Come be appalled with me: German citizen files lawsuit against CIA for being abducted and poss. tortured, US JUDGE THROWS IT OUT IN THE NAME OF STATE SECRETS

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4996140.stm

A US court has dismissed a lawsuit against a former CIA director brought by a German citizen who says he was kidnapped and tortured by the agency.

Khaled el-Masri aimed to sue ex-CIA chief George Tenet and several private companies for their alleged role in the US "extraordinary rendition" programme.

Mr el-Masri says he was picked up in Macedonia in 2003 and flown to Kabul, Afghanistan, where he alleges torture.

He has never been charged with any terrorist offences.

However, a district court judge in Virginia rejected Mr el-Masri's challenge, citing possible dangers to US security.

"While dismissal of the complaint deprives el-Masri of an American judicial forum for vindicating his claims... el-Masri's private interests must give way to the national interest in preserving state secrets," judge TS Ellis wrote.

More than anything, I honestly just feel so bad for this guy.

― Jessie the Monster (scarymonsterrr), Thursday, 18 May 2006 21:32 (nineteen years ago)

This is so fucked up.

― pleased to mitya (mitya), Thursday, 18 May 2006 21:34 (nineteen years ago)

Oh for fuck's sake, America.

― Dan (Argh) Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 18 May 2006 21:35 (nineteen years ago)

On a somewhat related note, was there ever a thread on "The Road to Guantanamo"? I finally have a chance to see it.

― pleased to mitya (mitya), Thursday, 18 May 2006 21:36 (nineteen years ago)

a district court judge in Virginia

shocker. I used to work for civil rights lawyers in the DC area, and they'd cut off their own arms to avoid going to trial in Virginia, at the district or circuit court level. the verdict stories are notorious.

― horseshoe (horseshoe), Thursday, 18 May 2006 21:37 (nineteen years ago)

law? what law?

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 18 May 2006 21:38 (nineteen years ago)

yeah that's the same district where massaoui was tried, for the specific purpose of it being notoriously rabid.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 18 May 2006 21:38 (nineteen years ago)

That judge seriously must have a heart of coal.

― Jessie the Monster (scarymonsterrr), Thursday, 18 May 2006 21:42 (nineteen years ago)

Can't say I'm surprised.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 18 May 2006 21:44 (nineteen years ago)

this is the same district court they're trying to get this brent kavanaugh guy on, right?

― kingfish doesn't live here anymore (kingfish 2.0), Thursday, 18 May 2006 21:54 (nineteen years ago)

This is the movie Oliver Stone should be making

Gael Garcia Bernal IS Khaled el-Masri

― timmy tannin (pompous), Friday, 19 May 2006 01:34 (nineteen years ago)

*clap clap clap*

― Andrew (enneff), Friday, 19 May 2006 01:37 (nineteen years ago)

i think the judge made the right decision, but it's one he should never have been faced with. one branch of government cannot overstep its bounds in redressing the offenses of another until a certain line has been crossed, and based on the scant evidence at hand, i wouldn't say that it has. i hope that el-Masri is eventually vindicated, because this should really have never happened.

oh, america-
what depths have you plumbed
what treasures have you seen

― lf (lfam), Friday, 19 May 2006 03:58 (nineteen years ago)

one branch of government cannot overstep its bounds in redressing the offenses of another until a certain line has been crossed, and based on the scant evidence at hand, i wouldn't say that it has.

That's a technicality that international public opinion won't care about. For the rest of the world, this will be yet another confirmation of the (perceived) US arrogance in world politics - and that (perception) has already (partly) caused 9/11.

On the other hand, much worse is to come as oil reserves and other natural resources (water!) will continue to decrease...

― StanM (StanM), Friday, 19 May 2006 05:14 (nineteen years ago)

And the economy collapses - we're looking at another Depression soon, I dont doubt.

― Trayce (trayce), Friday, 19 May 2006 05:18 (nineteen years ago)

But it's Friday! Woohoo! Par-Tay!

― StanM (StanM), Friday, 19 May 2006 05:21 (nineteen years ago)

Well it drives me to drink at least...!

― Trayce (trayce), Friday, 19 May 2006 05:26 (nineteen years ago)

GODDAM ACTIVIST JUDGES!
yay friday :D

XPOST :o

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 19 May 2006 05:30 (nineteen years ago)

Haha I heart u thermo.

― Trayce (trayce), Friday, 19 May 2006 05:49 (nineteen years ago)

That's a technicality that international public opinion won't care about.

this statement is completely true, but you shouldn't dismiss technicalities. the decision to abduct and possibly torture foreign nationals was made in violation of such a technicality.

― lf (lfam), Friday, 19 May 2006 09:55 (nineteen years ago)

mitya:

Want to be in a Michael Winterbottom film about Guantanamo?

― Enrique IX: The Mediator (Enrique), Friday, 19 May 2006 10:46 (nineteen years ago)

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