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Bush-Era Torture Memos Released to ACLUThis afternoon, the Justice Department released four secret memos used by the Bush administration to justify torture. Authored by then-Office of Legal Counsel attorneys Steven Bradbury and Jay Bybee, the memos provided the legal framework for the CIA’s use of waterboarding and other illegal interrogation methods that violate domestic and international law. The memos were released with minimal redactions. Jameel Jaffer, Director of the ACLU National Security Project, said today: Through these memos, Justice Department lawyers authorized interrogators to use the most barbaric interrogation methods, including methods that the U.S. once prosecuted as war crimes. The memos are based on legal reasoning that is spurious on its face, and in the end these aren’t legal memos at all – they are simply political documents that were meant to provide window dressing for war crimes. While the memos should never have been written, we welcome their release today. Transparency is a first step towards accountability. The documents provide further conformation that government lawyers distorted the law to support the Bush administration’s torture program. It's time to demand accountability for torture: tell Attorney General Eric Holder to appoint an independent prosecutor to investigate these crimes. The Obama administration has taken an admirable first step towards transparency by releasing these memos. Now it's time to restore this country's reputation at home and abroad, and show that no one is above the law.
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Apr 16th, 2009 at 6:29pm
As troubling as the Obama administration's position is against the EFF lawsuit, this is a good sign for supporters or civil rights, and lends me more patience with Mr. Obama. Politics is a tricky game, and I think he knows how to navigate it better than I previously believed.
Apr 16th, 2009 at 6:30pm
Thank you for letting the terrorist have a chance to kill AMERICAN SOLIDERS, then turn around and wave a white flag asking for our AMERICAN courts to put them on trial. WAISTING more and more of my money as a taxpayer. TERRORIST'S do not care for even your life. They will kill you and your family and themselves just to prove a point. TERRORIST'S do not fall under the Geneva Convention. Furthermore, they do not fight under the rule's of engagement assigned by the Geneva Convention. They, just like you all at the ACLU think they are fighting the INFIDELS! How many times have we come to the aid of MODERATE MUSLIMS. One example is the time we stopped Saddam from taking over Kuwait and the threat to Saudi Arabia. I understand the reason for the ACLU. Please do not stick your nose in matter's of national security just so you can get back at Bush. He did keep us safe for 8yrs. The ACLU is and will always be a left orginazation.
Apr 16th, 2009 at 6:53pm
Why don't you (the ACLU) take a long walk off a short pier. Who cares how the terrorists are interrogated. I'm all for getting information out of them by any means necessary!
Also, I wouldn't join the ACLU if you paid me, your organization is not for the underdog but for the criminal dog.
You stand up for people who need to be cut off at the knees.
Apr 16th, 2009 at 6:54pm
I cant believe the ACLU, this information did not need to be made public. You are not Americans. These are not crimes. If they can save an American life or prevent another 9/11 by doing these acts then so be it. The ACLU is supposed to Stand for Americans right? Your fucking idiots. You just killed more Americans with your senseless act. I would like to torture your ass out of the USA. I hope that your proud that you just killed more Americans so that you can protect some bitch ass terrorists. Fuck you
Apr 16th, 2009 at 6:55pm
You guys are so biased and obtuse that is laughable. Why don't you watch a few of the videos where Americans are decapitated by Al Qaeda? you may reconsider calling waterboarding or shackling "barbaric". Get real!
Apr 16th, 2009 at 7:01pm
ACLU.. Next time your spokesman thinks, remember your office was not in the Twin Towers. The organization starts with "American" did we forget. The ACLU should pick and chose there causes and not against bombing of the USA. I am sicken and so disturbed that you would sell your cause for anyone.
Disturbed.
Apr 16th, 2009 at 7:08pm
Ha Ha Ha... Just heard on the radio that your boy Obama's boy Holder just decided not to prosecute any CIA employees involved in keeping our country safe from terrorists...
ACLU loses!
