Feb 26th, 2009
Posted by Ateqah Khaki, National Security Project at 4:23pm	National Security

Memo to OLC: Time to Walk the Talk

Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held confirmation hearings for new Justice Department nominees — including Dawn Johnsen, the Obama administration’s pick to lead the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC). As you may recall, the OLC provides authoritative legal opinions to the president and executive branch agencies. During the Bush era, memos penned by the OLC supplied the basis for some of the administration’s worst practices — including interrogation, detention, rendition, and warrantless surveillance policies.

Most of these memos remain secret, and we are asking the new administration to uphold their promise of transparency and release the memos to the public. The Los Angeles Times ran an op-ed today by Jameel Jaffer, the director of our National Security Project, about the secret memos. In the piece, Jameel writes:

…[T]he Bush administration was remarkably successful at shielding the office's work from the public. The documents most crucial to the historical record — including many of the memos used to justify the administration's most radical policies — are still being withheld. The result is that the public lacks access to basic information about how the Bush administration's national security policies were developed, who participated in their development and what legal arguments were generated to support them.

The Bush administration contended in court that the memos are protected by the attorney-client privilege or that they can't be released without compromising the nation's security. Historically, though, many of the office's memos have been published as a matter of course. And it is not clear how national security would be harmed by releasing, for example, legal analyses of interrogation methods that are unlawful now and that were unlawful when they were used.

At the confirmation hearing, Johnsen was asked to explain her views on a number of national security related issues — including the confidentiality of the OLC opinions. Responding to her comments, Jameel told ProPublica, “I would have liked to hear a clearer commitment…ultimately what matters is not what Ms. Johnsen says but what she does, and when she does it. We're hopeful that over the next few weeks we'll start to see some of these memos released.”

To learn more, check out Jameel’s conversation with Salon’s Glenn Greenwald about the issue (Greenwald also speaks to attorney Jonathan Hafetz about the ACLU’s case on behalf of Ali al-Marri).

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Tags: national security project

1. Vic Livingston Says:
   Feb 26th, 2009 at 11:18pm

   ONGOING DOMESTIC TORTURE ECLIPSES GITMO IN SHEER SCOPE AND HORROR -- AS THESE MEMOS WILL SHOW... IF THEY WERE NOT DESTROYED.

   THE MEMOS APPROVED THE COVERT 'USE' OF SILENT, INJURY- AND ILLNESS-INDUCING RADIATION WEAPONRY (A/K/A 'DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPONS') ON U.S. CITIZENS DEEMED 'UNDESIRABLES,' 'UNDER INVESTIGATION,' POLITICAL 'DISSIDENTS.'

   IN OTHER WORDS, BUSH JUSTICE DEPT-SANCTIONED DOMESTIC TORTURE VIA RADIATION WEAPONRY...

   ...TORTURE WITH HI-TECH, DARPA-DEVELOPED WEAPONS THAT 'COOK' HUMAN BEINGS FROM THE INSIDE OUT, LIKE MEAT IN A MICROWAVE.

   THIS WRITER IS AMONG MANY, MANY AMERICAN VICTIMS.

   WHAT DO GATES (DOD/NSA), KAPPES (CIA), MUELLER (FBI) AND SULLIVAN (S.S.), AMONG OTHER BUSH HOLDOVERS (DHS, DOJ, TREAS/IRS), KNOW ABOUT THIS?

   AND WHEN DID THEY KNOW IT?

   HAVE THEY TOLD TEAM OBAMA?

   THIS MAKES GUANTANAMO LOOK LIKE A BAD DETENTION HALL BY WAY OF COMPARISON.

   ***

   The Bush/Cheney- initiated American social genocide via silent, covert radiation weapons assaults, terroristic community gang stalking, and "programs of personal financial destruction" continues.

   WHO WILL END THESE ATROCITIES? THE TORTURE CONTINUES, TO THIS DAY.

   I KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. BUT MULTIPLE AUTHORITIES HAVE TOLD ME THERE IS 'NOTHING TO INVESTIGATE.'

   ***

   FRIDAY IS DAY 39 OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.

   DO YOU R*E*A*L*L*Y KNOW WHAT YOUR SECURITY MULTI-AGENCY COORDINATION CENTER IS UP TO?

   http://www.nowpublic.com/world/gestapo-usa-govt-funded-vigi lante-network-targets-terrorizes-u-s-citizens
   http://www.nowpublic.com/world/domestic-torture-radiation-weaponry- americas-horrific-shame

   OR (if links are corrupted / disabled):

   http://www.NowPublic.com/scrivener

   PS -- ACLU PLEASE HELP US, THE UNJUSTLY TARGETED AND TORTURED WHO WILL NOT BE SILENCED...

2. ConcernedCitizen Says:
   Mar 2nd, 2009 at 11:51am

   I don't know about the use of directed-energy-weapons, but I do know that innocent, law-abiding Americans are under surveillance. In addition their homes and property are being vandalized; and they are experiencing surreptitious/warrantless home-invasions (as evidenced by thefts of and damage to personal property.) On the face of it, it seems preposterous. But, tragically for those caught up in this system of extrajudicial targeting, it is not.

   When the police are notified, they won't investigate. The complainants are labelled "mentally ill." It's sadistic and cruel. And it's taking place in communities all across this nation.

   No one is listening because it's certainly unbelievable. And this is one of the reasons it continues, unabated. Many are asking for assistance, but they are written off as "crazy." Some of these people may be mentally ill, but all are not.

   I echo the sentiment of the previous writer. Who, in a position to help, is going to do so? When will these crimes be taken seriously?

3. Michael A. McClure Says:
   Sep 23rd, 2009 at 10:16am

   I myself have been the target for the past 7 years of directed energy weapons and gang stalking. I love my country but am sickened at the atrocities occurring here in N.W. Georgia and apparently all over the country. These systems ARE designed to isolate and make the victims appear mentally ill. I will not fear or hide from the people or devices used in this SICK TORTURE campaign. I am not asking anyone to believe me (I myself doubted my reality at first). This is a warning to ALL U.S. CITIZENS!!! My home and person is physical evidence to this abuse-for anyone with concern or technology to help me prove this abuse of personal freedom and rights. thank you.

4. mm Says:
   Sep 23rd, 2009 at 10:35am

   I love my country but also KNOW that the U.S government IS terrorizing and torturing U.S. citizens. I myself have been targeted with directed energy weapons, and gang stalking for the past 7 years. These programs ARE designed to isolate and make the individual appear to be insane. This WARNING is to all U.S. CITIZENS!!!

5. mm Says:
   Sep 23rd, 2009 at 10:42am

   THANKS FOR ERASING MY LAST THREE STATEMENTS. I WILL NOW GO TO THE ACLU MAIN OFFICE AND MY REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS TO DOCUMENT MY CLAIMS ;)

6. Steve Voss Says:
   Sep 30th, 2009 at 1:29pm

   This is happening,the reason is because of population control.They are witout a doubt Satanist's. Terroizeing innocent Americans
   Please see Julian Mkinney article.