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President Obama and Extraordinary Rendition
February 08, 2009 11:12 PM
A hearing tomorrow in San Francisco before the Ninth U.S. Court of Appeals could provide some insight into the Obama administration's policy on extraordinary rendition -- secretly flying terrorist suspects to countries or secret CIA camps where torture is allegedly practiced.
The San Francisco Chronicle has the story HERE.
The case is Mohamed et al v Jeppesen Dataplan, Inc. The ACLU's description of the case can be read HERE.
Five men who claim to have been victims of this practice -- including current Guantanamo detainee Binyam Mohamed, another plaintiff in jail in Egypt, one in jail in Morocco, and two now free -- are asking the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reinstate a lawsuit against San Jose Boeing subsidiary Jeppesen Dataplan, accusing the flight-planning company of aiding the CIA in performing extraordinary renditions against them.
Jeppesen, alleges the ACLU, "through its travel service known as Jeppesen International Trip Planning, has been a main provider of flight and logistical support services for aircraft used by the CIA in the U.S. government's extraordinary rendition program. The CIA rendition flights transfer terror suspects to countries where the U.S. government knows detainees are routinely tortured or otherwise abused in contravention of universally accepted legal standards. The complaint also alleges that Jeppesen has facilitated flights to U.S.-run detention facilities overseas where the U.S. government maintains that the safeguards of its laws do not apply."
In February 2008, the Bush administration convinced U.S. District Judge James Ware to dismiss the case, saying it would harm national security. But the five men are asking the court of appeals to overrule Ware.
What's the Obama administration's position?
Justice Department spokesman Charles Miller told the Chronicle he had no information on what stance DOJ would take at the hearing Monday.
Attorney General Eric Holder has not withdrawn his predecessor's arguments in the case. Nor has Holder asked for a postponement for time to reconsider the Justice Department's past position.
After being picked up in Pakistan, Mohamed, a 30-year-old Ethiopian who lived in the United Kingdom, was in July 2002, according to the ACLU, "stripped, blindfolded, shackled, dressed in a tracksuit, strapped to the seat of a plane and flown to Morocco where he was secretly detained for 18 months and interrogated and tortured by Moroccan intelligence services."
In January 2004, the ACLU says, Mohamed "was once again blindfolded, stripped, and shackled by CIA agents and flown to the secret U.S. detention facility known as the 'Dark Prison' in Kabul, Afghanistan where he was again tortured and eventually transferred to another facility and then to the U.S. Naval Station at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, where he still remains."
- jpt
February 8, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (19)
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"He has been doing a good job for the last 8 years."
Which is why he ended his term with a job approval rating below 35%.
"It is Obama that is not doing his job too well. His approval polling has drop down below almost 60%."
down below almost 60%?
What does that mean?
Gallup has him at 66% approval.
Rasmussen has him at 60% approval.
Both those are dailies and CNN just came out with a poll that has him at 76% approval.
Posted by: Ryan C | Feb 9, 2009 8:10:43 PM
Disgusting republicans whine and rant but the fact is Obama has a 79% approval rating according to CNN and a 67% approval according to Gallup.
Pa-THET-ic.
Posted by: Tom | Feb 9, 2009 7:01:40 PM
When terrorist are set free in the US that means more votes for Obama.
With ACORN, control of the Census, and illegals how can he possibly lose?
America is the loser.
Posted by: harry | Feb 9, 2009 11:05:08 AM
I the US really wanted to do something to fight terrorism, it would put Posada onto the next plane to Venezuela. But no, the US isn't and never has been interested in fighting terrorism, its all a big scam.
Posted by: Flash Override | Feb 9, 2009 6:32:29 AM
His approval polling has drop down below almost 60%
****************************************
Say what? Drop down below almost 60%?
What does that mean?
Posted by: Thinking | Feb 9, 2009 5:49:59 AM
Bush will not be charge. He is not the President anymore. He has been doing a good job for the last 8 years. It is Obama that is not doing his job too well. His approval polling has drop down below almost 60%. The voters were already mad and they still don't like he is doing. The problem is the Obama Admin. Just about all his cabinet members beside him are corrupt. He has broken promise and has lied to America people. He has a 'lack' of leadership.