Apr 16th, 2009 at 7:15pm
I use to think that the ACLU was a necessary part of the system to keep our nation balanced. I now think that you should move your national headquarters to one of the Moslem Nations of the Terrorist you defend. Just see how long the ACLU Staff would last in a country that sanctions beheadings and stoning. As far as I'm concerned you're organization is full of people with no backbone and you stand behind all the nations brave and demand your rights when few of you would defend your brother or sister with a weapon in battle. The guys on the staff need to grow some balls and face the reality of millions of people who dream of every American and sexually active person's death or conversion to Mohamed. I'm so ashamed of our current administration. Such wessels.
Apr 16th, 2009 at 7:20pm
I appaluad President Bush for taking the risk to make us safer. You idiots don't care about National Security, just like the Democrats in charge. We need to do whatever is necessary to keep this county safe, irrespective of what you Liberal idiots think. Don't ever expect me to support your efforts. You need to be banned!
Apr 16th, 2009 at 7:29pm
How sad that a once great organization is now a tool of the far Left. I noticed that there is nowhere on your website to comment - only to join. I might as well join the communist party. The terrorists are not "americans" and as such are not entitled to protection under the Constitution of the USA. How sad that this organization will do anything to try to destroy this Great Nation!
Apr 16th, 2009 at 7:30pm
What is moderation?
Apr 16th, 2009 at 7:31pm
By the way, I will never join or contribute.
Apr 16th, 2009 at 7:51pm
I looked thru your site and I see things referring to the constitution but not the pledge- one nation under God- I guess you guys forgot about that part
Apr 16th, 2009 at 9:50pm
This is what happens when Congress, and the ACLU, fail to support impeachment of Bush or even investigation of his crimes! I have supported the ACLU in the past, but no more.
Apr 16th, 2009 at 10:35pm
You guys should actually read the memos. Do you have any support for your assertion that these memos are political?
Apr 16th, 2009 at 10:38pm
Oh good grief. Torture? Our "torture" techniques are nowhere near as inflicting as those suffered by our captured citizens and foreigners during the current war era. Ask any living POW citizen if our techniques are as suffering as what they have had to encounter. Torture in general is completely wrong but how can it really be controlled? How can we tell our government that it's wrong and to not do it when your son/daughter/husband/wife/brother/sister/family member is being tortured and dismembered by their captor on some other side of the world? Perhaps groups like this can put their heads together and come up with alternative information gathering from captured enemies. What would the ACLU do if it needed to be present during an interrogation? What advice or different tactics would it offer to help those processing the interrogation?
The U.S.A., damned if we do...damned if we don't.
Apr 16th, 2009 at 11:12pm
You folks really are the ultimate liberal antiamericas in our society.
I am 73 and I will gladly take the water board to show the people they are not going to kill me. You and others like you are going to be the end of the United States of America as we know it today.
Apr 16th, 2009 at 11:35pm
TRAITORS===>ACLU.
Apr 17th, 2009 at 12:51am
With these previously secret memos, we can now expose the inhumane use of torture such as waterboarding and work with renewed vigor to keep barbaric torture and human rights violations where they belong.....in the government sanctioned arena of "Family Planning" where we have shown the world that, with a pair of forceps and a little suction, we will not be outdone! 50 million+ and counting! Just above the law and no accountability required! You've gotta love a woman's right to choose! Helping to make America great!
Apr 17th, 2009 at 1:18am
aclu suck AC-FU
Apr 17th, 2009 at 1:19am
JERKS
Apr 17th, 2009 at 1:19am
IDIOTS
Apr 17th, 2009 at 1:21am
I MISS BUSH ADMINISTRATION THEY HAD A PAIR (IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN)
Apr 17th, 2009 at 1:26am
I HOPE MY TAX DOLLARS DOESN'T GO TO INVESTIGATING TORTURE BS LIKE THIS.INVESTIGATE OTHER MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES.DON'T GROW A PAIR NOW THAT THE BUSH ADMIN IS OUT
Apr 17th, 2009 at 2:28am
President Obama,
do the right thing
Apr 17th, 2009 at 6:33am
Thanks to the ACLU.
Its impressive and refreshing to see well argued cases reasonable cases for transparency and disclosure (as is given in the YouTube video by the ACLU spokesperson) being eventually successful.
National democracies contains so much noise and primal emotions that it sometimes seems doubtful that even the most reasonable minority opinions can eventually get heard and persuade.
