The police watchdog is investigating after a student protester was left with bleeding on the brain after being hit with a police truncheon. Alfie Meadows, a philosophy student at Middlesex University, was struck as he tried to leave the area outside Westminster Abbey during Thursday's tuition fee protests, his mother said. The Independent Police Complaints Commission has launched an investigation, but said inquiries were still at an early stage. After falling unconscious on the way to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Mr Meadows underwent a three-hour operation for bleeding on the brain. His mother Susan, 55, an English literature lecturer at Roehampton University, said: "He was hit on the head by a police truncheon. He said it was the hugest blow he ever felt in his life. "The surface wound wasn't very big but, three hours after the blow, he suffered bleeding to the brain. He survived the operation and he's in the recovery room." Mr Meadows was with a number of friends, including two lecturers, Nina Power, a colleague of his mother's, and Peter Hallward, a philosophy lecturer at Kingston University.
But as they tried to leave the area where protesters were being held in a police "kettling" operation, the second-year undergraduate suffered a blow to the head. His mother, who stayed up all night in the hospital with her son, said he was taken to hospital after his condition deteriorated. Speaking later, Mrs Meadows added: "The wonderful news is that Alfie is talking and doing very well. But he's got tubes coming out of him everywhere. He will be in hospital for quite a while, it was a very major thing. "He can remember the demonstration. He wanted to know whether other people were hurt, what happened afterwards and whether his friends were OK. We're just absolutely unbelievably thrilled that he has come through it. It was the most tremendous blow to his head. "Basically he had a stroke last night. He couldn't speak or move his hand. But thanks to the wonderful medical care he's come through it. It was terrifying."
12 December 2010
Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/closure_of_nhs_hospital_to_membe
I am writing to request information regarding the closure of an NHS
Hospital to members of the public (Chelsea and Westminster
Hospital) on December 9th 2010. It was reported that the Police
refused access to members of the public who were unable to receive
treatment at this hospital.
The information I require are as follows:
1) Who authorised the Police to prevent members of the public
gaining access to the above mentioned hospital? (Their name, rank
and department);
2) What date was it decided that the hospital would be closed to
members of the public (Pre-Planning);
3) Copies of any e-mails, letters or other written record regarding
this closure of a Public Hospital;
4) The reasons for closing the Hospital off to members of the
public;
5) The name/number and rank of the Police officer(s) who initially
refused Alfie Meadows entry to the hospital;
6) Any UK Statute or Case Law which gives the Police authority to
prevent the public from entering an hospital when medical attention
is required.
Yours faithfully,
For The Record (FTR)
"The very word "secrecy" is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths and secret proceedings. We decided long ago that the dangers of excessive and unwarranted concealment of pertinent facts far outweighed the dangers which are cited to justify it. Even today, there is little value in opposing the threat of a closed society by imitating its arbitrary restrictions. Even today, there is little value in insuring the survival of our nation if our traditions do not survive with it. And there is very grave danger that an announced need for increased security will be seized upon those anxious to expand its meaning to the very limits of official censorship and concealment. That I do not intend to permit to the extent that it is in my control. And no official of my Administration, whether his rank is high or low, civilian or military, should interpret my words here tonight as an excuse to censor the news, to stifle dissent, to cover up our mistakes or to withhold from the press and the public the facts they deserve to know."
"Without debate, without criticism, no Administration and no country can succeed-- and no republic can survive. That is why the Athenian lawmaker Solon decreed it a crime for any citizen to shrink from controversy. And that is why our press was protected by the First (emphasized) Amendment-- the only business in America specifically protected by the Constitution-- not primarily to amuse and entertain, not to emphasize the trivial and sentimental, not to simply "give the public what it wants"--but to inform, to arouse, to reflect, to state our dangers and our opportunities, to indicate our crises and our choices, to lead, mold educate and sometimes even anger public opinion."
L.A. Courtroom, Malcolm X displaying pictures of Muslim Ronald Stokes, killed by police a year earlier / Gordon Parks (1963)
1964 seemed to mark a turning point in America; with the passage of the Civil Rights Act, a new age in race relations appeared to be dawning. But the states acted quickly to circumvent the new federal law. California reacted with Proposition 14, which moved to block the fair housing components of the Civil Rights Act. This, and other acts, created a feeling of injustice and despair in the inner cities. On August 11, 1965, a routine traffic stop in South Central Los Angeles provided the spark that lit the fire of those seething feelings. The riots lasted for six days, leaving 34 dead, over a thousand people injured, nearly 4,000 arested, and hundreds of buildings destroyed. After the riots, then Governor Pat Brown named John McCone to head a commission to study the riots. The report issued by the Commission concluded that the riots weren't the act of thugs, but rather symptomatic of much deeper problems: the high jobless rate in the inner city, poor housing, bad schools. Although the problems were clearly pointed out in the report, no great effort was made to address them, or to rebuild what had been destroyed in the riots.
"Concerning nonviolence: it is criminal to teach a man not to defend himself when he is the constant victim of brutal attacks. It is legal and lawful in this country to own a shotgun or a rifle. We believe in obeying the law. In areas where our people are the constant victims of brutality, and the government seems unable or unwilling to protect them, we should form rifle clubs that can be used to defend ourselves and our property in times of emergency, such as happened last year in Birmingham Alabama, in Plaquemine, Louisiana in Cambridge, Maryland and in Danville, Virginia. When our people are being bitten by dogs, they are within their rights to kill those dogs. We should be peaceful, law-abiding—but the time has come for the American Negro to fight back in self-defense whenever and wherever he is being unjustly and unlawfully attacked. If the government thinks I am wrong for saying this, then let the government start doing its job." ~ Malcolm X - March 12th 1964
A former extradition specialist for the Crown Prosecution Service today predicted it would be "very difficult" for Sweden to get the WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, sent back to face sexual assault allegations. Raj Joshi, a former head of the European and International Division at the CPS, said Sweden's lack of a formal criminal charge against Assange increased his lawyers' chances of success in blocking the extradition attempt. Assange's lawyers are scheduled to visit him tomorrow in prison for the first time since he was jailed on remand yesterday after Sweden requested his extradition. Swedish prosecutors say they want to interview Assange about allegations of sexual assault against two women. His lawyers say they fear the US will attempt to extradite him to face charges over the release of hundreds of thousands of secret diplomatic cables though Washington has not so far taken any legal action against him.
