Al-Nashiri's Swollen Nerves, the CIA's Apology to Abu Zubaydah
As MadDog pointed out, the latest redactions of the CSRT transcripts are up at ACLU.
Transcript of Khalid Sheikh Muhammad’s CSRT (27 page PDF).
Transcript of Al Nashiri’s CSRT (39 page PDF).
Transcript of Abu Zubaydah’s CSRT (30 page PDF)
Transcript of Majid Khan's CSRT (50 page PDF)
I say "latest redactions" because they really haven't declassified that much--just single lines here and there.
The biggest piece of news, IMO, is Rahim al-Nashiri's
Hassan Ghul Timeline
The known dates pertaining to Hassan Ghul's capture and subsequent OLC memos pertaining to his torture.
January 22, 2004: Hassan Ghul detained by Kurds
February 21, 2004: Directorate of Intelligence document, "US Efforts Grinding Down al-Qa'ida," says Ghul was captured while on a mission "to establish contact" with Zarqawi
February 24, 2004:
Russ Feingold Throws Vaughn Walker a Softball
Russ Feingold reminds Obama that he said the warrantless wiretapping program was illegal.
Is Detainee 2 Abu Faraj al-Libbi?
I noticed something about as I've been working on some more Hassan Ghul posts. Abu Faraj al-Libbi--whom the ICRC refers to by his real name, Mustafah Faraj al-Azibi, was captured on May 2, 2005. al-Libbi was alleged to be (more credibly than usual) al Qaeda's then-number 3 when he was captured.
Ending the Gang of Eight
This is welcome news:
In a move that could spark another fight with the GOP over CIA intelligence and secrecy, House Dems are quietly preparing to make major changes to the ways the CIA briefs Congress on covert actions, by broadening the pool of members of Congress who will have access to such private briefings, a source familiar with deliberations says.
The Gray Lady Is A Tramp
Michael Calderone thinks it's news that Obama's Administration is sleeping with the Gray Lady. Doesn't he know that all powerful people sleep with the Gray Lady?
Hassan Ghul and Goldsmith's Exception to the Geneva Convention's Protected Person Rule
The CIA was writing Jack Goldsmith with details about Hassan Ghul right before Goldsmith finalized one and drafted another memo on transferring people from Iraq.
Court Allows Padilla Suit Against Yoo To Proceed
There was a significant new opinion released in the NDCA late Friday (h/t Lindy and Fatster) in the case of Jose Padilla v. John Yoo. The decision is simply devastating.
From the Blogger's Basement on Jane Mayer
Some tidbits from Jane Mayer's latest on torture.
Eric Holder's Secrets
Eric Holder is revealing the results of his review of state secrets in piecemeal fashion, case filing by case filing.
Hassan Ghul, Mystery Detainee 2, and the Three Bradbury Memos
It appears Steven Bradbury wrote three memos in May 2005 to hide the authorization for waterboarding an unnamed detainee.
The April 22, 2005 Fax on Torture
There's an April 22, 2005 fax that Steven Bradbury relied on for his May 10, 2005 "Combined" memo that totally dismantles the premise of the May 10, 2005 "Techniques" memo.
Obama DOJ Asks Full Panel to Review Jeppesen
Obama's DOJ is still flogging its efforts to use state secrets to shield the Bush Administration's crimes.
The Scope of the SSCI Investigation and Where It Leads
What's the scope of the SSCI investigation and where does that lead us?
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To al-Haramain Justice
As you will recall, there was an important hearing in the Northern District of California District Court, Judge Vaughn Walker presiding, on June 3rd. There were significant briefs from both the plaintiffs al-Haramain and the defendant government filed a few days before the hearing. Here now is the tick tock from the transcript of the hearing.
ACLU's Latest Lawsuit: Suing to Get the 2002 Convention Against Torture Opinion
The ACLU is suing the CIA to get an OLC opinion that claims the US may blow off the Convention Against Torture's Article 16.
American Heroes, American Union Members
The heroes that saved the visitors and employees at the National Holocaust Museum are yet another example of union members performing heroically.
Why the CIA Would Want to Hide May 2002 from Judge Hellerstein (and the ACLU)
I've had a couple of really weedy posts examining the CIA's response to the torture FOIA (Cherry-Pick One, Cherry-Pick Two, FOIA Exemptions). And I wanted to pull back a bit, and explain what I think they might mean.
We're getting all these documents because the CIA is trying to avoid being held in contempt for not revealing the now-destroyed torture tapes in a response to this FOIA in 2004.
Why Doesn't the CIA's Vaughn Index Match the CIA's Vaughn Index?
Back in May, the CIA admitted it was deliberating about Abu Zubaydah's torture on a frequent basis. Two days ago, it changed its mind.
Did Somebody Improperly Make Torture a Special Access Program?
The EO on classification says the Director of CIA has to make intelligence programs special access programs. But it appears that someone at NSC made torture a SAP.
