El-Masri was the German shoe salesman who was plucked off the street in Macedonia by local authorities at the request of the CIA, which had mistaken him for a terrorist. He was (violently) transferred to CIA custody, shipped off to the Salt Pit in Afghanistan, and ultimately released with the U.S. saying basically, "So Sorry Charlie." His lawsuit against the U.S. was dismissed on grounds of the state secrets privilege, but it proceeded in the European Court of Human Rights, where his torture claims were upheld and he was awarded $60,000 Euros (for non-pecuniary damages. He didn't seek pecuniary damages.)

(snip)

Cheney, Hayden, Rodriguez, and the psychologists need to stop playing games with their denials. This report is just confirmation of so many earlier reports which show they knew, they lied and the program was shoddily run, poorly managed and useless in terms of results.

As I said, el-Masri is but one example. The court decision lists some of the amounts other countries have paid to abused CIA detainees when officials of those countries assisted the CIA. Maher Arar was paid $10 million by Canada. The U.K. paid $1 million to Binyan Mohammed. Sweden paid $450,000 to two detainees.

The CIA didn't just corrupt our values, it dragged other countries into the mud with it. Instead of making us safer, the CIA just put a bigger target on our backs.

Since no charges will be brought here, we can only hope that new charges are brought in other countries and arrest warrants are issued. (CIA agents have already been convicted in Italy. Charges were filed and are pending in Germany and were filed in Spain but dismissed.) These CIA agents and approving government officials should have to look over their shoulder every time they engage in international travel. They can ask Roman Polanski what it feels like. I think they deserve to live with the fear of arrest from international travel much more than he does.

The interview began with Cheney constantly defending the use of the so-called enhanced interrogation techniques that the Department of Justice signed off on to use against detainees. Early on, Cheney told Baier that former President George W. Bush was well aware of the entire program conducted by the CIA, essentially throwing Bush under the bus and making sure everyone knows Bush knew just as much as Cheney and others during that time. After that, Cheney then straddled a very careful line, claiming that the CIA did what was necessary to protect Americans and get vital information while stating that they did not “legally” commit torture.

Quote by Raine:
The very simple fact that people don't even consider what was done is torture shows me how broken we are.

Quote by Scoopster:


Mornin'.. Sorry I'm late. I've been stuck in OPP this morning - other people's PEBCAK.

Quote by TriSec:
I have writ a blog. If I can schedule it to go Sat am, i'll be good for coverage.

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Mornin'.. Sorry I'm late. I've been stuck in OPP this morning - other people's PEBCAK.

Orleans Parish Prison?

Optimus Prime's Pantry?

The following is a transcript of the August 6, 2001, presidential daily briefing entitled Bin Laden determined to strike in US. Parts of the original document were not made public by the White House for security reasons.

Clandestine, foreign government, and media reports indicate bin Laden since 1997 has wanted to conduct terrorist attacks in the US. Bin Laden implied in U.S. television interviews in 1997 and 1998 that his followers would follow the example of World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Yousef and "bring the fighting to America."

After U.S. missile strikes on his base in Afghanistan in 1998, bin Laden told followers he wanted to retaliate in Washington, according to a -- -- service.

An Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) operative told - - service at the same time that bin Laden was planning to exploit the operative's access to the U.S. to mount a terrorist strike.

The millennium plotting in Canada in 1999 may have been part of bin Laden's first serious attempt to implement a terrorist strike in the U.S.

Convicted plotter Ahmed Ressam has told the FBI that he conceived the idea to attack Los Angeles International Airport himself, but that in ---, Laden lieutenant Abu Zubaydah encouraged him and helped facilitate the operation. Ressam also said that in 1998 Abu Zubaydah was planning his own U.S. attack.

Ressam says bin Laden was aware of the Los Angeles operation. Although Bin Laden has not succeeded, his attacks against the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 demonstrate that he prepares operations years in advance and is not deterred by setbacks. Bin Laden associates surveyed our embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam as early as 1993, and some members of the Nairobi cell planning the bombings were arrested and deported in 1997.

Al Qaeda members -- including some who are U.S. citizens -- have resided in or traveled to the U.S. for years, and the group apparently maintains a support structure that could aid attacks.

Two al-Qaeda members found guilty in the conspiracy to bomb our embassies in East Africa were U.S. citizens, and a senior EIJ member lived in California in the mid-1990s.

A clandestine source said in 1998 that a bin Laden cell in New York was recruiting Muslim-American youth for attacks.

We have not been able to corroborate some of the more sensational threat reporting, such as that from a ---- service in 1998 saying that Bin Laden wanted to hijack a U.S. aircraft to gain the release of "Blind Sheikh" Omar Abdel Rahman and other U.S.-held extremists.

Nevertheless, FBI information since that time indicates patterns of suspicious activity in this country consistent with preparations for hijackings or other types of attacks, including recent surveillance of federal buildings in New York.

The FBI is conducting approximately 70 full-field investigations throughout the U.S. that it considers bin Laden-related. CIA and the FBI are investigating a call to our embassy in the UAE in May saying that a group or bin Laden supporters was in the U.S. planning attacks with explosives.

