Bush forgot who he was and engaged in treachery to get ahead that ended up setting the nation back decades, breaking him and regrettably America in the process. Obama has broken campaign promises and is recklessly spending America into a financial catastrophe, as poor oversight of the corporate sector continues.

His FBI and DOJ do not have a firm grasp on the terrorism problem that threatens America in so many ways, with hateful plotters making plans for new attacks on American buildings and airlines.

Said government agencies are more interested in how much money they can extract from Congress, who has been free with the national checkbook, issuing taxpayer funded checks, subsiding failure at the FBI and DOJ, who can't even get a computer system together, where many millions of dollars are unaccounted for.

The CIA continues to cause offense in the international community with illegal operations that defies everything America says it stands for in the world. Smaller nations have been bullied and upended by individuals acting on behalf of the U.S. government, creating unnecessary ill-will in the world, endangering Americans. It's a vicious cycle.

At the end of the day, this is not what the average American wants. That is someone else's political agenda on steroids. The average American wants a home, a stable job, proper education for their children, a reliable car and financial stability.

The political conflicts and financial corruption in government and the corporate sector, is a terrible sideshow being run by less than 1% of the U.S. population, also known as the rich and famous, who clearly have too much time and money on their hands to be creating this mischief, negatively impacting the rest of the nation and the world.

Nancy Pelosi Outed On Lying About C.I.A.

Nancy Pelosi

According to documents released under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act, Congressional House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, has been caught in a lie, as she previously stated she did not know about former President George W. Bush's torture program.

According to the Freedom of Information Act documents obtained by the Judicial Watch, via a lawsuit, "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who previously denied she was briefed by the CIA on the use of these techniques, is specifically referenced in a briefing that took place on April 24, 2002, regarding the 'ongoing interrogations of Abu Zubaydah.' Zubaydah had been subjected to the enhanced interrogation techniques." In other words, she lied and knew about it the whole time.

U.S. President Barack Obama

President Obama is also being slammed for hiding the incriminating F.O.I.A. documents, as Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton stated, "It is unfortunate that it took a federal court order to force the Obama administration to release these documents"

There's that lack of transparency again. I'm very disappointed in you, Mr. Obama. One expects such conduct from Bush, as it's right up his alley. However, it's very disheartening seeing it come from you.

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Judicial Watch Obtains Documents Regarding Congressional CIA "Torture Briefings"

CIA Briefed At least 68 Members of Congress on "Enhanced Interrogation Techniques" Between 2001 and 2007
Contact Information: Press Office 202-646-5172, ext 305

Washington, DC -- February 23, 2010

Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced today that it has received the first batch of documents from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) regarding congressional "Torture Briefings." The CIA produced the documents pursuant to a previous court order in Judicial Watch's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the CIA (Judicial Watch v. Central Intelligence Agency, Case: 1:09-cv-01352). The court order stipulates that documents pertaining to congressional briefings on "enhanced interrogation techniques" must be provided to Judicial Watch by April 15. Additional documents are forthcoming.

According to the documents, previously marked "Top Secret," between 2001 and 2007, the CIA briefed at least 68 members of Congress on the CIA interrogation program, including so-called "enhanced interrogation techniques." The documents include the dates of all congressional briefings and, in some cases, the members of Congress in attendance and the specific subjects discussed. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who previously denied she was briefed by the CIA on the use of these techniques, is specifically referenced in a briefing that took place on April 24, 2002, regarding the "ongoing interrogations of Abu Zubaydah." Zubaydah had been subjected to the enhanced interrogation techniques.

Judicial Watch previously obtained documents from former Vice President Cheney's office in a separate lawsuit that detail the effectiveness of "enhanced interrogation techniques." According to a June 1, 2005, CIA report entitled, Detainee Reporting Pivotal for the War Against Al-Qa'ida, "Detainee reporting accounts for more than half of all HUMINT reporting on al-Qa'ida since the program began..." Interestingly, this fact was omitted in later versions of the report obtained by Judicial Watch. All versions, however, conclude: "One of the gains to detaining the additional terrorists has been the thwarting of a number of al-Qa'ida operations in the United States and overseas."

Despite the apparent effectiveness of "enhanced interrogation techniques," the federal government suspended their use in 2005 by passing the Detainee Treatment Act. President Obama officially banned the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" during his first week in office in January 2009. Two months later, in March 2009, President Obama overruled objections from national security officials and released documents detailing the government's enhanced interrogation program (the so-called "torture" memos). However, President Obama initially withheld information detailing the results of this program, including alleged terrorist plots that the program prevented.

Moreover, according to an April 2009 CNN report, President Obama's Intelligence Director, retired Admiral Dennis Blair, told colleagues in an April 16 memo on the subject of "enhanced interrogation techniques," that "High value information came from interrogations in which those methods were used and provided a deeper understanding of the al Qa'ida organization that was attacking this country." This sentence was omitted from a version of the memo released by Blair's office to the press.

