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struggle4progress Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-12-04 08:20 PM
Original message
Secret world of US jails
<snip>
In the past three years, thousands of alleged militants have been transferred around the world by American, Arab and Far Eastern security services, often in secret operations that by-pass extradition laws. The astonishing traffic has seen many, including British citizens, sent from the West to countries where they can be tortured to extract information. Anything learnt is passed on to the US and, in some cases, reaches British intelligence.
<snip>

The practice of 'renditions' - when suspects are handed directly into the custody of another state without due process - has sparked particular anger. At least 70 such transfers have occurred, according to CIA sources. Many involve men who have been freed by the courts and are thus legally innocent. Renditions are often used when American interrogators believe that harsh treatment - banned in their own country - would produce results.

The Observer has obtained details of two incidents in which men have been detained by the US despite being found innocent by courts in their own country. In one, a British businessman called Wahab al-Rami, an Iraqi living in the UK and a Palestinian seeking asylum were arrested by US and local officers in Gambia in November 2002 as they stepped off a flight from London.
<snip>

Two were transported from Gambia to Guantanamo Bay - where they remain today - without any legal process. In the other incident, two Turks, a Saudi, a Kenyan and a Sudanese man were arrested in Malawi in June 2003 on suspicion of funding terrorist networks. Though freed by local courts, the men were handed over to the CIA and held for several months. Campaigners say these incidents are 'the tip of an iceberg'.
<more>

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1237589,00.html


A short discussion of America's gulag ...
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mike_c Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-12-04 08:29 PM
Response to Original message
1. the new American gulag....
In our names.
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Jack Rabbit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-12-04 09:00 PM
Response to Original message
2. Off to The Hague!
If the US will not bring Bush and his aides to trial for war crimes, then an international tribunal should be convened fro that purpose. Bush and his people must not be permitted to flaunt the standards of civilized behavior like this.
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shraby Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-12-04 09:06 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. How many prisons
are there that we don't know about..that thought frightens me.
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struggle4progress Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-12-04 09:09 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. It should be possible to begin collecting documentation on this.
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Berserker Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-12-04 10:07 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. It's happining all over America
In a small town in Wisconsin the local Gestapo was doing strip searches even if you were pulled over for a traffic violation. The city was sued and lost over 7 million dollars.
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struggle4progress Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-12-04 10:30 PM
Response to Reply #5
6. Nice story! Gotta link?
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talleyJudy Donating Member (36 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jun-13-04 09:09 AM
Response to Reply #5
7. That was St.Croix County, WI
My county taxes are going to pay for that. :nopity:
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struggle4progress Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jun-13-04 11:41 AM
Response to Reply #7
9. I guess this is the story:
Feb. 27, 2004
Settlement reached in strip-search lawsuit
2,200 may be eligible for share of $6.95 million from St. Croix County

St. Croix County and its insurer agreed Friday to pay $6.95 million to persons unlawfully strip-searched while being booked into jail, settling a federal class-action lawsuit that could affect more than 2,200 people.
<snip>
An internal investigation showed that some or most of the officers believed it was the policy to strip-search everybody booked into the jail. According to court records,many of those same officers had learned in a "jail school" that it was unconstitutional under state law to strip-search everyone.
<more>

http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/feb04/210946.asp
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teryang Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jun-13-04 10:02 AM
Response to Original message
8. The law of accessories
<But former intelligence officers criticised the new tactics last week. Milton Bearden, who ended a 30-year career with the CIA in 1994, said that coercion did not work.

'You just get all kinds of confessions that turn out to be completely untrue,' he said. 'And rendition to someone who will torture a suspect is as bad as doing it yourself.'>

Aiding and abetting torture is the same as doing it yourself. There is also the matter of conspiracy to commit human rights violations. Those perpetrating these criminal acts believe they are immune based upon sovereign power as if they were acting for the state. They are not because criminal activity is always outside the scope of sovereign immunity and may be prosecuted against the perpetrator in his or her individual capacity. Therefore, like the Nazis from WWII these people have to look over their shoulders for the rest of their lives and will not be able to travel freely for fear of prosecution.

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