Thanks again the the ACLU from this foreigner who wants torture and aggressive invasion occasioning murder to be "off the table" for all humankind.
Apr 17th, 2009 at 8:07am
You big bunch of ignorant whiners! It's time for you buttered up spineless legal desk jockeys to wake up and smell the real world. The ACLU is as disgusting as the terrorists that attack our country. Buck up Americans, The scum that the ACLU is "protecting" would love to see you and your families slaughtered like pigs and the ACLU would be there to protect their "rights" after they did it. War is War, and the US did what we need to in order to fight the battles. Most of you weak hearted supporters of the ACLU can't handle the truth. This information should never have been released to the general public. Forget this rights for terrorists and persecution of our soldiers. This kind of garbage makes me throw up in my mouth.
Apr 17th, 2009 at 8:40am
Wow! Grabbing people by the collar! Pushing them against fake walls! Keeping them up at night and giving them boring food! Menacing them with caterpillars! Truly these are the greatest acts of torture ever committed by man. They are so heinous that I personally regularly experienced them at recess at my public high school. It's fantastic that you were able to compel the release of top secret interrogation techniques to the world to bring these brutal actions to light. We can all sleep safely tonight knowing that the crazed militant terrorists of the world will no longer have to worry about caterpillars. You truly are among America's greatest heroes.
Apr 17th, 2009 at 9:02am
How Easy We Forget! As bad as the documents sound, we were and are at war with terror with people who killed over 3000 non-combatant American Citizens. These are the same people that cut the heads off captured American Civilians and soldiers and broadcast it.
So we exploited their fears to get answers, we did not kill any of their prisoners. We did not make it public torture.
The media and the president act as is if the atrocities to the American Public (9/11) are less important than a few ruthless terrorists, bent on killing Americans. By releasing these documents the President is fanning the fire that the former President had started to put out. Does anyone think that this will foster a peaceful resolution? These Terroist didn't hate President Bush, they hated all Amercians and the fact that we have the freedom to just about anything we want, they want to kill all Americans.
By the way your ACLU is guilty of not being equal to handicapped people. you have no audio attached to the entry code
Apr 17th, 2009 at 9:36am
THE QUESTION ACLU NOW MUST ASK:
DID *OTHER* BUSH-ERA DOJ MEMOS APPROVE THE USE OF MICROWAVE OR OTHER ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION WEAPONS OR DEVICES ON ANY HUMAN BEINGS...
...WHETHER THEY WERE DETAINEES, OR AMERICAN CITIZENS CLASSIFIED AS UNDESIRABLES, DISSIDENTS OR MENTAL DEFECTIVES?
IF SO, UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS WERE SUCH WEAPONS OR DEVICES USED, AND WHERE?
http://nowpublic.com/world/bush-doj-memos-used-legal-cov er-domestic-torture
OR (if link is corrupted / disabled):
http://NowPublic.com/scrivener
Apr 17th, 2009 at 9:56am
JAMEEL JAFEER DIRECTOR YOU PIECE OF SHIT
MIDDLE EASTERN.
Apr 17th, 2009 at 10:00am
O SHUT UP THERE ARE PEOPLE STARVING IN THE WORLD AND THE ACLU (AC-FU) WORRY ABOUT PEOPLE THAT KILL BEENING TORTURED.WHAT A BUNCH OF IDIOTS ACLU FU JERKS
Apr 17th, 2009 at 10:08am
What is wrong with you people? While you parade around demanding equality for everyone, the world is going to hell. None of us are thrilled that these techniques are used but they are a needed part of life. While you sue every hard working company in America, just stop and think about how you felt on that September morning nearly 10 years ago. While I believe you ideals are commendable, they are not possible. We couin this world civilized but it is far from it. Lastly, the Geneva convention should only apply to those who participated. I think you could spend all the money(other people's money) doing something more constructive such as feeding the hungry or rebuilding devastated areas of the US or even the world. Not you folks thpough, you stand for the so called rights of terrorists. That to me says you support terrorism, or maybe even are terrorists yourselves. These people do not care about anything but themselves. Their dogs have more rights than their women yet you step up to the plate for them. what a fabulous organisation, sticking up for the bottom of the barrel people. These low lifes are not US citizens therefore should not be protected by the Constitution. Why don't you take some of that money(other people's money) and take a trip to Kabul or Al Kut and then come back waving your banner. I find it disgusting that you use the rights and privaleges that were gained for you by using these techniqes against the very people that granted you you cushy lifestyle. Shame, Shame, Shame.