Today, a British group campaigning for more rapists to be punished questioned the "unusual zeal" with which Assange, an Australian citizen, was being pursued over the allegations of sexual assault in Sweden. In a letter to the Guardian, Katrin Axelsson from Women Against Rape said it was routine for people charged with rape in the UK to be granted bail. Assange is yet to be formally charged by the Swedes. Axelsson also said Sweden had a poor record bringing rapists to justice: "Many women in both Sweden and Britain will wonder at the unusual zeal with which Julian Assange is being pursued for rape allegations … There is a long tradition of the use of rape and sexual assault for political agendas that have nothing to do with women's safety."
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/41/section/11?view=plainExtradition Act 2003
11 Bars to extradition
(1)If the judge is required to proceed under this section he must decide whether the person’s extradition to the category 1 territory is barred by reason of—.
(a)the rule against double jeopardy;.
(b)extraneous considerations;.
(c)the passage of time;.
(d)the person’s age;.
(e)hostage-taking considerations;.
(f)speciality;.
(g)the person’s earlier extradition to the United Kingdom from another category 1 territory;.
(h)the person’s earlier extradition to the United Kingdom from a non-category 1 territory..(2)Sections 12 to 19 apply for the interpretation of subsection (1)..
(3)If the judge decides any of the questions in subsection (1) in the affirmative he must order the person’s discharge..
(4)If the judge decides those questions in the negative and the person is alleged to be unlawfully at large after conviction of the extradition offence, the judge must proceed under section 20..
(5)If the judge decides those questions in the negative and the person is accused of the commission of the extradition offence but is not alleged to be unlawfully at large after conviction of it, the judge must proceed under section 21.
21 Human rights
(1)If the judge is required to proceed under this section (by virtue of section 11 or 20) he must decide whether the person’s extradition would be compatible with the Convention rights within the meaning of the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42).
(2)If the judge decides the question in subsection (1) in the negative he must order the person’s discharge.
(3)If the judge decides that question in the affirmative he must order the person to be extradited to the category 1 territory in which the warrant was issued.
(4)If the judge makes an order under subsection (3) he must remand the person in custody or on bail to wait for his extradition to the category 1 territory.
(5)If the judge remands the person in custody he may later grant bail.
13 Extraneous considerations
A person’s extradition to a category 1 territory is barred by reason of extraneous considerations if (and only if) it appears that—
(a)the Part 1 warrant issued in respect of him (though purporting to be issued on account of the extradition offence) is in fact issued for the purpose of prosecuting or punishing him on account of his race, religion, nationality, gender, sexual orientation or political opinions, or
(b)if extradited he might be prejudiced at his trial or punished, detained or restricted in his personal liberty by reason of his race, religion, nationality, gender, sexual orientation or political opinions.
"The government has issued a decree for a period of a state of alert to ensure normality," which is due to continue for 15 days, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said. "Depending on how the situation develops, the government will take the decision to extend the measure, and will of course do it taking public opinion into consideration and in conjunction with political parties." Threats of further strikes over the Christmas and New Year period would thus be quashed by the government, reports say.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned last year in a leaked classified memo that donors in Saudi Arabia were the "most significant source of funding to Sunni terrorist groups worldwide". She said it was "an ongoing challenge" to persuade Saudi officials to treat such activity as a strategic priority. The groups funded include al-Qaeda, the Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba, she added. The memo, released by Wikileaks, also criticised efforts to combat militants by the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait. Meanwhile, a lawyer for the founder of the Wikileaks website said he was holding back secret material for release* if anything happened to him. He told the BBC that a rape case being prepared in Sweden against Julian Assange, an Australian national, was politically motivated.*File was released by WikiLeaks months ago which is heavily encrytped and was called "Insurance File"
Al-Qaeda, the Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba "probably raised millions of dollars" annually from Saudi sources, often during the Hajj - and the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, she alleged. Mrs Clinton said reforms to criminalise terrorist financing and restrict the overseas flow of funds from Saudi-based charities had been effective, but that they did not cover equally suspect "multilateral organisations". Another cable alleges that the Pakistani charity Jamaat-ud-Dawa, which has been accused of being a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, used a Saudi-based front company to fund its activities in 2005. Leaked US diplomatic cable The US embassy in Riyadh said in February that the Saudi authorities remained "almost completely dependent on the CIA" for information.
SECRET SECTION 01 of 03 RIYADH 000182
NOFORN
SIPDIS
S/SRAP FOR AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE
DOHA FOR AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2020
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KTFN SA AF PK
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE AMBASSADOR
HOLBROOKE'S FEBRUARY 15-16 VISIT TO RIYADH
Ref: KABUL 500
RIYADH 00000182 001.2 of 003
Classified By: Ambassador James B. Smith for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (C) Ambassador Holbrooke, Embassy Riyadh warmly welcomes
you to Saudi Arabia, which, by virtue of its historical and
cultural ties to Central Asia; personal relationships between
Saudi, Afghani and Pakistani leaders; financial power; and
leadership of the Muslim world, can play a central role in
implementing the President's strategy for Afghanistan and
Pakistan. Your visit comes at a time of great potential but
great uncertainty: the Saudi-Afghan relationship appears to
be warming up, while the traditionally close Saudi-Pakistani
relationship has grown increasingly strained. The Saudis are
broadly supportive of our approach to Afghanistan and
Pakistan, but occasionally express skepticism about our
timing or our approach. Your visit provides an opportunity
to mine the Saudis' wealth of experience in dealing with
Afghanistan, Pakistan, and extremism, and further explore
ways to translate our shared goals into action in the unique
Saudi context. We have requested meetings with GIP Director
Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, Assistant Interior Minister
Prince Mohammed bin Nayif, and Prince Turki Al-Faisal during
your visit.