"It is unfortunate that it took a federal court order to force the Obama administration to release these documents," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. "These documents indicate that members of Congress approved of and were well aware of the use of these enhanced interrogation techniques and their lifesaving value. It is disturbing that we no longer use interrogation techniques that have demonstrably stopped terrorist attacks and saved American lives. The Obama administration has made this country less safe by its mishandling of the enhanced interrogation program."

http://www.judicialwatch.org

Italy Convicts CIA In Rendition Case

Prosecutor Armando Spataro

The country of Italy, via its courts, has convicted the United States' C.I.A. and two locals, for renditioning a man from their shores. The case was prosecuted by Armando Spataro and presided over by a local judge.

The Judiciary Report is in agreement with this ruling, as renditioning and torturing individuals for information is egregious, illegal, inhumane and disgusting.

The disturbing aspect of these renditions is in many cases, it was later found, the C.I.A. nabbed the wrong person or an innocent individual.

Just imagine, you are an innocent citizen in America or any other country of the world and the C.I.A. kidnaps and tortures you for information you do not have, as they've made a mistake. Well, they did so many times and the victims deserve substantial compensation.

President Obama must choose if the renditions George W. Bush so frequently engaged in, will continue as apart of U.S. policy

The Judiciary Report refuses to submit that this misconduct is necessary to maintain national security in any nation. All nations engaging in this behavior must discontinue this malfeasance, as it violates international charters and domestic law in most civilized nations.

Catch criminals via the appropriate channels available under the law. It should also be noted, many experts agree, torture does not produce effective results, as compared to other civil methods of interrogation.

President Obama needs to set some standards and not follow in former President George W. Bush's shoes, as many innocent people were deemed acceptable collateral damage in a practice that is patently sick.

Italian judge convicts 23 in CIA kidnap case

MILAN – An Italian judge found 23 Americans and two Italians guilty Wednesday in the kidnapping of an Egyptian terror suspect, delivering the first legal convictions anywhere in the world against people involved in the CIA's extraordinary renditions program.

Human rights groups hailed the decision and pressed President Barack Obama to repudiate the Bush administration's practice of abducting terror suspects and transferring them to third countries where torture was permitted. The American Civil Liberties Union said the verdicts were the first convictions stemming from the rendition program.

The Obama administration ended the CIA's interrogation program and shuttered its secret overseas jails in January but has opted to continue the practice of extraordinary renditions.

The Americans, who were tried in absentia, now cannot travel to Europe without risking arrest as long as the verdicts remains in place.

One of those convicted, former Milan consular official Sabrina De Sousa, accused Congress of turning a blind eye to the entire matter.

"No one has investigated the fact that the U.S. government allegedly conducted a rendition of an individual who now walks free and the operation of which was so bungled," she said, speaking through her lawyer Mark Zaid...

http://news.yahoo.com

U.S. Government Settles 9/11 Abuse Case

FBI Director Robert S. Mueller

In what can only be described as severe human rights abuses and a massive rush to judgment, in the hours and days proceeding the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, members of the U.S. government, such as Robert S. Mueller, under the misdirection of George W. Bush, rounded up and renditioned Muslim-Americans to foreign countries, where they were imprisoned and tortured. Some were imprisoned domestically and mistreated. Many of these men were innocent.

I read one man’s story and it was terrible. He was renditioned, tortured for months, while imprisoned in a cell so small there was no room to move. He subsequently lost 40 pounds. While that would be great for a Hollywood diet, in the real world, such conduct is a violation of all existing human rights charters.

At the end of his ordeal, realizing their mistake in torturing an innocent man, he was deported to his homeland in the Middle East, after many years as a U.S. citizen.

Sensing history has recorded him in an awful way, former President George W. Bush stated this year, his poor decisions were done, “Under the fog of war.” I disagree. It was done under the fog of stupidity.

Furthermore, did the “fog of war” cause you to routinely make up words such as “strategery” and “misunderestimate” or was that due to having bought your university degree.

U.S. settles suit with Muslims in post-9/11 abuse

Tue Nov 3, 2009 3:13pm EST - NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. government will pay $1.26 million to five Muslim men detained for months without charges after the September 11 attacks who sued for unlawful imprisonment and abuse, their lawyers said on Tuesday.

The men claimed they suffered inhumane and degrading treatment in a Brooklyn detention center, including solitary confinement, severe beatings, incessant verbal abuse and a blackout on communications with their families and attorneys...

http://www.reuters.com

CIA Hurting Its Credibility With Hypocrisy

"Ex-CIA Officer: Torture Investigation a Must"

A former CIA employee, Robert Baer, stated the intelligence agency needs to clean up its act and gain credibility, as in its current state, it will not have any true effectiveness in the world, committing human rights abuses, it is telling other nations to desist.

This premise holds true of any government. In order to be effective, one must lead by example, or one will be disregarded and disbelieved.

President Obama closing Gitmo and CIA prisons was a good step in the right direction, regarding these matters. Releasing CIA torture documents and investigating abuses is also another plus.

The CIA now needs to do its part to discontinue abuses, act with integrity, in accordance with domestic and international law, to complete the revamp.

Because as it stands, the CIA is a byword in the world and the agency is looked upon with great suspicion in America as well.

Let's face it, the CIA is not liked in the world. Other governments hear the letters "CIA" and they close off, thinking the worst, assuming something or someone is about to be toppled.

This cannot be necessary in maintaining an empire that was severely damaged by former President George W. Bush and seeks to rise from the economic and diplomatic ashes.