Imperialist Watch
2007-09-26 13:09:10 UTC
http://www.charlotte.com/409/story/291743.html
N.C.: Most torture-friendly?
State has become notorious for role in extraordinary rendition
EDITH GARWOOD
Special to the Observer
After Sept. 11, 2001, the Bush administration took aggressive
measures -- so aggressive that the House Judiciary Subcommittee
on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Liberties is now holding a
series of hearings titled "The Constitution in Crisis: The State
of Civil Liberties in America." The hearings will examine
domestic spying practices, the erosion of habeas corpus, the
sanctioning of torture ("enhanced interrogation measures") and
extraordinary rendition.
North Carolina plays a prominent role in some of these practices
and is quickly gaining the reputation in the U.S. and
internationally of being "the most torture-friendly state."
North Carolina's Fort Bragg originated the "enhanced
interrogation techniques" used at Guantanamo Bay. Blackwater
USA, a private security firm under investigation for shootings
that resulted in civilian deaths, is headquartered in North
Carolina, and CIA front companies that perform extraordinary
rendition flights are located here.
N.C. is specifically notorious for our role in extraordinary
rendition -- the kidnapping, detention and torture of alleged
enemies of the U.S. "Disappearing" someone without due process
is just wrong, and many of those snatched and tortured appear to
have been cases of mistaken identity as well.
Canadian and Danish parliamentarians have inquired about a
rendition aircraft registered to Devon Holding and Leasing Inc.
of Lexington and seen regularly at Aero Contractors headquarters
at Johnston County Airport.
Flight logs and planespotting evidence indicate that Aero
Contractors pilots flew Binyam Mohamed, a British resident, to
Morocco in July 2002 and then flew back to Johnston County two
days later. Mohamed's secret detention included sessions of
genital mutilation with a knife.
Italy initiated legal proceedings against CIA and Italian
intelligence officers for the kidnapping and torture of an
Islamic cleric in Italy. Aero Contractors may be implicated in
this case.
Germany issued arrest warrants for 13 U.S. citizens connected
with the abduction of a German citizen while he was on vacation
in Macedonia. Khaled el Masri was held incommunicado and
severely tortured in Afghanistan, then released five months
later in Albania without charge or explanation. Three of the
thirteen charged are pilots living in Johnston County who work
for Aero Contractors. Aero Contractors stored the jet that flew
El Masri to Afghanistan in its hangar at the Global TransPark in
Kinston. Gov. Easley heads up the board of the Global TransPark
Authority, and our tax dollars maintain it. Easley refuses to
investigate Aero's involvement in kidnapping and torture.
The U.S. is breaking domestic and international laws by
facilitating and sanctioning torture. We have alienated allies,
lost credibility with the international community and handed our
enemies an extremely effective recruitment tool.
Americans should be outraged that our taxes are supporting
torture. As North Carolinians, we should be appalled that it's
happening in our backyard.
Want to know more?
Duke University hosts a forum on extraordinary
rendition, "Unheard Voices in the `War on Terror'," Wednesday,
noon-5:30 p.m., at the John Hope Franklin Center, Room 240.
Panelists will include Stephen Grey, author of "Ghost Planes,"
Maher Arar and Christina Cowger of NC Stop Torture Now.
Information: www. ncsstoptorturenow.net.
N.C. Central University hosts a mini-conference on Blackwater's
activities Thursday, 7-9 p.m., with Jeremy Scahill, author
of "Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary
Army." Information: www. blackwaterwatch.net.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Edith Garwood is a member of Charlotte's Amnesty International
chapter and of NC Stop Torture Now.
N.C.: Most torture-friendly?
State has become notorious for role in extraordinary rendition
EDITH GARWOOD
Special to the Observer
After Sept. 11, 2001, the Bush administration took aggressive
measures -- so aggressive that the House Judiciary Subcommittee
on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Liberties is now holding a
series of hearings titled "The Constitution in Crisis: The State
of Civil Liberties in America." The hearings will examine
domestic spying practices, the erosion of habeas corpus, the
sanctioning of torture ("enhanced interrogation measures") and
extraordinary rendition.
North Carolina plays a prominent role in some of these practices
and is quickly gaining the reputation in the U.S. and
internationally of being "the most torture-friendly state."
North Carolina's Fort Bragg originated the "enhanced
interrogation techniques" used at Guantanamo Bay. Blackwater
USA, a private security firm under investigation for shootings
that resulted in civilian deaths, is headquartered in North
Carolina, and CIA front companies that perform extraordinary
rendition flights are located here.
N.C. is specifically notorious for our role in extraordinary
rendition -- the kidnapping, detention and torture of alleged
enemies of the U.S. "Disappearing" someone without due process
is just wrong, and many of those snatched and tortured appear to
have been cases of mistaken identity as well.
Canadian and Danish parliamentarians have inquired about a
rendition aircraft registered to Devon Holding and Leasing Inc.
of Lexington and seen regularly at Aero Contractors headquarters
at Johnston County Airport.
Flight logs and planespotting evidence indicate that Aero
Contractors pilots flew Binyam Mohamed, a British resident, to
Morocco in July 2002 and then flew back to Johnston County two
days later. Mohamed's secret detention included sessions of
genital mutilation with a knife.
Italy initiated legal proceedings against CIA and Italian
intelligence officers for the kidnapping and torture of an
Islamic cleric in Italy. Aero Contractors may be implicated in
this case.
Germany issued arrest warrants for 13 U.S. citizens connected
with the abduction of a German citizen while he was on vacation
in Macedonia. Khaled el Masri was held incommunicado and
severely tortured in Afghanistan, then released five months
later in Albania without charge or explanation. Three of the
thirteen charged are pilots living in Johnston County who work
for Aero Contractors. Aero Contractors stored the jet that flew
El Masri to Afghanistan in its hangar at the Global TransPark in
Kinston. Gov. Easley heads up the board of the Global TransPark
Authority, and our tax dollars maintain it. Easley refuses to
investigate Aero's involvement in kidnapping and torture.
The U.S. is breaking domestic and international laws by
facilitating and sanctioning torture. We have alienated allies,
lost credibility with the international community and handed our
enemies an extremely effective recruitment tool.
Americans should be outraged that our taxes are supporting
torture. As North Carolinians, we should be appalled that it's
happening in our backyard.
Want to know more?
Duke University hosts a forum on extraordinary
rendition, "Unheard Voices in the `War on Terror'," Wednesday,
noon-5:30 p.m., at the John Hope Franklin Center, Room 240.
Panelists will include Stephen Grey, author of "Ghost Planes,"
Maher Arar and Christina Cowger of NC Stop Torture Now.
Information: www. ncsstoptorturenow.net.
N.C. Central University hosts a mini-conference on Blackwater's
activities Thursday, 7-9 p.m., with Jeremy Scahill, author
of "Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary
Army." Information: www. blackwaterwatch.net.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Edith Garwood is a member of Charlotte's Amnesty International
chapter and of NC Stop Torture Now.