Parry writes: "An international body last week unanimously adopted a resolution condemning US secrecy regarding the CIA's extraordinary rendition program � secrecy that is effectively stonewalling a number of European investigations."
Bush's CIA rendition program is under international scrutiny. (photo: Reuters)
Pressure to Investigate Bush Torture Program Grows
19 July 12
�
n international body last week unanimously adopted a resolution condemning U.S. secrecy regarding the CIA�s extraordinary rendition program � secrecy that is effectively stonewalling a number of European investigations into the program of secret arrests and torture of terror suspects.
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly � a 320-member organization comprising lawmakers from Europe, North America and Central Asia � adopted the resolution in plenary session on July 9.
Supporting the criminal investigation carried out by Polish authorities into the rendition program and welcoming attempts by British parliamentarians to ascertain the level of the United Kingdom�s involvement, the resolution �insists that the United States Government co-operates with European investigations� and �calls upon the United States to release any pertinent information to appropriate investigators.�
In introducing the resolution on July 6, British parliamentarian Tony Lloyd recalled that when President Barack Obama was inaugurated in 2009, one of his first acts was to issue executive orders prohibiting rendition and torture.
However, Lloyd said, there are �strong evidential trails that suggest members of the OSCE family were involved in this practice of unlawful transfer of prisoners� throughout Europe, the Middle East and Afghanistan. He pointed to cases of prisoners being unlawfully detained by the CIA in Italy and the United Kingdom.
In the UK, Lloyd said, an official inquiry came to a �premature end� despite the fact that the practice of extraordinary rendition is �clearly illegal,� in violation of Article 3 of the Convention against Torture, which has been adopted by every member of the OSCE. He reminded OSCE parliamentarians that there were 1,245 CIA flights from European territory to countries where suspects faced torture.
In March, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that his country�s former spy chief, Zbigniew Siemiatkowski, is facing criminal charges in connection with a probe by state prosecutors into the Polish role in the CIA�s rendition and secret prison program. The future of the Polish investigation is in doubt, however, with U.S. authorities refusing to turn over relevant documents to the prosecution, reports the Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza.
In April, U.S. intelligence agencies including the CIA and the FBI won a ruling in a U.S. District Court allowing them to continue withholding evidence from British MPs about UK involvement in the rendition. In reaction to this court ruling, Lloyd, who co-chairs the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Extraordinary Rendition, said, �It�s an abuse of the spirit of freedom of information.�
Lloyd claimed that the U.S. agencies were trying to avoid official embarrassment on both sides of the Atlantic by using a narrow legal exemption to prevent the disclosure of critical papers. �This is still an ongoing issue,� he said in introducing the resolution last week. �This story of extraordinary rendition is not finished.�
He pointed out that �it is clear that the United States was the author of these practices,� but noted that �it was the United States acting in concert with other members of the OSCE.�
It is therefore �necessary to keep up the political pressure for proper answers,� Lloyd said. �We need to know the truth of what took place. We need to give a strong signal that this type of activity is not something that has any role to play in the fight against terrorism.�
Toward this end, the resolution introduced by Lloyd reminds OSCE member states of their �binding obligations under international law to not only refrain from torture, or inhuman, cruel, humiliating, and degrading treatment; but to also investigate allegations of torture.�
It further calls on all OSCE members to investigate allegations that their territory has been used to assist CIA-chartered flights secretly transporting detainees to countries where they may face torture or other ill-treatment.
Following Lloyd�s introduction, U.S. Congressman Dennis Cardoza, D-California, took the floor largely in support of the resolution, stating that �No country should evade a discussion of its own domestic issues.� He said that the issues of rendition and torture �remain controversial in the United States� and welcomed Lloyd�s attempt to focus attention on the matter.
The debate on the resolution came just after President Obama renewed the U.S. pledge to work with the international community toward ending torture. The White House put out a statement on International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, stating that �the United States rejects torture as unlawful, counter to our values, and inconsistent with the universal rights and freedoms that should be enjoyed by all men, women, and children wherever they live.�
As the Center for Constitutional Rights pointed out, however, the statement �comes after three years of continued efforts by the Obama administration to block any investigation or accountability for U.S. torture practices.�
Nat Parry is co-author of Neck Deep: The Disastrous Presidency of George W. Bush.
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He should be reminded of this fact that he demonstrates that he has forgotten, through his ignoring the police state tactics going on during HIS watch.
SHAME on you Mr. President.
Signed,
One of your most ardent supporters since day one.
I, too, encourage you to pick up your phones and call immediately to ask Mr. Obama to do the right thing, to ask him to speak out in favor of peaceful protests and against police brutality that has NO place in a democratic America.
The World is watching, and "WE cannot wait" for him to do the right thing. It must be now.
To President Obama, I beg you to do what you promised: be WITH the people, FOR the people, and be fearless about using your executive power to stop the madness NOW.