2. (C) SAUDI-AFGHAN RELATIONS WARMING: President Karzai's
February 2-3 visit to the Kingdom, although richer in
symbolism than substance, was a sign that lukewarm
Saudi-Afghan relations may finally be warming up. In his
official statement at the London Conference, FM Saud
announced a $150 million pledge of additional financial
support for Afghan reconstruction. He expressed broad Saudi
support for reconciliation, adding that they would be willing
to assist at the request of President Karzai-- on the
condition that the Taliban sever its relationship with
Al-Qaeda and cease providing refuge to its leaders. While
not as forward leaning as we may have liked, FM Saud's
statement put the Saudis on the record and created an
opportunity to put reconciliation talks back in
motion--eventually. Saudi participation at the Turkish-led
regional conference on Afghanistan on January 26 was further
evidence of the Saudi commitment to engagement. Karzai's
visit showed that the King was ready to deal with Karzai as a
legitimate, Muslim head of state. However, the Saudis
continue to have concerns about Afghan corruption and believe
greater political incorporation of the Pashtun community is
essential. Their apparent wish to downplay Karzai's
visit--as compared to the Afghans (reftel)--may also indicate
the King's desire to keep some distance and maintain his
credibility as a potential reconciliation mediator.
3. (s/nf) but mediation not ready for prime time:
Privately, the Saudis tell us it's still "too soon" to be
publicly discussing technical and financial aspects of
reintegration efforts. GIP Director Prince Muqrin has made
clear that his marching orders are to work through
intelligence channels only until progress becomes
sustainable, at which point foreign ministries will be
brought in. In a recent meeting with the Ambassador, Prince
Muqrin hinted at but did not provide details about what
appears to be significant movement on the Saudi mediation
effort, with visits by high-level Taliban and Afghan
officials, since the Hajj. We surmise that Muqrin is
reluctant to share information because the talks remain
delicate and he fears U.S. involvement could derail progress.
He has also voiced concern about how to address UNSCR 1267
prohibitions on dealing with various Taliban members.
4. (C) ZARDARI STILL THE PROBLEM IN PAKISTAN: The Saudis
generally agree that there is a need to deny terrorists
safehavens in Pakistan, but question whether the methods we
have outlined will be effective. Despite tense relations
with the Zardari government, close military and intelligence
cooperation continues between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The
Saudis believe opposition leader Nawaz Sharif can play a
"great role" in working with tribal chiefs and that "money is
better than bullets" in the fight against the Taliban. They
have started to fulfill their pledge from the Tokyo donor,s
conference (over half of the $700 million pledged has been
disbursed) and have expressed a willingness to continue with
financial support for a stable Pakistan. Saudi interlocutors
stress the importance of remembering that Pakistan remains
Riyadh 00000182 002.2 of 003
pre-occupied with issues on its Indian border, coloring its
ability to deal with the Taliban.
5. (C) IN THE ARMY WE TRUST: The tumultuous democratic
process in Pakistan makes the Saudis nervous, and they appear
to be looking for "another Musharraf": a strong, forceful
leader they know they can trust. In his January meeting with
General Jones, the King cited President Zardari as an
impediment to denying terrorist safehavens, calling him an
"obstacle" and "a rotten head" that was infecting the whole
body. He maintained that the Pakistani Army was capable of
being a strong partner for the U.S., and opined that U.S.
development assistance would rebuild trust. He asserted that
that the Army was staying out of Pakistani politics in
deference to U.S. wishes, rather than doing what it "should."
FM Saud told General Jones that we must reach out to tribal
leaders and separate "those we could work with" from "those
we must fight." He believed that using the military to fight
extremists posed certain dangers, and that the credibility of
the army must be maintained. The Saudis were pushing
Pakistan's civilian leaders to work together, but "compromise
seemed alien to Pakistani politicians."
6. (C) TURKI'S TAKE: During a recent meeting with
Ambassador, former GIP Director Prince Turki Al-Faisal called
Afghanistan a "puzzle," where establishing trust with Afghan
leaders, and recognizing the links between Pakistan and the
Taliban, were keys to success. All financial aid to the
Afghan government should be conditional: benchmarks must be
set for the leadership, and aid must be withheld until these
are met. Recent Saudi efforts to assist in Taliban mediation
had failed, he said, when "both sides fell short." He
described the Taliban leadership as "fractured," and
suggested the U.S. and NATO needed to target criminal
elements more vociferously and re-focus our attention on
capturing Osama Bin Laden and Ayman Al-Zawahiri. He
suggested Saudi Arabia, the U.S., China, Russia, Afghanistan
and Pakistan could join forces and share assets in order to
capture or kill bin Laden and Al-Zawahiri. This would break
the terrorists' "aura of invincibility" and allow the U.S. to
"declare victory" and move on.
7. (S/NF) TERRORISM FINANCE: Terrorist funding emanating
from Saudi Arabia remains a serious concern. Over the last
year, however, Saudi Arabia has made important progress in
combating al-Qaida financing emanating from the country.
Sensitive reporting indicates that al-Qaida's ability to
raise funds has deteriorated substantially, and that it is
now in its weakest state since 9/11. The Kingdom is also
cooperating more actively than at any previous point to
respond to terrorist financing concerns raised by the United
States, and to investigate and detain financial facilitators
of concern. Nonetheless, sustained engagement is required to
maintain the current momentum, particularly in providing the
Saudis with specific details and actionable information.
Your visit provides another opportunity to welcome the
progress Saudi Arabia has made, and reiterate the importance
that President Obama and the USG place on curtailing
fundraising activity by global terrorist groups in Saudi
Arabia, particularly those that undermine the stability of
Afghanistan and Pakistan.
8. (S/NF) TERRORISM FINANCE, CONTINUED: While in the past
the KSA stood reluctant to pursue Saudi donors who backed
groups that did not directly threaten the Kingdom, the Saudi
Ministry of Interior (MOI) has now demonstrated willingness
to take action, and has begun to detain individuals involved
in funding networks for groups such as Lashkar e-Tayyiba
(LeT), the Taliban, and in some cases even Hamas. xxxxxxxxxxxx
as donors in Saudi Arabia continue to
constitute a source of funding to Sunni extremist groups
worldwide. Available intelligence reflects that the Kingdom
remains an important fundraising locale-especially during the
Hajj and Ramadan-for the Taliban, LeT, and other terrorist
groups based in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The MOI remains
almost completely dependent on the CIA to provide analytic
support and direction for its counterterrorism operations. As
such, our success against terrorist financing in the Kingdom
remains directly tied to our ability to provide actionable
intelligence to our Saudi counterparts. In order to enhance
the USG's ability to influence and direct Saudi efforts to
Riyadh 00000182 003.2 of 003
disrupt terrorist financing, in 2008 we stood up a Treasury
attach office in Embassy Riyadh. This office actively
contributes to the daily intelligence sharing process that
is led by CIA.