Apr 17th, 2009 at 11:19am
ACLU:
Having done an informal "neurolinguistic assessment" of the comments to this post, I suggest that the ACLU initiate an investigation to determine whether government surveillance agents, or their contractors, also conduct 24/7 "blog mobbing"...
...the flooding of political blog sites with "false flag" messages intended to pollute political discourse, and to deliver agit-propaganda in apparent violation of laws that prohibit government agents from engaging in such activity.
While this issue may not carry the weight of ACLU's quest to uncover Bush-era "torture memos" that have NOT yet been released, I believe possible government involvement in propaganda campaigns raises profound constitutional issues.
Apr 17th, 2009 at 11:27am
I do not understand how the ACLU has ANY members or public support! ...oh wait, I bet the Hamas and other muslim terrorists are die hard supports. As such, your offices are most likely safe in a temple in Iraq or Afghanistan, or Iran, or ...hmmmm, looks like the United States of America has plenty of enemys you could lease cheap office space from! I can't stand traitors of our freedom such as your organization!
Apr 17th, 2009 at 12:08pm
AS WITH YOUR GUTLESS AND COWARDLY LACK OF SUPPORT FOR THE SECOND AMENNDMENT, YOU HAVE NOW SHOWN YOUR LACK OF LOYALTY TO THE UNITED STATES AND ARE FIGHTING FOR OUR NATION'S ENEMIES. YOU PEOPLE AND ANYONE WHO SUPPORTS YOUR ORGANIZATION SHOULD PACK UP AND MOVE TO ONE OF THE COUNTRIES SUPPORTING THESE TERRORISTS. THE ACLU IS NOTHING MORE THAN A RADICAL BUNCH OF LEFT WING DIPSHITS.
Apr 17th, 2009 at 12:15pm
This is torture? I bet you experienced harsher treatment on the playground as a kid. These were people that killed 3000+ Americans. Were they roughed up? Sure. Was it torture? No. If we had poured acid on them, tied their balls to batteries, broken arms, and actually inflicted severe bodily harm, yes, it would be torture. If these techniques yielded one piece of good intelligence (which they did) then it was well worth it, and we should keep doing it. Grow a pair - are there any men left?
Apr 17th, 2009 at 12:42pm
Why do you want to protect someone who wants to KILL YOU! Open your eyes and try making your brains work.
Apr 17th, 2009 at 12:46pm
Maybe you allmighty should protect all people so they don't get killed by the bad guys (do you know who the bad guys are??)trying to kill you and I.Seems to me you work the other way around.How do we know we are not contributing to terrorist's(aclu).I would not contribute to aclu!!!!!!
Apr 17th, 2009 at 12:47pm
I am disheartened by the number of people citing 9/11 and the very real threat of terrorism as justification for torture (or whatever euphemism you care to use). While terrorists should be prosecuted, that prosecution should not be conducted outside of the bounds of basic human morality as it is reflected in both our laws and in international law. Terrorism and extremism will not be beaten with an iron fist; as long as people have a reason to fight and a reason to resent us-they WILL fight. We must remove that motivation, which can only be done through understanding (education!!) and integration. Religious extremism can not be cured at the barrel of a gun (violence and suppression only fuels more recruitment-this has been proven time and time again- e.g. US revolutionary war among many others). To truly win the 'war' against extremism, we must remove the reason to fight. Torture only inflames the problem and moves people towards violent action. Ask yourself if you would fight to resist a power that was torturing your countrymen? At the most basic, core levels, torture creates terrorism. Even if torture stops an attack-it will sow the seeds for many more in the future.
Apr 17th, 2009 at 1:21pm
in JESUS CHRIST i trust.
Apr 17th, 2009 at 2:00pm
How can the United States hold other countries accountable when the United States cannot hold itself accountable? If this had happened to any of our citizens we would attempt to prosecute another countries leader, but since it is the United States, we not only do not hold accountable the person who authorize the techniques, but we turn our heads and try and sweep this under the rug.
