The President has suppressed the 6,000 page torture documents.

[truedelphi]

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/12/the-6-000-page-report-on-cia-torture-has-now-been-suppressed-for-1-year/282318/

"One year ago today, the Senate Intelligence Committee voted to adopt a 6,000-page report on the CIA rendition, detention, and interrogation program that led to torture. Its contents include details on each prisoner in CIA custody, the conditions of their confinement, whether they were tortured, the intelligence they provided, and the degree to which the CIA lied about its behavior to overseers. Senator Dianne Feinstein declared it one of the most significant oversight efforts in American history, noting that it contains "startling details" and raises "critical questions." But all these months later, the report is still being suppressed."

"The Obama Administration has no valid reason to suppress the report. Its contents do not threaten national security, as evidenced by the fact that numerous figures who normally defer to the national-security state want it released."

People who want this released include VP Biden, and Sen John McCain.

But, oh well, so much for transparency.

[BelgianMadCow]

1. Imagine what would happen if governments and corporations became as transparent

as they have rendered the people?

[G_j]

2. haven't they done this before

with a previous report? What are they afraid of?

[Egalitarian Thug]

3. Transparency isn't what it used to be, anymore. n/t

[KoKo]

28. That's For Sure! We need to send them Dictionary Definition

to REMIND THEM...WHY THE "F" they were ELECTED!

[vi5]

4. You know who else doesn't want transparency?

Presidents Ryan/Palin/Rubio/Etc.!!!!!!

What does that have to do with right and wrong?

Nothing at all. But it's the excuse that's always given for shit like this being o.k. when it's done by "our guy".

[truedelphi]

5. Except Transparency was a part of the Obama platform, 2008.

He was insisting that he would insist on it!

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

34. Perhaps when he insisted on insisting for transparency

he was referring to us and not him?

I mean if we have nothing to hide then we should welcome the NSA spycam up our ass.

[Rex]

50. I'm having one fitted tomorrow, they just don't believe me

when I tell them I eat corn on a regular basis! I love corn!

[RKP5637]

51. Yep, I think we must've misunderstood who was going to be transparent, it was us. n/t

[vi5]

38. Was it added to The List?

Along with all the other things that he "pledged" or "committed to" that we are supposed to jump for joy about and be thankful for?

[woo me with science]

6. "Most transparent administration in history," my ass.

K&R

[zeemike]

9. Well it all depends on the references...

Perhaps he was talking about the life of it's citizens...in which case it is very transparent as Snowden has shown us...they see you when your sleeping, they know if your awake, they know if you've been bad or good so be good for NSA's sake.

[woo me with science]

29. +1 If the Third Way has taught us anything,

it is that pretty words can mean anything...and how important it is to watch actions, instead.

[MannyGoldstein]

42. They did start releasing the WH visitor logs

So the WH staff started meeting lobbyists at a coffee shop instead of the WH.

Wheeeee!

[woo me with science]

48. Aren't they CLEVER?!

That's as clever as changing the definition of an "enemy combatant."

[ProSense]

7. ACLU: Senate Torture Report and CIA Reply - FOIA

Senate Torture Report and CIA Reply - FOIA

November 26, 2013

The ACLU has filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit demanding the CIA release two reports about its post-9/11 program of rendition, secret detention, and torture of detainees. The first is a 6,000-page report by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, which was adopted by the committee in December 2012. The second is a CIA report in response, defending the agency's actions.

The SSCI report is the most comprehensive account of the torture program to date. It took three years to complete at a cost of $40 million, and is based on the review of millions of CIA and other records, although the CIA refused to let Senate investigators interview its employees. SSCI Chair Senator Dianne Feinstein stated that the report "uncovers startling details about the CIA detention and interrogation program and raises critical questions about intelligence operations and oversight ... (T)he creation of long-term, clandestine 'black sites' and the use of so-called 'enhanced-interrogation techniques' were terrible mistakes."

According to media reports, the report found that the CIA misled Congress, the Justice Department, and President George W. Bush about the "effectiveness" of torture methods such as waterboarding, shackling in painful positions, and slamming detainees against walls. The report also reportedly found that those abuses did not help locate Osama bin Laden or thwart any terrorist plots, and were in fact counterproductive.

After receiving the report, the CIA wrote a detailed defense, which was reportedly given to the Senate committee in June. The ACLU filed the FOIA request for the Senate report in February and the request for the CIA response in June, and the CIA has released neither.