9. (S/NF) TERRORISM FINANCE, CONTINUED: Saudi Arabia has
taken increasingly aggressive efforts to disrupt al-Qaida's
access to funding from Saudi sources. An example of recent
progress by the KSA is the conviction of over 300 people for
involvement in terrorism, including some for providing
financial support. News reports suggest that appeals may be
opened to the media in order to enhance the deterrent effects
of such prosecutions. In addition, Assistant Interior
Minister for Security Affairs Mohammed bin Nayif stated that
the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) deliberately timed its
August 19, 2009 press release regarding the arrest of 44
terrorist supporters to deter potential donors from giving
money to suspected terrorist groups during Ramadan. Although
a great deal of work remains to be done, Mohammed bin Nayif
has given his commitment to work with the United States on
Taliban finance, and has said that the MOI will arrest
individuals involved in Saudi-based Taliban fundraising
activities - even if involved in the reconciliation process -
when provided with actionable intelligence.
10. (S/NF) IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES: The Saudis have
expressed broad support for the President's strategy on
Afghanistan and Pakistan, but often balk when asked to
designate an SRAP to coordinate policy with the USG and
others. In part, this reflects the centralized Saudi
decision-making process and the reality that issues related
to Afghanistan and Pakistan policy are not delegated, but
rather dealt with directly by the King and members of the
intelligence community. While the Saudis are hesitant to
delegate authority and tend to make only broad-based
commitments to high-profile, multilateral initiatives, they
appear ready, willing and eager to share their experiences
with us and identify greater opportunities for cooperation on
a bilateral basis. Your visit provides an opportunity to
further explore how we can best translate our shared goals
into action in the unique Saudi context.
Smith
S E C R E T STATE 083026 SENSITIVE SIPDIS RELEASABLE TO PAKISTAN EO 12958 DECL: 08/07/2019 TAGS EFIN, KTFN, PREL, PTER, UNSC SUBJECT: UN 1267 (AL-QAIDA/TALIBAN) SANCTIONS: USG OPPOSITION TO FOCAL POINT DE-LISTING REQUEST FOR JUD AND HAFIZ SAEED REF: STATE 65044 Classified By: IO Assistant Secretary Esther Brimmer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 4-6. ---------------------- SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVES ---------------------- 2. (SBU) In May 2009, legal representatives for 1267-listed entityJamaat-ud-Dawah (identified by the UN 1267 Committee as an alias forLashkar-e-Tayyiba, permanent reference number QE.L.118.05) and its leader,Muhammad Saeed (permanent reference number QI.S.263.08) petitioned on theirclients behalf for delisting via the UN focal point. The focal point, whichwas established in the UN Secretariat pursuant to UNSCR 1730 to allow listedindividuals/entities (or their representatives) to petition directly forde-listing, forwarded the de-listing request on behalf of JUD and Saeed forreview to the USG (designating state) and to the Government of Pakistan(state of citizenship/residence/incorporation). The USG and GOP have had threemonths to review the de-listing petition. We have completed our review andplan to notify the UN focal point on August 25 of our opposition to de-listing.Before doing so, we would like to take this opportunity to: -- share the resultsof our review of the de-listing petition for JUD and Muhammad Saeed withPakistani officials; -- seek GOP views on the request; -- underscore our ongoingoncern over the threat posed by LeT/JUD and Saeed; -- ask Pakistani officials toupdate us on actions taken to impose UN 1267 sanctions on LeT/JUD and Saeed. ----------BACKGROUND ---------- 3. (S) On December 10, 2008, the UN 1267 Committee took several actions relatedto the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Tayibba (LeT), including its listing ofJamaat-ud-Dawah (JUD) as an alias for LeT, as well as the listing of JUD’sleader, Muhammad Saeed. The Committee in 2005 added LeT to its Consolidated Listciting its affiliation with al-Qaida. The addition of the JUD alias, as well asthe listing of Saeed, followed closely on the heels of the LeT-perpetratedattacks in Mumbai, India, in November 2008. Prior to the attacks, our request tolist JUD and Saeed were placed on hold by China at the behest of Pakistan. Inspite of Pakistani acquiescence to the listings in December 2008, we continue tosee reporting indicating that JUD is still operating in multiple locations inPakistan, and that the group continues to openly raise funds. It is unclear what,if any, steps the GOP has taken to freeze JUD’s assets or otherwise implementUN 1267 sanctions, which include an asset freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo. -------------- ACTION REQUEST -------------- 4. (SBU) USUN is requested to inform the focal point on August 25, after bothUSUN and Islamabad have had a chance to inform Pakistani officials of our views,of our opposition to the de-listing request on behalf of JUD and Muhammad Saeed.In its communication to the focal point, USUN should refute the assertion inSaeed’s and his legal representatives claim in the focal point de-listingpetition that “there are no grounds for placing Saeed and JUD on theConsolidated List and the material relied upon is incorrect and baseless†andnote that we stand by the information included in the statements of case wesubmitted (co-sponsored by the UK and France) to the UN 1267 Committee to addJUD and Saeed to the Consolidated List. USUN should further state that we haveseen no evidence of a change in circumstance warranting de-listing of JUD orSaeed. 5. (SBU) USUN and Embassy Islamabad should inform Pakistani officials in NewYork and Islamabad, respectively, of our opposition to the de-listing petitionfor JUD and Saeed. Action addressees may wish to draw upon the following points: -- We have reviewed the de-listing petition from attorneys on behalf ofJamaat-ud Dawa (JUD) and its leader Hafiz Saeed and will soon inform the UN1267 Committee, via the UN focal point, of our opposition to de-listing. -- We first wanted to share our views with Pakistani officials, and to seekPakistan’s view on the de-listing petition. -- As you are no doubt aware, we are deeply concerned about the threat posed byLeT/JUD, and reject Saeed’s and his legal representatives claim in the focalpoint de-listing petition that “there are no grounds for placing Saeed and JUDon the Consolidated List and the material relied upon is incorrect and baseless.