[Marxism] ACLU: Obama Endorses Bush Secrecy On Torture And Rendition

[Louis Proyect]

(posted to LBO-Talk by Doug Henwood)

ACLU: Obama Endorses Bush Secrecy On Torture And Rendition

NEW YORK - After the British High Court ruled that evidence of British 
resident Binyam Mohamed's extraordinary rendition and torture at 
Guantánamo Bay must remain secret because of threats made by the Bush 
administration to halt intelligence sharing, the Obama administration 
told the BBC today in a written statement: "The United States thanks the 
UK government for its continued commitment to protect sensitive national 
security information and preserve the long-standing intelligence sharing 
relationship that enables both countries to protect their citizens."

The following can be attributed to Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director 
of the American Civil Liberties Union:

"Hope is flickering. The Obama administration's position is not change. 
It is more of the same. This represents a complete turn-around and 
undermining of the restoration of the rule of law. The new American 
administration shouldn't be complicit in hiding the abuses of its 
predecessors."

When the ACLU learned of the High Court's ruling earlier today, it sent 
a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton urging her to 
clarify the Obama administration's position relating to the Mohamed case 
and calling on her to reject the Bush administration's policy of using 
false claims of national security to avoid judicial review of 
controversial programs.

The ACLU's letter to Secretary of State Clinton is available online at: 
www.aclu.org/safefree/general/38660leg20090204.html

The British High Court ruling is available online at: 
www.judiciary.gov.uk/docs/judgments_guidance/mohamed-judgment4-04022009.pdf