Posted by: anonymous | Feb 9, 2009 5:40:53 AM
Well let's report on it after the hearing when we find out what the stance is.
There is enough leftover from the Bush Presidency to last through 4 or 5 Presidencies.
This stuff is going to take years to filter through.
Posted by: Thinking | Feb 9, 2009 5:32:12 AM
Its going to be fun to see our Kenyan president forced into situations where he has to take a position and hold it. This Dude has made an art out speaking in nothing but absurd platitudes since he materialized from nowhere last year. He flatters and hypnotizes masses with his ever present teleprompter, speaking in lofty, flowing rhetoric, while not saying anything at all. Hopefully "Date Night" at the White House is over with, because Mr. HopeyChange has a big problem this morning. Now that he has been briefed on the reality of the situation the liberal propaganda has become an albatross. Should he continue playing his Christ on the Mount role and risk losing a city, or continue keeping America safe and incur the rage of the lunatic left? The polls will really tank with high casualties you know. If there is way to go through a trial without taking any position at all, we will see it this week. In any case, this thing will be fun to watch.
Posted by: Fluidizer | Feb 9, 2009 5:29:13 AM
Jake - you're late. Obama already gave us insight into this when Panetta said that they would continue rendition , but try to make sure no one went to a country where they were tortured by contacting the State Department. This is exactly what the Bush administration said. Human Rights groups argue that you cannot prevent torture through diplomacy.....
Posted by: damitajo1 | Feb 9, 2009 5:27:57 AM
0bama should be brought up on war crimes for not ending his 2 illegal wars.
Posted by: Concerned in OH | Feb 9, 2009 2:14:56 AM
Last I heard those were Bush's wars. I think that him and Cheyney should be investigated.
Posted by: Jwench | Feb 9, 2009 5:02:01 AM
@Imee - These wars belong to George W Bush. Nice try. No cigar.
Posted by: Carol | Feb 9, 2009 3:10:28 AM
Here is another reason to bring charges againist the bush cabinet!
send bush,cheney to prison for life and the rest of his group!
maybe then the coruption in the white house will stop!
Posted by: Dt | Feb 9, 2009 3:06:30 AM
Only in America we give terrorists SS, Medicad, Section 8 housing, college tuition, and release them in San Fransisco.
I'm Barrack Obama and I approve this insanity!!!!
Posted by: Tim | Feb 9, 2009 3:03:34 AM
if there is ANY truth to this at all, then all i can say is WOW. and, yeah. pass the popcorn. it sounds a lot like something you'd see in a movie!
Posted by: Imee | Feb 9, 2009 2:26:08 AM
If you didn't already know that secret U.S. prisons have existed for decades, then your idea of international affairs is probably derived from "Scarecrow and Mrs. King," a good show in its day but not applicable here.
Posted by: Chris | Feb 9, 2009 1:47:18 AM
Here is the Obama Administration's first chance to show us where they truly stand on torture. It is a very important test that they must pass if they stand a chance of truly changing the tone of how we handle the struggle against terrorism.
Posted by: The Drunken Observer | Feb 9, 2009 1:12:56 AM
Several likely innocent men have been kidnapped, taken from their friends and family for years at a time, tortured until their souls are nearly broken...and you're making jokes. Is this how you want God to judge you?
Posted by: DCX2 | Feb 9, 2009 12:27:31 AM
Obama's plan is to bring the so-called "terrorists" (or what we used to call before they wer actually proven guilty of something SUSPECTS) HERE inside the US, to take residence on our military bases! While our troops who are supposed to protect US, not foreign countries like Japan, or even IRAQ!!! Are left to die in one Vietnam (Iraq) after another! (Afghanistan) This is beyond "Change", this is LUNACY!!! Put the troops on OUR border, and bring them HOME... NOW!!! That's how you truly have "Homeland Security"!!!
Posted by: hmn... | Feb 9, 2009 12:25:32 AM
Pass the popcorn.
Posted by: Obama Hypocrisy Watch | Feb 9, 2009 12:22:51 AM
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