†-- In fact, LeT and JUD stem from the same original organization,Markaz-ud-Dawawal-Irshad (MDI). When LeT was declared a terrorist organizationin Pakistan in 2002, MDI publicly divested itself of LeT at that time andrenamed itself JUD. LeT transferred most of its assets and personnel to thenewly formed JUD, ensuring its survival. -- We believe that LeT uses JUD facilities as a public front for its activitiesand shares offices, phone numbers, personnel and bank accounts. LeT’s oldoffices merely changed the name on the door. -- JUD’s budget, using funds from both witting and unwitting donors, isdedicated to social services and/or humanitarian relief but some is used tofinance LeT operations. -- We are also aware that LeT and JUD share many senior leaders, includingHafiz Saeed, who according to information available to the USG, as of 2009continued to control LeT and issue guidance to LeT members. -- We would like here your views on the status of LeT/JUD and Saeed, and wouldparticularly appreciate an update on steps Pakistan has taken or will take toimplement UN 1267 sanctions on them. 6. (S/REL to Pakistan) Embassy Islamabad is also requested to share anon-paper, included below in paragraph 7, prepared by our intelligencecommunity in February 2009 assessing JUD’s links to LeT. This non-paper,which was previously passed by former S/CT Coordinator Dell Daily to PakistaniAmbassador to the United States Husain Haqqani, provides more detailedinformation on our concerns about LeT/JUD and Saeed that underpin our viewthat their listing by the UN 1267 Committee was and remains appropriate. 7. (S/REL to Pakistan) BEGIN TEXT OF NON-PAPER (U//FOUO) Assessing Jamaat-ud-Dawa’s Links to Lashkar-e-Tayyiba SUMMARY (S//REL) The Community assesses that LT, a Pakistan-based terrorist group, usesthe JUD name as an alias. JUD is a religious, educational, and humanitarianorganization that the Community assesses provides cover and protection forLT’s militant activities in Pakistan. LT and JUD share many senior leaders;LT falls under the authority of JUD leader Hafiz Muhammad Saeed; and JUDsupports and facilitates LT’s violent activities. - LT and JUD stem fromthe same original organization*Markaz-ud-Dawawal-Irshad (MDI)*that was foundedaround 1986 and for which LT served as its armed, militant wing. MDI wasrenamed JUD in December 2001.- LT was declared a terrorist organization in January 2002, and MDI publiclydivested itself of the LT at that time. LT transferred most of its assets andpersonnel under the newly formed JUD. (S//REL) The Community assesses that JUD relies heavily on private donations,nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), madrassas, and businesses spreadthroughout South Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Some of the money tofinance LT operations is obtained by fraudulently redirecting donationsintended for humanitarian work. (S//REL) JUD and LT have branch offices with different names and have adopted anumber of aliases as a denial and deception tactic. END SUMMARY (C//REL) Various Names and Aliases (S//REL) The Intelligence Community assesses that Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LT) andJamaat-ud-Dawa (JUD) are part of the same organization, originally calledMarkaz-ud-Dawawal-Irshad (MDI), that was founded by Hafiz Muhammed Saeed andother faculty at the University of Engineering and Technology in Lahore in 1986.MDI was established with funding from donors in the Middle East and set up campsto prepare its personnel to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan. MDI reorganized after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989, creatingLT as its paramilitary wing to fight in the Indian-controlled districts ofJammu and Kashmir while MDI focused on religious and humanitarian activity.Saeed led both MDI and LT during the 1990s. When the US declared LT a terrorist organization in December 2001, MDIreorganized*changing its name to JUD to draw a distinction between itscharitable and educational work and LT’s militant activities*in an effortby MDI leaders to shield their fundraising and other activities from sanctions.Saeed publicly resigned from LT, telling the media that he had assumed theleadership of JUD. In mid-January 2002, LT was banned. Islamabad “watchlisted†JUD in 2003, but the government has resistedpressure to take action against the group, particularly after JUD,s popularearthquake relief efforts in 2005 and 2006 in response to the October 2005earthquake in Pakistan. LT has used JUD facilities as a public front for its activities and, sharedoffices, phone numbers, leaders, and bank accounts. LT members identifiedthemselves as JUD when in Pakistan and as LT when in Kashmir. LT/JUD purportedly raises funds for the Palestinian people in response toIsrael’s attacks on Gaza. The Community judges that as of January, JUD alsomay be operating under the alias Tehreek-e-Hurmat-e-Rasool. LT’s politicalaffairs coordinator Khalid Waleed identified himself in late December as thechief organizer for a conference for Tehreek-e-Hurmat-e-Rasool, according tointelligence reporting. - On 6 February, the JUD held a Kashmir SolidarityConference at which JUD renamed itself Tehreek-e-Azadi-e-Kashmir (TAK). AtJUD,s first public protest since December, supporters used old JUD bannersand chanted JUD slogans, but rallied under the name TAK to avoid arrest. BEGIN TEXT BOX (U//FOUO) UN Links Jamaat-ud-Dawa to Terrorism (S//REL) The United Nations (UN) banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JUD), and on 10December, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Al-Qaida and TalibanSanctions Committee (the 1267 Committee) approved the addition of JUD as anew LT alias for targeted sanctions. This UN designation required all UN memberstates to freeze any assets this entity may have under the member states’jurisdiction, Impose a travel ban, and implement an arms embargo against themas set out in paragraph 1 of UNSC Resolution 1822 of 2008. (S//REL) The Community assesses that LT/JUD, in an attempt to evaderestrictions, has established branch offices with different names and adopteda number of aliases. One branch, Idara Khidmat-e-Khalq, is a publiclyacknowledged charitable arm of JUD and has its own web page with photos ofhospitals and ambulances. Other aliases include Paasbaan-e-Ahle-Hadith,Paasban-e-Kashmir, Al-Mansoorian, and Al-Nasaryeen. We assess that LT andLT-associated militants will continue to use aliases in order to circumventrestrictions on their movement and operations. END TEXT BOX (U//FOUO) Financial Support (S//REL) The Community assesses that JUD fundraising has relied heavily onprivate donations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), madrassas, andbusinesses spread throughout South Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Some ofJUD’s budget, using funds raised both from witting donors and by fraud, isdedicated to social services or humanitarian relief projects, while some isused to finance LT operations. - In December 2005, an official of IdaraKhidmat-e-Khalq forwarded JUD donation receipts to a probable LT front companyin Saudi Arabia where an LT finance official may have been closely associatedwith the general manager*possibly acting as a front for moving LT funds,according to intelligence reporting. - Makki in 2002 frequently visited theMiddle East and viewed it as a main source of funding. To demonstrate resultsto donors, JUD would finance the cost of building a new school or upgradingfacilities at a madrassa, but would inflate the cost to siphon money to LT. (S//REL) The Community lacks sufficient intelligence to determine if or howthe November Mumbai attacks have affected