- more -

https://www.aclu.org/national-security/senate-torture-report-and-cia-reply-foia

Tell the Senate Intelligence Committee: Release the CIA torture report
https://www.aclu.org/secure/tell-senate-intelligence-committee-release-cia-torture-report

ACLU Sues CIA for Reports on Its Torture Program

By Ashley Gorski

The ACLU filed a lawsuit today under the Freedom of Information Act to compel the CIA to release two reports about its post-9/11 program of rendition, secret detention, and torture of detainees. This illegal program was devised and authorized by officials at the highest levels of government, and five years after it officially ended, the American public still doesn't have the full story about some of the most devastating rights violations committed in its name.

The first report, by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence ("SSCI&quot , is the most comprehensive review of the CIA's torture program to date. Led by SSCI Chair Senator Dianne Feinstein, the committee reviewed more than six million pages of CIA documents and other records over the course of three years. At the end of 2012, the SSCI approved its Study of the CIA's Detention and Interrogation Program, which spans over 6,000 pages and includes approximately 35,000 footnotes. Senator Feinstein, who deserves major credit for initiating and overseeing such a thorough investigation, stated that the report "uncovers startling details about the CIA detention and interrogation program and raises critical questions about intelligence operations and oversight ... (T)he creation of long-term, clandestine 'black sites' and the use of so-called 'enhanced-interrogation techniques' were terrible mistakes." According to Senator John McCain, the report confirms that the "cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of prisoners" is "a stain on our country's conscience."

In addition to detailing the CIA's illegal practices, the report reveals that the CIA misled the White House, the Department of Justice, and Congress about the "effectiveness" of waterboarding, wall-slamming, shackling in painful positions, and other methods of torture and abuse. As Senator Ron Wyden has noted, these CIA misstatements were eventually communicated to the public — but the agency has failed to set the record straight.

The second report, the CIA's response to the SSCI, presents the agency's shameless defense of its torture regime and challenges the SSCI's investigative methods and findings.

Both reports are critical to a full and fair public conversation about the CIA's torture program, which is why we and other rights groups have urged President Obama to release the SSCI report, and why we're bringing suit to enforce our FOIA requests. The public deserves to hear the truth: Torture doesn't work, and more importantly, it's never acceptable.

- more -

https://www.aclu.org/blog/human-rights-national-security/aclu-sues-cia-reports-its-torture-program

[truedelphi]

11. Thank you for that additional valuable information. n/t

[Jefferson23]

14. When and if they get it..I wonder how much of the content will be redacted.

Thanks for the update.

[ProSense]

32. Frankly, it's likely to be

highly disappointing.

From the ACLU reports:

According to media reports, the report found that the CIA misled Congress, the Justice Department, and President George W. Bush about the "effectiveness" of torture methods such as waterboarding, shackling in painful positions, and slamming detainees against walls. The report also reportedly found that those abuses did not help locate Osama bin Laden or thwart any terrorist plots, and were in fact counterproductive.

Senator Feinstein, who deserves major credit for initiating and overseeing such a thorough investigation, stated that the report "uncovers startling details about the CIA detention and interrogation program and raises critical questions about intelligence operations and oversight...As Senator Ron Wyden has noted, these CIA misstatements were eventually communicated to the public — but the agency has failed to set the record straight.

Seems like it lets Bush off the hook. It was produced by Diane Feinstein.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

35. "lets Bush off the hook"

How convenient.

[on point]

41. The "effectiveness" is not an excuse. Torture is torture and ALWAYS illegal war crime

[JDPriestly]

45. Produced by Diane Feinstein. That does not recommend it.

[uponit7771]

54. Thx ProSense, the FUD here is so full of shit

[indepat]

8. Please Mr. President, please don't obstruct release of these torture documents so the whole world,

who already knows of these serious breaches of international law, will know who the specific perpetrators of these crimes are, but more importantly, so you won't soil your own reputation among the international community by obstructing release of information regarding these egregious crimes.

[L0oniX]

24. Don't hold your breath over that one.

[erronis]

25. Do we have another American hero to do the job that the officials won't do?

I bet there are lots of Mannings and Snowdens that could help shed a ton of light on what our government (open and shadow) are up to. Please help open up these dank caves of secrets - but be careful, choose your recipients well, don't trust any public communications via the internet (thanks NSA).

[on point]

10. Makes Obama party to the war crime itself. Release it now, throw Bush and cronies in jail

or join them

[Progressive dog]

12. This is from Reuters, a different take

Committee aides said the panel hoped to finish work on an updated version of the report, taking note of CIA comments, by the end of the year. The committee could then vote to request declassification, which would allow the public to see the report, or at least parts of it.