Apr 17th, 2009 at 2:16pm
Many thanks to the ACLU for its mighty efforts to preserve the rule of law, by promoting "openness and transparency." Congratulations on this success.
Apr 17th, 2009 at 2:38pm
The greatest danger to our democracy comes from morons like those who have posted screeds against the ACLU. Do you understand nothing?
We are bound by treaties that our government has signed, many of which came about BECAUSE of abuses like this by other nations. Treaties are the supreme law of the land according to our Constitution (which you obviously have never read). The question of whether the detainees are American citizens or not has NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH IT.
Laws are not something that are to be followed only when convenient or when we feel like it. Do you believe in the rule of law or not? If not, please leave this country and move to some dictatorship somewhere. Don't try to turn my country into a dictatorship.
You say torture is necessary? Bull! Anyone can be made to admit to anything using torture. It has been shown time and again to be completely unreliable in extracting actionable information. If it is so damn effective, then why have so few charges actually been brought against any of the detainees?
you say the other people do it, and worse. So what? Does that justify our doing it? If we simply sink to their level, we have no basis on which to criticize them. I'm sure the Nazis had their own legal rationalizations for their actions. Their followers tried to defend themselves by saying they were only following orders. That defense was rejected then, and it should be rejected now.
Apr 17th, 2009 at 2:39pm
Wow, the pro-torture commenters here are dumber than on YouTube.
Apr 17th, 2009 at 3:04pm
Your organization is not serving it's purpose! You are more concerned with these scum terrorists who would sooner rape your wives and daughters in front of you and behead you in town square than our own homeless?!? What is wrong with your priorities? Our military/government, when it was run by a REAL man,put American safety ahead of everything else. Transparency?!? Transparency?!? This administration and the liberals like your organization will be the downfall of this country. And oh, by the way, the next time we are attacked on our soil because of the need for transparency, remember you helped that to happen. You should be prosecuted for treason!
Apr 17th, 2009 at 4:24pm
"saddlebark says:
in JESUS CHRIST i trust."
Kill all moslems! Yarrrrr! And also kill the ACLU! And give every jewish a bible and uh, a puppy! I LOVE GUNZ!!1!!!
Apr 17th, 2009 at 6:33pm
what happen to the oath.to defend the constitution against the enemy foreign and domestic,and do the crechen believe they will go six feet down too.can they rewrite the mighty GOD law too,how much would they cry if some day some how all of these are practiced on American presenores you must believe that it will happen ,is Mr Obama pling politic with god? and how it is that we still hunt war criminals,aren't we ash me our self?
Apr 17th, 2009 at 7:51pm
I visited this site for the first time to see what the ACLU thought about the release of the Bush memos. I am not surprised that the sympathy expressed for terrorists and their precious rights supercedes the need to keep our country safe. The two dozen or so people interrogated to prevent future terrorist acts are not random individuals picked up for no reason. Instead, they are enemy combatants that have killed or have sworn to kill Americans and that have a high probability of possessing information about future terrorist attacks. Do you honestly believe that the world will think any less of us if we put these terrorists through some tough questioning? The interest that is of paramount importance is the safety of Americans living here and abroad. That interest trumps your misguided desire to please the rest of the world. We should have the highest moral standards and protect ourselves too, because to do otherwise and put ourselves at risk for the sake of a favorable public perception is both naive and foolish.
Apr 17th, 2009 at 9:52pm
There is a claim that I read today that the CIA torture thing was fully briefed to a bunch of Congressmen and Congresswomen including Pelosi and no one objected except one who was not named but not Pelosi. So the argument was that are we to prosecute Pelosi too?
I don't know if that is true but to some extent I support the decision not to prosecute the CIA agents who did the torture, not because they were merely following orders that were considered legal. (Haven't we rejected the following order defense for the Nazi guards?) If we remember the low level troops being prosecuted for abusing Iraqi prisoners, prosecuting the CIA agents is the wrong way to go. Instead we should investigate the attorneys in the OLC during the Bush era, and up, including the Rumsfeld crowd, Cheney and Bush.