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Mornin'.. Sorry I'm late. I've been stuck in OPP this morning - other people's PEBCAK.

Orleans Parish Prison?

Optimus Prime's Pantry?

Oh man I can't wait to see what you guys come up with for PEBCAK!

Problem exists between chair and keyboard.

I actually know that.

Quote by TriSec:
Speaking of Bob, check out WCVB today. They've just unearthed a time capsule at the state house. It was buried in 1795 by none other than Sam Adams himself!

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Quote by Raine:
You know someone alluded to it today on the SMShow.

The best intelligence we had was given to the B*sh administration: It was this PDB

They did not have to torture people if they had only paid attention to the intelligence.

It's been 10 years since that was released, I am posting here in full, beucase things can disappear, obviously.

The following is a transcript of the August 6, 2001, presidential daily briefing entitled Bin Laden determined to strike in US. Parts of the original document were not made public by the White House for security reasons.

Clandestine, foreign government, and media reports indicate bin Laden since 1997 has wanted to conduct terrorist attacks in the US. Bin Laden implied in U.S. television interviews in 1997 and 1998 that his followers would follow the example of World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Yousef and "bring the fighting to America."

After U.S. missile strikes on his base in Afghanistan in 1998, bin Laden told followers he wanted to retaliate in Washington, according to a -- -- service.

An Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) operative told - - service at the same time that bin Laden was planning to exploit the operative's access to the U.S. to mount a terrorist strike.

The millennium plotting in Canada in 1999 may have been part of bin Laden's first serious attempt to implement a terrorist strike in the U.S.

Convicted plotter Ahmed Ressam has told the FBI that he conceived the idea to attack Los Angeles International Airport himself, but that in ---, Laden lieutenant Abu Zubaydah encouraged him and helped facilitate the operation. Ressam also said that in 1998 Abu Zubaydah was planning his own U.S. attack.

Ressam says bin Laden was aware of the Los Angeles operation. Although Bin Laden has not succeeded, his attacks against the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 demonstrate that he prepares operations years in advance and is not deterred by setbacks. Bin Laden associates surveyed our embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam as early as 1993, and some members of the Nairobi cell planning the bombings were arrested and deported in 1997.

Al Qaeda members -- including some who are U.S. citizens -- have resided in or traveled to the U.S. for years, and the group apparently maintains a support structure that could aid attacks.

Two al-Qaeda members found guilty in the conspiracy to bomb our embassies in East Africa were U.S. citizens, and a senior EIJ member lived in California in the mid-1990s.

A clandestine source said in 1998 that a bin Laden cell in New York was recruiting Muslim-American youth for attacks.

We have not been able to corroborate some of the more sensational threat reporting, such as that from a ---- service in 1998 saying that Bin Laden wanted to hijack a U.S. aircraft to gain the release of "Blind Sheikh" Omar Abdel Rahman and other U.S.-held extremists.

Nevertheless, FBI information since that time indicates patterns of suspicious activity in this country consistent with preparations for hijackings or other types of attacks, including recent surveillance of federal buildings in New York.

The FBI is conducting approximately 70 full-field investigations throughout the U.S. that it considers bin Laden-related. CIA and the FBI are investigating a call to our embassy in the UAE in May saying that a group or bin Laden supporters was in the U.S. planning attacks with explosives.

The one that W and Cheney ignored (perhaps on purpose) because they were more concerned with invading Iraq.

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off topic poll

DC, Marvel or Darkhorse?

I've read both Marvel and DC for decades although since the New 52 reboot, I've probably switched to exclusively Marvel.

Marvel is like Xmen and stuff, right?

Marvel

DC


The difference between the two.

Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Raine:

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Quote by wickedpam:

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Quote by wickedpam:
off topic poll

DC, Marvel or Darkhorse?

I've read both Marvel and DC for decades although since the New 52 reboot, I've probably switched to exclusively Marvel.

Marvel is like Xmen and stuff, right?

Marvel

DC


The difference between the two.

I like sunday comics.

Usually I'm a Non-Sequitor gal but I don't get the paper.

Why did I think Flash and Green Arrow were Marvel? They have a Marvel feel on the shows.

Quote by wickedpam:

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Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Raine:

Quote by Mondobubba:

Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by livingonli:

Quote by wickedpam:
off topic poll

DC, Marvel or Darkhorse?

I've read both Marvel and DC for decades although since the New 52 reboot, I've probably switched to exclusively Marvel.

Marvel is like Xmen and stuff, right?

Marvel

DC


The difference between the two.

I like sunday comics.

Usually I'm a Non-Sequitor gal but I don't get the paper.

Why did I think Flash and Green Arrow were Marvel? They have a Marvel feel on the shows.

Mala, speaking of Green Arrow, it did not look good for Oliver and the end of last night's episode!

Shhhh, I didn't watch yet, I"m 2 or 3 behind (but I read reviews and was on twitter I know what happened) I kind of figure since the show is called Arrow he'll be back in January