This should not have taken this much time. The CIA torturers should have been fired (at a minimum) and prosecuted if possible. But the Senate took four years to write a report and another year (at least) to ask that it be declassified. Every Republican on the committee voted against accepting the report in 2012. There is plenty of blame to go around on this.

[Enthusiast]

13. These documents would sully our image in the eyes of the world.

Wait, too late.

[Jefferson23]

16. Too late is right, but they're worried about lawsuits, of all persuasions.

They will stall, and stall.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

36. I would love it if Snowden had a copy to release on this.

But he's a criminal for showing how criminal the USA has become.

[Jefferson23]

37. The report lets Bush off the hook..and that is no surprise...the top bananas

need protection...ugh.

[Brickbat]

15. I'm sure there's a very good reason.

[mwrguy]

22. I'm sure there is.

This is Obama we're talking about.

[Jesus Malverde]

17. These are republican crimes.

From a republican administration. They would never return the favor.

The chance to destroy the republican establishment is in his hands.

[cstanleytech]

18. Depends on what you consider a threat is to national security.

Such a report in all likelyhood would have a negative impact on the US with varies nations thus why the president might consider it such a risk at this time.
On the other hand I still cant help but believe that Cheney and Bush and those who carried out such things should be in jail.

[OKNancy]

19. Suppress for one year according to the article

also according to the article, "pressure from the CIA"

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

20. "No one is above the law...." Except torturers and other war criminals if they live in America.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

21. The United States is keeping this quiet because it's evidence of violating muliple treaties.

[Vattel]

23. Obama can be such a tool when it comes to national security.

He never proposed much-needed amendments to the war crimes act to ensure that waterboarding and other harsh interrogation techniques were unambiguously criminal under federal law. He is now a disciple of John Yoo when it comes to his understanding of a president's war powers, having involved the nation in war in Libya without Congressional approval and having explicitly asserted that he has the unilateral authority to wage war in Syria. He has sat on his hands as the NSA abused its authority and violated the law. He bought into the increase in troop levels in Afghanistan. He has assassinated American citizens without due process or judicial oversight. His DOJ participated in the witch hunt prosecution of Drake (NSA whistleblower).

Not an impressive record.

[KoKo]

27. Indeed..but we are told "He is under threat for his life..as all US Presidents"

since JFK. We are TOLD they are shown Video of JFK's Assassination..and they cower in fear as they are read what they face.

THAT is what we are told...

[TroglodyteScholar]

46. You're told that?

Really?

[truedelphi]

53. About ten days ago, Someone here on DU posted how early on,

Obama was told To watch his P's and Q's. And that after being told that, he decided to be less progressive and more hard line militant.

I have no idea if that is the case or not.

But I imagine if he had been all that progressive to begin with, he'd never have been allowed to run to begin with.

I mean, Kucinich really was progressive, with a voting record that proved it, and look at how effectively the PTB marginalized him.

[TroglodyteScholar]

59. Well, I'm pretty sure what "you're told" is directly from a Bill Hicks stand-up comedy routine...

...20+ years ago.

[Cali_Democrat]

57. Who is telling you this?

Just curious.

[Alkene]

26. So this is how it feels to be a citizen of a rogue superpower. n/t

[SidDithers]

31. Conor Freisderdorf is a Paulite libertarian....nt

Sid

[Bonobo]

33. I know you won't answer, but is that relevant? nt

[NuclearDem]

39. It was just a matter of time

[DesMoinesDem]

40. Pathetic

[neverforget]

43. So that makes transparency a bad thing?

[Vattel]

44. Asking that poster to avoid ad hominems

is like asking shit not to stink.

[AverageJoe90]

55. Yep. Sad but true, it would appear.....nt

[SidDithers]

56. Oh, but we can't point that out...

Remember when criticism, even harsh criticism, had to be constructive, and needed to come from sources that were basically on the same side as Democrats?

Now, it's open season to bash, using any Ron-Paul loving, libertarian, Obama-hating asshole who writes 10 words and posts them on the internet.



Sid

[nilesobek]

47. Our country, the great USA committed horrible evils

This can only mean we ourselves are next in line for such treatment.

[woo me with science]

49. Watch the past and future tenses there.

Millions have already been driven into poverty, illness, and despair for the profit of global corporations. This administration brings bloodshed to innocents on a regular basis.

Our Constitution is already being dismantled. Investigative journalism has already been hobbled, and a propaganda machine is well in place.

The present tense best describes the ongoing transformation of the United States of America into a corporate fascist state, by purchased, craven politicians pretending to be our representatives.

[Th1onein]

52. I'm so disappointed in this president.

[LittleBlue]

58. The president sides with torturers again

Sickening

Such a poor president he turned out to be.