Jul 17th, 2009
Posted by Suzanne Ito, ACLU at 2:56pm	Human Rights, Torture

International Accountability for CIA's "Torture Flights"

Starting next Monday, July 20, a five-member United Nations Working Group on the use of mercenaries will conduct a two-week examination of this country's use of private military and security contractors (PMSCs). Two members of the Working Group will meet with officials from the Obama administration, members of Congress, nongovernmental organizations (like the ACLU) and PMSCs. This official visit comes at the invitation of the U.S. government. From a statement released today:

The Working Group will in particular focus on questions of transparency and accountability of PMSCs and their personnel, instances and circumstances which may give rise to impunity of contractors for violations of human rights as well as guarantees for ensuring that victims of violations have access to effective remedies. It will also look into the general trend towards the privatization of war and its consequences.

Among those consequences is "extraordinary rendition"— the kidnapping and forced removal of individuals to places known to torture. The ACLU represents a group of such rendition victims in a lawsuit against a particular PMSC: Boeing subsidiary Jeppesen Dataplan. In our lawsuit, we charge that Jeppesen knowingly participated in the rendition of our plaintiffs by providing flight planning and logistical support to the CIA to kidnap our plaintiffs to be detained and tortured in secret prisons overseas.

Today's New York Times editorialized about accountability for rendition, torture and other Bush-era war crimes:

Once the Bush team got into the habit of breaking the law, it became their operating procedure that any means are justified: ordering the nation’s intelligence agents to torture prisoners; sending innocents to be tortured in foreign countries; creating secret prisons where detainees were held illegally without charge.

Americans still don’t have the full story.

[…]President Obama has refused to open a full investigation of the many laws that were evaded, twisted or broken — pointlessly and destructively — under Mr. Bush. Mr. Obama should change his mind. A full accounting is the only way to ensure these abuses never happen again.

The Working Group's examination is a welcomed first step in shedding some light on the war crimes of the Bush administration. Attorney General Eric Holder is considering appointing a prosecutor to investigate these crimes. While the U.N. takes action on the international stage, there isn't a more critical time to have your voice heard here at home. Send Attorney General Holder evidence of torture, and demand accountability.

Permalink |	Human Rights, Torture

1. Paen Says:
   Jul 18th, 2009 at 1:03pm

   Meet the new boss,same as the old boss.

2. duraid Says:
   Jul 19th, 2009 at 11:22am

   fuck aclu

3. duraid Says:
   Jul 19th, 2009 at 11:23am

   fuck you aclu or ac-fu that is the name of of org

4. duraid Says:
   Jul 19th, 2009 at 11:24am

   non profit my ass

5. duraid Says:
   Jul 19th, 2009 at 11:24am

   fuuuuuuuuucccccccccccckkkkkkkkkkk you

6. duraid Says:
   Jul 19th, 2009 at 11:27am

   assholes always backing up terrorist may be one day you will you will see first hand cock suckers

7. Paen Says:
   Jul 20th, 2009 at 2:08pm

   My my the right wingers are so articulate today.

8. Maggie Says:
   Jul 20th, 2009 at 6:32pm

   Personally don't like that kind of language. You can't get your point across. However, we do not need a special prosecutor, I believe a special prosecutor will only be used as a diversion for this Horrible Horrible Health Care Program that is being rammed down our throats.

   The new administration will not be doing anything about accountability. They are to busy taxing us to death and trying to push these socialist programs. I don't know about you but I am more concerned about this new administration then about the above story. If they keep going we will not even have this forum to voice our opinions.

   In a war lots of people guilty or innocent are hurt. It would be nice if none of that happened. But...

9. Michael Tuck Says:
   Jul 20th, 2009 at 9:15pm

   Paen, and so inventive, too. :)

   Stephen Grey covered this to an extent in his 2007 book "Ghost Plane," but there's a lot more info out now than he had access to. We're covering it at the History Commons: http://www.historycommons.org . If you're interested in the subject, and your writing skills are perhaps superior to those of Duraid's, you might consider helping us cover this issue. We'd love to have you.

10. Russell Beck Says:
    Jul 24th, 2009 at 3:13am

    I keep waiting for the gov. to acknowlege that we have a police brutality problem. Perhaps Pres. Obama just did that with this Guantanamo issue. I just cannot understand how the police expect us to be proud americans when they constantly honer our war vet's by beating up on their kids. How many generations is it going to take before we evolve to the next stage of civilization.

11. anonymous comment Says:
    Jul 27th, 2009 at 11:14am

    We have a big problem domestically, but it would seem that most are willing to turn a blind eye to the program which involves persistent surveillance, surreptitious home entries, vandalism of personal property and, in some cases, defamation.

    Law enforcement agencies won't investigate something that is nothing short of intense, psychological harassment of targeted individuals. Why certain people are being targeted isn't yet known.

    Law-abiding, patriotic professionals are being targeted, among others. If one relocates, the program follows. Those complaining aren't any more "delusional" than the next guy, but can't get help.

    Is this really America?

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