First Germany, Now Spain Calls For Arrest Of CIA Agents Involved In Extraordinary Rendition

El-Masri is a Canadian citizen. His case has been in the news many times as he tries to get justice for what happened to him.

He was kidnapped and tortured by the CIA and then dropped off at an isolated area after it became clear he had done nothing wrong. He received not even an apology for the months of terror he was subjected to.

He has tried for years to get some justice for the torture he was subjected to, but under the Bush administration he was denied access to the courts to sue the U.S. Government on the pretext of 'national security'.

With a new administration taking control of the U.S. Government in 2008, it was thought that he might finally get the justice he had waited so long for.

The Spanish court had decided to wait until the new administration took over to see if the U.S. would deal with its own war criminals. But the current DOJ has continued Bush's policies regarding this case and it is now obvious that El-Masri will not receive justice in the U.S under this administration either.

This is why the Spanish Court is now stepping in on his behalf.

Spain Calls For Arrest Of CIA Agents Involved In Extraordinary Rendition

U.S. Must Also Hold Officials Accountable For Their Role In Illegal Program, Says ACLU
Published on May 13, 2010 - 6:20:42 AM

....... El-Masri has thus far been denied any remedy in the U.S. In 2005, the American Civil Liberties Union sued former CIA Director George Tenet and other unnamed CIA agents for their roles in El-Masri's abduction and abuse, but the case was thrown out when the government claimed it would expose "state secrets."

The Spanish request is not the first time foreign prosecutors have sought to hold the CIA liable for the rendition program. In January 2007, a German court issued warrants for the 13 CIA agents suspected of involvement in El-Masri's rendition. In November 2009, an Italian court convicted 23 Americans for the extraordinary rendition of a Muslim cleric who was kidnapped in Milan in 2003.

The ACLU has long called for the U.S. to hold officials who authorized and carried out illegal rendition and torture accountable for their actions.

The following can be attributed to Steven Watt, staff attorney with the ACLU Human Rights Program:

"The initiation of legal action in Spain against CIA agents for their role in the 'extraordinary rendition' program underscores the need for the United States to do the same. As other countries put U.S. actions under the spotlight, this country can no longer turn a blind eye to crimes committed by its own officials in the name of the American people."

Thanks to the ACLU for doing what this government refuses to do. I hope the world realizes that the U.S. government does not represent all Americans on this issue. It is an outrage that this administration is continuing the policies have so disgraced this country. Definitely NOT what most of us who supported President Obama were expecting.

Just one more 'change' that is not likely to happen!

to emulate? :shrug:

block Iran from the UN Human Rights Council:

The US must do more than block Iran's candidacy to the UN Human Rights Council


The US must do more than block Iran's candidacy to the UN Human Rights Council —

That's putting it mildly. We have lost the moral authority to tell anyone else what to do. The hyocrisy is stunning though.

much as I follow the torture issue, I was not aware of how many countries are investigating the CIA/U.S. for extraordinary rendition which is against International Law.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraordinary_rendition_by_the_United_States

7 Investigations

* 7.1 Investigations by multi-nation groups
o 7.1.1 Council of Europe investigation and its two reports
o 7.1.2 June 27, 2006 Council of Europe resolution
o 7.1.3 European Parliament's investigation and report
o 7.1.4 UN report by Manfred Nowak
* 7.2 Investigations by national governments
o 7.2.1 France
o 7.2.2 Spain
o 7.2.3 Germany
o 7.2.4 Kosovo
o 7.2.5 Italy
o 7.2.6 Portugal
o 7.2.7 United Kingdom
o 7.2.8 Romania
* 7.3 Investigations by non-state actors
o 7.3.1 Shannon Airport, Ireland
o 7.3.2 Craig Murray 2003 revelations
o 7.3.3 World Policy Council report

Shameful, and more shameful that this administration won't do anything about it, in fact is continuing Bush's policies. I hope these other countries get something done.

I suppose it's silly to ask why the average American isn't aware of any of this.