donations to JUD. Some donors maybe dissuaded from supporting JUD if they become aware that their funds may beused for additional terrorist attacks, whereas other donors may support LT’sattacks. As public and government scrutiny increases in the wake of the attacksand subsequent designation of JUD as an alias of LT by the UN, we assess thatJUD will rely more on covert fundraising efforts. (U//FOUO) Leadership (S//REL) The Community assesses that Saeed is the leader of LT and Lakvi isLT’s operations commander*and they continue to run the organization despitebeing detained for their role in the November Mumbai attacks. We also judgethat they have planned, directed, and executed LT attacks throughout South Asiaand likely have used some funds collected in the name of JUD’s charitableactivities to support multiple LT terrorist operations, including the NovemberMumbai attacks. The Community assesses that Saeed continues to lead bothorganizations.However, the Community is unable to assess to what extent senior JUD leaderssuch as Saeed are involved in specific terrorist operations or the level ofdetail to which they are knowledgeable about specific past and pending attacks.- As of mid-July Lakvi was responsible for the LT’s military operations budgetof PKR 365 million (approximately US $5.2 million) per year. He reportedly usedthe money to purchase all materials required for LT operations other thanweapons and ammunition, according to a source claiming direct and ongoingaccess to LT leaders. END TEXT OF NON-PAPER--------------------------------------- REPORTING DEADLINE AND POINT OF CONTACT --------------------------------------- 8. (U) Action addressees should report as soon as possible but no later thanAugust 19 results of their demarche to Pakistani officials . 9. (U) Questions may be directed to IO/PSC (Erin Crowe, 202-736-7847). CLINTON
Ivory Coast is in a major political crisis, after rival presidential candidates swore themselves in.The incumbent Laurent Gbagbo took the oath to serve a new term, but within hours Alassane Ouattara also laid claim to the presidency. The US, UN and France say Sunday's run-off poll was won by Mr Ouattara. He was declared the winner by the electoral body, but this was overturned by the Constitutional Council, which is led by an ally of Mr Gbagbo. The presidential run-off was intended to reunify the world's largest cocoa producer after a civil war in 2002, but has now left the nation with two rival presidents.
Within hours, Mr Ouattara, a former rebel from the predominantly Muslim north of the country, was sworn in at an Abidjan hotel guarded by UN peacekeepers. Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Guillaume Soro tendered his resignation, saying he backed Mr Ouattara. Mr Soro has warned that overturning the results threatens to derail attempts to stabilise and reunify the country after the war. On Thursday, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) declared that Mr Ouattara had won the 28 November run-off by 54.1% to 45.9%.
In a post on Twitter, Wikileaks acknowledged that its domain had been "killed" by EveryDNS.net. It was not clear how long disruption to the wikileaks.org site would last. In a statement on its website, EveryDNS.net said it had issued a 24-hour termination notice to Wikileaks which ended at 0300 GMT on 2 December. It said the domain wikileaks.org had become the target of "multiple distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks". "These attacks have, and future attacks would, threaten the stability of the EveryDNS.net infrastructure, which enables access to almost 500,000 other websites," it said.
"Any downtime of the wikileaks.org website has resulted from its failure to use another hosted DNS service provider," it added. Websites use web hosting firms such as EveryDNS.net to translate their raw IP addresses to a more memorable web address such as Wikileaks.org. But the IP address of a website will also direct users to the site. One web expert explained that Wikileaks had managed to re-establish web access via a different address.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11907641
WikiLeaks supremo Julian Assange could be arrested in Britain today over sex allegations.
Scotland Yard detectives were last night preparing to detain the 39-year-old over claims of rape and sexual assault in Sweden. An extradition warrant is expected to be passed to the Metropolitan Police today or early next week. They have apparently known for over a month where Australian-born Mr Assange, who is in hiding in south-east England, is staying. He supplied the force with his contact details upon arrival in Britain in October, said his London-based lawyer. It today emerged that Mr Assange only escaped arrest yesterday because the Swedish authorities filled out an Interpol arrest warrant incorrectly. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: ‘If an international arrest warrant is legitimately issued and is passed to us and if we know where that person is then of course we would arrest them.’ The internet whistleblower will be the subject of an international manhunt when the Interpol ‘red notice’ is correctly issued. He was added to the worldwide wanted list amid growing fury in Washington at the mass release of more than 250,000 classified U.S. communiques. One aide said: 'The inquiry into the criminal nature of the leaks is still at a preliminary stage in Washington, but Sweden clearly thinks the charges against him are serious enough for him to be extradited back there.’
There had been reports that the U.S. was investigating whether Mr Assange had committed treason, but as he is an Australian citizen such charges would not stick. Mark Stephens, Mr Assange’s lawyer, has questioned the timing of Interpol’s warrant, saying his client was being persecuted. Mr Assange lives a rootless life, has hardly any possessions and uses his Australian passport to stay with friends in various countries. Prosecutors in Sweden want to question him over alleged attacks on two women during a visit to Stockholm to give a lecture to the Social Democratic Party in August. He is accused of attacking one woman in Stockholm and then sexually assaulting another woman in the town of Enkoping, 40 miles from the capital, three days later. Mr Stephens said his client had repeatedly offered to meet Swedish investigators either at the Swedish embassy in London or a UK police station. ‘The allegations against him are false and without basis,’ he added. Kristinn Hrafnsson, a spokesman for WikiLeaks, said Mr Assange and other staff were in hiding in an undisclosed location outside London. 'If you have people calling for your assassination it is wise to keep a low profile,’ he said. 'He is in a secret location working on the project. Julian says he is innocent and I believe him.’ He added that Mr Assange would disclose his location and clear his name ‘in due course’. The WikiLeaks founder has not been seen in public since a press conference in Geneva on November 5.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1334899/Scotland-Yard-arrest-wanted-WikiLeaks-boss-today.html?ITO=1490
All systems are functioning normally.