Sincerely,
Another of your most ardent supporters since day one.
N.
In this article, this is exactly what I am addressing.
Thank you for your support.
N.
The "cheating" by planting evidence and using infiltrators/ag ent provocateurs is SOP for U.S. government agencies.
Ask Native Americans.
Ask Iraqis.
Ask Afghans.
Do you actually think all IEDs are planted by Al Qaeda and Islamic extremists?
Realize we are confronting a collection of amoral sociopaths who will do anything to beat back genuine democracy.
Never forget the Kent State murders on 4 May 1970.
And the legal basis for this was the Patriot Act, which, you might recall, was brought to us George and Dick.
And? Your are saying that he had to keep it?
NEVER VOTE REPUBLICAN
It's all of them, Barbara.
( is that feeling enough? ) I can go on. I've been watching for a long time.
As for congress, take a look back to the George W. administration. Review just how much the democrats handed to them. Most of what you see is entertainment, regardless. The show is directed by that 1% we're all protesting.
What you see is not necessarily the reality.
We can only hope that this will be the case, as no amount of "shame on you" seems to be doing the job.
N.
Everyone knows there were slave in North than as the land expanded, slaves went with..south, NorthWest and Southwest.
And many were treated well, many were treated horrendously.
Thomas Jefferson and our Forefathers never said they had no Slaves or House Persons. It is in their memoirs. Many were trusted friends. It was with the growth did Power come and the Slaves treated poorly even killed.
Police didnot cause Slavery Merchants did. Bounty hunters were hired, local thugs to go bring back runaways. I do not remember North being quite so adamant as the South, or as cruel. But Slavery was wrong, and we can thank those Christians who believed those that were not of our color were Heathens and therefore, should be treated as such. Again not a Police Agenda. Police role had already started in Europe, most were to quell uprisings but upsurps, protect the well to do/Political some branched into security, money protection etc. We had the jolly constables most were Volunteer or Appointed in Colonies with Volunteers who later started Fire Brigades, Citizen Brigades etc. Crime was not so large, everyone knew each other. those who did something wrong was treated more with Puritan Cruelty and Mockery than enforcement as we know it.
If they are part of the 1% they don't need any money.
Eventually they will resort to hurting one of their own, in order to change the game. Don't let this happen without photo or video evidence. Be quick to protect the evidence, and be ready to offer copies to the media, the courts, and to lawyers for the defense of those of us who will be arrested.
Even Oakland I get different stories from my friends. supposedly Peaceful than a gorup start shoving the cops, that is not Peaceful.
I think reviews of all Brutality must be looked into, and then start seeing if the same faces in Oakland than went to Denver up to NY because they will, they are on someone's dime setting up to instigate and get publicity.
Take them out...put them in public shackles for what they are. But stay Peaceful, stay warm
NEVER VOTE REPUBLICAN !!
Nations we are no better than you, we are being watched daily, listened to, our accounts, lives are all being accounted for by Big Brother. We have Dictators in charge here and they want your Country, your riches, your Land....Do not believe OBama and the USA. We are not to be trusted. Nazis are alive and well here.
YOu see us destroying our water, our air, land. You see us killing our Animals. You see us poisoning towns. You see us selling our jobs overseas. We are Prisoners just like you. Democracy is a Dream. Nazis, Fascists are the Voice in our System not Democratic Ideals. We Kill anything, anyone for whatever reason the Man Tells us to. You are next, first your Leaders than You
But remember: We the People voted in all these cretinous, traitorous politicians, including feckless Obama, who is a slave working for Wall St.
Most important, Scott Olsen is a man of courage and remarkable character. He and the other true OWS patriots remind us that such qualities still exist among us.
Second, yes, each OWS group will be infiltrated by "plants"--under cover cops, people trying to distort the message, and saboteurs. Stay true, know your colleagues, and identify the others.
Third, rubber bullets, tear gas, and batons are NOT "NON-LETHAL" as reported. All have been and can be lethal. In fact, many police and military are taught lethal applications. Believe me, if you teach safeguards to prevent death, many see this as direct lethal instruction.
Stay safe. Stay true. And begin framing your message.
They pretend to help you but they are giving you poisoned candy. Stop taking anything from American Business and their Partners. Your Land is goin to be their Land....
They kill you and your children, they kill us and our children with no food, no clean water, no housing, no jobs, no health care. They Poison our air, Our Water, Our Food, Our Bodies with disease.
they take our homes, our land, our rights.
They go in pretending to protect you, to help you, they pretend to give you money for rebuilding but they are buying you out.
One Day you will no longer be Iraq, Iran, Libya ... you will Be MonsantoLand, KochLand, GELand. Beware the Powers of the USA are playing with their Puppet Politicians to wipe you out just like your leaders. You will either work for them or die of some new disease, or dumping their chemicals, bad food seeds. Welcome to Democracy the New Wave