ACLU HUNTS BUSH MEMOS Authorizing CIA Prisons & Torture

[kpete]

ACLU pushes for release of prison, torture documents
RAW STORY


The American Civil Liberties Union has appealed a federal court's decision to allow the CIA to withhold documents allegedly signed by President Bush, authorizing the establishment of secret CIA prisons overseas and detailing what the administration would consider appropriate treatment of prisoners. To date, the CIA itself has refused to confirm or deny the existence of any such documents.

A release issued by the ACLU follows.

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NEW YORK -- In the wake of controversy over CIA "extraordinary rendition" policies and secret prisons, the American Civil Liberties Union has asked a federal court to reconsider its previous decision to uphold the CIA's refusal to admit even the existence of two key documents on interrogation techniques and detention facilities abroad.

"As the Bush administration seeks to exempt the CIA from a proposed ban on torture, the American public has a right to know what interrogation techniques the CIA considers lawful and appropriate," said ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero. "President Bush himself has said, 'we do not torture.' If that's the case, why does the government continue to fight tooth and nail to withhold documents that would shed light on CIA interrogation techniques?"

The two documents in question are a directive signed by President Bush granting the CIA the authority to set up detention facilities outside the United States and outlining interrogation methods that may be used against detainees, and a Justice Department memorandum specifying interrogation methods that the CIA may use against top Al-Qaeda members.

The ACLU argues that the CIA improperly invoked a legal argument known as the "Glomar" response, under which it can refuse to confirm or deny the existence of the documents requested under the Freedom of Information Act. In legal papers previously filed before the court, the CIA claimed that to even admit that the agency has an interest in detainee interrogations would be damaging to national security. However, in a legal motion filed late Friday, the ACLU argued that the CIA's claims are not valid because its own director, Porter J. Goss, has publicly acknowledged that the CIA does in fact participate in the interrogation of detainees.

"By its own admission, the CIA has publicly acknowledged that it conducts detainee interrogations following the Justice Department's legal advice," said Amrit Singh, an attorney with the ACLU. "Yet, in sworn declarations before a court of law, the agency argued that confirming even an interest in interrogation techniques would cause damage to national security. Not only is this argument meritless, it is also misleading."

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/ACLU_pushes_for_release_of_prison_1212.html

[Ezlivin]

1. I LOVE big brother

When can I get this rat-filled cage off of my head?

[peace frog]

4. EZ, Winston...

... Oceania has always been at war with Eurasia...

[Justitia]

2. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -eom

[moondust]

3. Makes sense.

These control freaks don't let anybody do anything without an approved script.

[unpossibles]

5. hmmm

the real reason for the recent attack on the ACLU?

[peacetalksforall]

6. I thought the words "Just say no" were the most wastefully stated

words of the last quarter century. They are nothing compared to "We don't torture". For those of us who tend to distrust your regime - your regime that is trying to own and control us as well kill us, our neighbors, and our earth - we don't believe you... George! We don't believe you. The Republican Party is despicable. No one else could have placed us into this hole.