Rights Groups Demand CIA Turn Over 49 Cables Relating to Use of Waterboarding

[babylonsister]

Rights Groups Demand CIA Turn Over 49 Cables Relating to Use of Waterboarding
Submitted by davidswanson on Wed, 2008-12-24 01:04.

Lawsuit Seeks Further CIA and DOJ Documents about Secret Detention, Rendition, and Torture Program


NEW YORK - December 23 - The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) must turn over information regarding 49 cables it has admitted it has in its possession related to the waterboarding of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, said three prominent human rights groups today. The groups-Amnesty International USA (AIUSA), the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), and the International Human Rights Clinic at NYU School of Law's Center for Human Rights and Global Justice (NYU IHRC/CHRGJ)-filed the papers Monday night, as part of an ongoing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit they have brought against multiple government agencies, including the CIA, seeking information on the administration's secret detention, rendition, and torture program.

The human rights advocates are challenging the agency's refusal to provide these cables related to the waterboarding of Mr. Mohammed, charging that the government has already publicly admitted the former ghost detainee and current Guantanamo detainee was waterboarded while being held in the CIA's secret detention program. However, in response to this FOIA litigation, the CIA has refused to adhere to its most basic disclosure obligations.

"We can no longer allow the details of the calculated program of torture inflicted on detainees within U.S. custody to remain secret," said CCR Staff Attorney Gitanjali Gutierrez. "Where convenient, the U.S. government has acknowledged the use of specific torture practices. Yet, the government continues to hide behind improper classification arguments in this case. The public has a right to know what is being done in our name."

The CIA also refused to confirm or deny the existence of cables between the CIA and field operatives regarding the use of coercive interrogation techniques on Abu Zubaydah and Mr. Mohammed. In addition, the agency continues to deny communications between the United States and the Yemeni government relating to other detainees-such as Yemeni national Mohamed Bashmilah, who survived years of secret detention, only to be released without any acknowledgment or explanation for his treatment-despite the fact that the Yemeni government has itself acknowledged such communications took place. The rights groups in the case challenged as disingenuous the government's assertion that the very acknowledgment that such records exist will cause any harm to national security.

more...

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/38461

[lapfog_1]

1. cables? WTF? Who uses cables anymore, what is this, 1975? - n/t

[babylonsister]

Maybe they didn't want to be wiretapped.

:shrug:

[Patsy Stone]

4. They're getting a Telex machine next week

or so I hear.

[Patsy Stone]

2. What is a cable, exactly?

:shrug:

[babylonsister]

3. It's a telegram, I think. Paper trail. nt

[Patsy Stone]

5. Thanks.

:hi:

[Patsy Stone]

6. Please let this FOIA request be granted.

Please.

[babylonsister]

7. But...but...

"The rights groups in the case challenged as disingenuous the government's assertion that the very acknowledgment that such records exist will cause any harm to national security."

Man, I'm getting really tired of hearing this. This gives them blanket coverage for anything they need to cover up. Bogus.