This post is a bit of a rant . . . feel free to skip it if you like.
The really sad part of the Masri case is not whether or not extraordinary rendition occurs, it’s a given, but rather or not the German government helped the US kidnap a German citizen in Macedonia, cart him off to Afghanistan, where he was placed in a secret prison and tortured for six months . . . Germany Weighs if It Played Role in Seizure by U.S. . . . the fact that he was not a terrorist makes the case more sensitive but the whole process stinks to me . . . oh, “what is extraordinary rendition?” you may ask . . . it’s the essence of creepy facist police state practice . . .
the C.I.A. practice known as extraordinary rendition, in which terror suspects are sent to be interrogated in other countries where torture is commonly used.
After 9-11, a number of moves were made within the US intelligence community to remove legal roadblocks to how agencies and agents gather intelligence. This is partly because the intelligence community felt they were taken completely by surprise by Bin Laden’s move and the WTC/Pentagon attacks . . . they said they had no intelligence in part because they were prevented by US law from getting into bed with criminals to gather information (the Carter Administration reformed intelligence practice to prevent intelligence agents from violating international and American law) . . . we now know that this objection to blame by the intelligence community was in part wrong in that we now know the intelligence was there but that it had been improprerly intepreted. The Clinton Administration had Bin Laden’s organization as the number one intelligence and anti-terror target, information upon and prioritization for which was dropped by the Bush Administration in favor of focusing on Saddam Hussein among others.
One problem I have with the whole extraordary rendition policy is that it allows American agents to violate international and American law. The ends do not justify the means. If, as an ordinary citizen, I am expected to follow American law while overseas then I would expect the folks who are supposed to be the hallmark of American presence overseas to do so even more so. To move folks to countries where torture is acceptable and then torture them, in direct violation not only of international laws and treaties the United States is a signatory to but also in direct violation of American law and the constitution of the United States just to expedite information gathering is reprehensible to me. They know the law and they know the ethics of the question and they know they are wrong on all counts . . . this would be true in any case, and is even more so obvious in cased where a person has been kidnapped, moved across international borders, tortured and interrogated without charge or rights and it turns out the person is innocent.
The law is the law. If the executive branch with it’s administrative agencies wishes to act in a way that is opposed to current law then it should be above board about it and change the laws . . . not just these secret pissy admistrative guidelines that often hide all sorts of nefarious practice . . . but the laws and to do that one would have to change the root of the law . . . the Constitution. Let’s have a vote on whether or not the protections in the constitution should be done away with. I say “no, no, and no” . . . if agents can’t get information without resorting to illegal detainment and torture then they’re just not doing their jobs well enough. They should find a way to get the information . . . reliable information . . . that does not darken the reputation and spirit of the nation. When American agents, those sworn to protect and represent our great nation, resort to illegality and torture and theft and blackmail and murder, yes, murder, then they not only dirty their own souls, they dirty the soul of the nation.
America is hated by many the world over . . . and it is loved . . . do we truly wish to be the bully nation that breaks its own laws? Or, do we wish to be a light for freedom and truth and democracy that shines like a beacon for the world to see? Personally, I would hope for the latter, but when I learn of practices like extraordinary rendition becoming standard operating procedures or of even simple memos from as far back as 1948 being reclassified as secret just to continue the shroud of secrecy for secrecy’s sake or the spying on vegetarian protestors at a meat packing plant by Homeland Security agents or more much more . . . then I fear it’s the former and that it is so sad that so many have lost their respect for us.
Rant over . . . for now.
