ACLU Obtains More Documents Related to Bush Administration Torture Program

[kpete]

Source: ACLU

ACLU Obtains More Documents Related to Bush Administration Torture Program (10/30/2009)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: [phone]; [e-mail]

NEW YORK - The government today handed over to the American Civil Liberties Union numerous documents in response to two ACLU Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuits for information related to the treatment of detainees in U.S. custody overseas. Thousands of pages of documents detailing the interrogation of prisoners by the FBI, Department of Defense (DOD) and CIA have previously been made public as a result of the lawsuits.

“The documents released today add to our knowledge about the origins, scope and consequences of the Bush administration’s torture program,” said Jameel Jaffer, Director of the ACLU National Security Project. “The documents are also a reminder, however, of gross human rights abuses that have yet to be investigated seriously by Congress or the Justice Department (DOJ). The last administration's decision to endorse torture undermined the United States' moral authority and compromised its security, but the failure of the country's current leadership to fully confront the abuses of the last administration is only compounding these harms.”

Among the documents released today are a report from the DOJ’s Office of the Inspector General relating to the involvement of FBI agents in the interrogations in Guantánamo Bay, Afghanistan and Iraq; documents gathered by the DOJ’s Office of the Inspector General in preparing its report and CIA documents relating to interrogations at black sites overseas.

“The Bush administration authorized interrogators to use methods that the United States had previously prosecuted as war crimes, and the documents released today shed further light on the results of that decision,” said Alex Abdo, a legal fellow with the ACLU's National Security Project. “Though these documents add to the public record, many crucial documents – including CIA documents, in particular – are still being withheld. We urge the Obama administration to end the CIA’s use of the classification authority to suppress evidence of criminal conduct.”

Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel Letters and Memos to CIA Regarding Detention and Interrogation Policies

Released Government Documents Responsive to 2004 Torture FOIA (10/30/2009)

Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel Letters and Memos to CIA Regarding Detention and Interrogation Policies

1. 11/3/2003 Letter to Senator Leahy from FBI Director Mueller confirming that the CIA is bound by the Constitution
2. 10/18/2004 CIA Office of Medical Services (OMS) Guidelines on medical and psychological support to detainee rendition, interrogation and detention
3. CIA Office of Inspector General report excerpts
4. Interrogation Legal Authorities
5. Description of stress positions and facial slap
6. Interrogation of Detainees
7. Guidelines for Memo on Interrogation
8. 12/12/2002 Department of State fax coversheet
9. 2/7/2002 White House memo regarding Geneva Conventions and humane treatment of al Qaeda and Taliban detainees
10. 5/11/2004 Assistant Attorney General Goldsmith memo regarding advice to DOD on interrogations
11. Applicability of Geneva Conventions III (POWs) and IV (civilians) in Iraq after June 30, 2004 and effect on U.S. powers and duties regarding detentions
12. 1/27/2004 Saddam Hussein Interrogation document
13. 1/27/2004 Memo regarding legal issues surrounding interview/interrogation of Saddam Hussein
14. 5/19/2004 Memo regarding treatment of prisoners and detainees
15. 10/4/2001 Department of State fax to White House National Security Counsel regarding Geneva Conventions and POWs
16. 10/11/2001 Department of State fax to White House National Security Counsel regarding
17. 10/12/2001 Department of State fax to White House National Security Counsel regarding POWs


Read more: http://www.aclu.org/safefree/torture/41374prs20091030.html

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(DOC DUMP)

http://www.aclu.org/torturefoia/released/103009/cia-olc/2.pdf
http://www.aclu.org/torturefoia/released/103009/cia-olc/3.pdf
http://www.aclu.org/torturefoia/released/103009/cia-olc/4.pdf

popcorn...

[Solly Mack]

1. k/r

[annabanana]

2. (talk about your Friday night dump!). . . n/t

[Overseas]

3. K&R /eom

[katandmoon]

4. K&R I guess ACLU hasn't heard Obama wants us to just move on

[Soylent Brice]

5. K&R

[SharksBreath]

6. Screw the Cheney Docs. The Bush Admin is going to jail.

I can't believe they released these docs.

[FarLeftFist]

7. Surprise Surprise.

[SharksBreath]

8. I haven't seen this information anywhere else

Why is that. No press release, nothing on Google/MSM.


There is some pretty damning information listed and it's not heavily redacted.

[No Elephants]

9. "We urge the Obama administration to end the CIA’s use of the classification

authority to suppress evidence of criminal conduct.”




The Executive Branch of the United States of America--my country--headed by the Constitutional Law Professor I joyously helped elect--suppressing evidence of criminal conduct, including international war crimes.

Yet another proud national moment in an all too long string of proud national moments.


May we please have the Rule of Law back? How about our national self-respect?


I donate to Amnesty International monthly and to the ACLU and PBS annually. Somehow, though, that just doesn't seem like enough right now.


What are we going to do--other than bitch and post, I mean?

Vigil in Washington, DC? Hunger Strike? Refuse to pay taxes? What?

Does anyone have any thoughts? Anyone? Anyone? Anyone?