Author: Alejandro

In spite of “detailed requests” from 9/11 Commission staffers and members, CIA failed to disclose existence of torture tapes, meanwhile intelligence and counterterrorism experts say it needs to videotape its interrogations more in order to boost accountability and improve research on what interrogation techniques work: CIA Tapes Were Kept From 9/11 Panel, Report Says (Washington…

Former Iranian president Rafsanjani harshly criticizes Ahmadinejad for economic mismanagement, citing rising inflation and comparing his policies to the Shah: Iran Ex-President Slams Ahmadinejad On Economy (Reuters/Washington Post) Big Brother seeks to move ahead with a plan to spy domestically from the heavens in spite of civil liberties concerns and lack of communication with House…

Rather than get slapped with a Congressional subpoena, the CIA willingly hands over documents relevant to the destroyed videotapes showing possible torture interrogations: CIA Will Release Videotape Documents (Associated Press/Google) Arab students begin eying Australia as their new hotspot for studying aboard after being fed up with extra visa delays and harassment at US airports:…

As the Bush administration spars with Congress and a federal judge over conducting an independent inquiry into the destroyed CIA torture tapes, defense attorneys for suspected Al-Qai’da terrorists ask another fed judge to turn over remaining evidence on Abu Zubaydah’s interrogation and the NY Times reveals four top administration lawyers discussed what to do over…

Confirming MFI’s skeptical analysis about the validity of Abu Zubayah’s information and supposed rank, disputes between the FBI and CIA emerge over the tortured Al-Qai’da suspect: FBI, CIA Debate Significance of Terror Suspect (Washington Post) Fighting from some Senators derails last-minute attempt to cram through intelligence law bill granting retroactive immunity to telecoms: Telecom Immunity…

Political, economic and security interests, as well as a more open political system allow Russian Muslims the ability to make the sacred hajj pilgrimage to Mecca: Putin Opens Mecca Path for Muslims (New York Times) King Abdullah pardons the “Girl of Qatif” gang rape victim of a 200-lash sentence, but the so-called justice system that…

Big brother’s tentacles reach out for more executive power as Bush seeks to transform the Judge Advocate Generals into a politicized tool for the administration, pushes the Justice Department to squelch investigations on the destruction of CIA videotapes, and deepen its relationship with telecoms to spy on Americans: Control Sought On Military Lawyers (Boston Globe)…

Sami Al-Arian and his defense team beat back government abuse of the grand jury system meant to coerce him into testifying against other Muslim organizations: Judge Drops Contempt Citation Against Al-Arian (New York Sun) As a New York Times editorial demands Congress take stronger action on falsified Iraq intelligence, warrantless wiretapping, and torture, the House finally…

After flouting international and US domestic law for almost six years, political winds have finally shifted against the Bush administration and the CIA as the Senate widens its investigations of the destroyed videotapes… C.I.A. Agents Sense Shifting Support for Methods (New York Times) Former CIA Chiefs to be Asked About Torture Tapes (Reuters) …however, answering…

A federal appeals court rules a clause in 1996 counterterrorism law banning “material support or resources” to State Department-designated terrorist organizations is unconstitutionally vague: Appeals Court Strikes Down Parts of Anti-Terrorism Law (Associated Press/San Francisco Chronicle) CIA Director Mike Hayden claims ignorance on who authorized the destruction of videotapes containing footage of Gitmo detainees’ torture…