EveryDNS.net provided domain name system (DNS) services to the wikileaks.org domain name until 10PM EST, December 2, 2010, when such services were terminated. As with other users of the EveryDNS.net network, this service was provided for free. The termination of services was effected pursuant to, and in accordance with, the EveryDNS.net Acceptable Use Policy.
More specifically, the services were terminated for violation of the provision which states that "Member shall not interfere with another Member's use and enjoyment of the Service or another entity's use and enjoyment of similar services." The interference at issues arises from the fact that wikileaks.org has become the target of multiple distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks. These attacks have, and future attacks would, threaten the stability of the EveryDNS.net infrastructure, which enables access to almost 500,000 other websites.
Thus, last night, at approximately 10PM EST, December 1, 2010 a 24 hour termination notification email was sent to the email address associated with the wikileaks.org account. In addition to this email, notices were sent to Wikileaks via Twitter and the chat function available through the wikileaks.org website. Any downtime of the wikileaks.org website has resulted from its failure to use another hosted DNS service provider.
The civil rights group says the government has to be held to account over "extraordinary rendition". "Kidnapping a foreign national for the purpose of detaining and interrogating him outside the law is contrary to American values," said Anthony D Romero, executive director of the ACLU. "Our government has acted as if it is above the law. We go to court today to reaffirm that the rule of law is central to our identity as a nation." The case was discussed earlier in Berlin by the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, and Secretary of State Rice. Mrs Merkel said the US acknowledged making a mistake in detaining Mr Masri. While refusing to comment on the case directly, Ms Rice said the US sought to rectify any mistakes made. Both told reporters that intelligence work was an essential part of the war on terror, but should not break international law. Before she left the US, Ms Rice admitted that terror suspects were flown abroad for interrogation but denied they were tortured. She said suspects were moved by plane under a process known as rendition, and that this was "a lawful weapon".
VZCZCXYZ0015 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHRL #0242 0371748 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 061748Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6940
S E C R E T BERLIN 000242 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS FOR S/ES-O, EUR AND L E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2017 TAGS: KJUS PTER PREL PGOV GM SUBJECT: AL-MASRI CASE -- CHANCELLERY AWARE OF USG CONCERNS REF: A. BERLIN 230 ¶B. BERLIN 200 Classified By: DCM John M. Koenig for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S/NF) In a February 6 discussion with German Deputy National Security Adviser Rolf Nikel, the DCM reiterated our strong concerns about the possible issuance of international arrest warrants in the al-Masri case. The DCM noted that the reports in the German media of the discussion on the issue between the Secretary and FM Steinmeier in Washington were not accurate, in that the media reports suggest the USG was not troubled by developments in the al-Masri case. The DCM emphasized that this was not the case and that issuance of international arrest warrants would have a negative impact on our bilateral relationship. He reminded Nikel of the repercussions to U.S.-Italian bilateral relations in the wake of a similar move by Italian authorities last year. ¶2. (S/NF) The DCM pointed out that our intention was not to threaten Germany, but rather to urge that the German Government weigh carefully at every step of the way the implications for relations with the U.S. We of course recognized the independence of the German judiciary, but noted that a decision to issue international arrest warrants or extradition requests would require the concurrence of the German Federal Government, specifically the MFA and the Ministry of Justice (MOJ). The DCM said our initial indications had been that the German federal authorities would not allow the warrants to be issued, but that subsequent contacts led us to believe this was not the case. ¶3. (S/NF) Nikel also underscored the independence of the German judiciary, but confirmed that the MFA and MOJ would have a procedural role to play. He said the case was subject to political, as well as judicial, scrutiny. From a judicial standpoint, the facts are clear, and the Munich prosecutor has acted correctly. Politically speaking, said Nikel, Germany would have to examine the implications for relations with the U.S. At the same time, he noted our political differences about how the global war on terrorism should be waged, for example on the appropriateness of the Guantanamo facility and the alleged use of renditions. ¶4. (S/NF) Nikel also cited intense pressure from the Bundestag and the German media. The German federal Government must consider the "entire political context," said Nikel. He assured the DCM that the Chancellery is well aware of the bilateral political implications of the case, but added that this case "will not be easy." The Chancellery would nonetheless try to be as constructive as possible. ¶5. (S/NF) The DCM pointed out that the USG would likewise have a difficult time in managing domestic political implications if international arrest warrants are issued. He reiterated our concerns and expressed the hope that the Chancellery would keep us informed of further developments in the case, so as to avoid surprises. Nikel undertook to do so, but reiterated that he could not, at this point "promise that everything will turn out well." TIMKEN JR
(CBS) You may not have heard the term "rendition," at least not the way the Central Intelligence Agency uses it. But renditions have become one of the most important secret weapons in the war on terror. In recent years, well over 100 people have disappeared or been "rendered" all around the world. Witnesses tell the same story: masked men in an unmarked jet seize their target, cut off his clothes, put him in a blindfold and jumpsuit, tranquilize him and fly him away. They're describing U.S. agents collaring terrorism suspects. Some notorious terrorists such as Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, the mastermind of 9/11, were rendered this way. But as Correspondent Scott Pelley reports, it's happening to many others. Some are taken to prisons infamous for torture. And a few may have been rendered by mistake.
One of the covert missions happened in Stockholm, and the details have touched off a national scandal in Sweden. Two Egyptians living in Sweden, Mohammad Al-Zery and Ahmed Agiza, were arrested by Swedish police and brought to an airport. An executive jet was waiting with a crew of mysterious masked men. "America security agents just took over," says Tomas Hammarberg, a former Swedish diplomat who pressed for and got an investigation into how the Egyptians disappeared. "We know that they were badly treated on the spot, that scissors and knives were used to take off their clothes. And they were shackled. And some tranquilizers were put in the back of them, obviously in order to make them dizzy and fall asleep." An airport officer told 60 Minutes she saw the two men hustled to the plane.
She didn't want to be identified, but she had no doubt about where the plane came from: "I know that the aircraft was American registration ... because the 'N' first, on the registration." The so-called "N" number marks an American plane. Swedish records show a Gulfstream G5, N379P was there that night. Within hours, Al-Zery and Agiza, both of whom had been seeking asylum in Sweden, found themselves in an Egyptian prison. Hammarberg says Sweden sent a diplomat to see them weeks later.The so-called "N" number marks an American plane. Swedish records show a Gulfstream G5, N379P was there that night. Within hours, Al-Zery and Agiza, both of whom had been seeking asylum in Sweden, found themselves in an Egyptian prison. Hammarberg says Sweden sent a diplomat to see them weeks later.
What did they tell the diplomat about how they were being treated? "That they had been treated brutally in general, had been beaten up several times, that they had been threatened," says Hammarberg. "But probably the worst phase of torture came after that first visit by the ambassador. ... They were under electric torture." The Egyptians say Agiza is an Islamic militant and they sentenced him to 25 years. But Al-Zery wasn't charged. After two years in jail, he was sent to his village in Egypt. The authorities are not allowing interviews. "The option of not doing something is extraordinarily dangerous to the American people," says Michael Scheuer, who until three months ago was a senior CIA official in the counterterrorist center. Scheuer created the CIA's Osama bin Laden unit and helped set up the rendition program during the Clinton administration. "Basically, the National Security Council gave us the mission, take down these cells, dismantle them and take people off the streets so they can't kill Americans," says Scheuer. "They just didn't give us anywhere to take the people after we captured." So the CIA started taking suspects to Egypt and Jordan. Scheuer says renditions were authorized by Clinton's National Security Council and officials in Congress - and all understood what it meant to send suspects to those countries.
"They don't have the same legal system we have. But we know that going into it," says Scheuer. "And so the idea that we're gonna suddenly throw our hands up like Claude Raines in 'Casablanca' and say, 'I'm shocked that justice in Egypt isn't like it is in Milwaukee,' there's a certain disingenuousness to that." "And one of the things that you know about justice in Egypt is that people get tortured," says Pelley. "Well, it can be rough. I have to assume that that's the case," says Scheuer. But doesn't that make the United States complicit in the torture? "You'll have to ask the lawyers," says Scheuer. Is it convenient? "It's convenient in the sense that it allows American policy makers and American politicians to avoid making hard decisions," says Scheuer. "Yes. It's very convenient. It's finding someone else to do your dirty work." The indispensable tool for that work is a small fleet of executive jets authorized to land at all U.S. military bases worldwide. Scheuer wouldn't tell 60 Minutes about the planes that are used in these operations - that information is classified. The CIA declined to talk about it, but it turns out the CIA has left plenty of clues out in the open, in the public record. The tail number of the Gulfstream was first reported by witnesses in Pakistan. In public records, the tail number came back to a company called Premiere Executive Transport Services, with headquarters listed in Dedham, Mass. But Dedham is a dead end. The address is a law office on the second floor of a bank -- there's no airline there.
The flight log shows one flight took the 737 to Skopje, Macedonia, to Baghdad and finally Kabul, Afghanistan. 60 Minutes found a man who says he was on that flight. Khaled el-Masri was born in Kuwait, but he now lives in Germany with his wife and four children. He became a German citizen 10 years ago. He told 60 Minutes he was on vacation in Macedonia last year when Macedonian police, apparently acting on a tip, took him off a bus, held him for three weeks, then took him to the Skopje airport where he believes he was abducted by the CIA. "They took me to this room, and they hit me all over and they slashed my clothes with sharp objects, maybe knives or scissors," says el-Masri. "I also heard photos being taken while this was going on - and they took off the blindfold and I saw that there were a lot of men standing in the room. They were wearing black masks and black gloves." El-Masri says he was injected with drugs, and after his flight, he woke up in an American-run prison in Afghanistan. He showed 60 Minutes a prison floor plan he drew from memory. He says other prisoners were from Pakistan, Tanzania, Yemen and Saudi Arabia. El-Masri told 60 Minutes that he was held for five months and interrogated by Americans through an interpreter. "He yelled at me and he said that, 'You're in a country without laws and no one knows where you are. Do you know what that means?' I said yes," says el-Masri. "It was very clear to me that he meant I could stay in my cell for 20 years or be buried somewhere, and nobody knows what happened to you."
He says they were asking him "whether I had contacts with Islamic parties like al Qaeda or the Muslim Brotherhood or aid organizations, lots of questions." He says he told the Americans he'd never been involved in militant Islam. El-Masri says he wasn't tortured, but he says he was beaten and kept in solitary confinement. Then, after his five months of questioning, he was simply released. At that point, did anyone ever tell him that they'd made a mistake? "They told me that they had confused names and that they had cleared it up, but I can't imagine that," says el-Masri. "You can clear up switching names in a few minutes." He says he was flown out of Afghanistan and dumped on a road in Albania. When he finally made his way back home in Germany, he found that his wife and kids had gone to her family in Lebanon. He called there to explain what happened. El-Masri says that his wife believed him: "I never lied to her, and my appearance showed that I had been in prison." How did he explain what happened to him to his son? "I explained to him what happened to me. And he understood," says el-Masri. "I said it was the Americans [who did this to me]."
"And if some of that useful information is gleaned by torture, that's OK," asks Pelley. "It's OK with me," says Scheuer. "I'm responsible for protecting Americans." Scheuer says in the Clinton and Bush administrations, and in Congress, details of rendition flights were known to top officials. Now that the missions are coming to light, Scheuer says there is worry in the CIA that field agents will take the fall if any of the missions are later deemed illegal. Are CIA people feeling vulnerable to that? "I think from the first day we ever did it there was a certain macabre humor that said sooner or later this sword of Damocles is gonna fall because if something goes wrong, the policy maker and the politicians and the congressional committees aren't gonna belly up to the bar and say, 'We authorized this,'" says Scheuer.
