extraordinary rendering



REPRISE: “A time to break silence”: Dr. King on the Vietnam war, and President Carter on America’s human rights violations



REPRISE: Veterans’ Day, 2011: “Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?”



Brazil publishes Truth Commission Report; U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee Report on Torture Released; U.S. officials debate whether torture “worked”


Obama seeks to block publication of Senate torture report; Pillar of democracy at stake


REPRISE: Veterans’ Day, 2011: “Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?”

First published, November 11, 2011 My uncle died in a field in northern France with a German bullet in his head. To him, and all…


Order in the World: Things fall apart

One of the wisest and most-experieced journalists reporting on foreign policy, Roger Cohen, who writes an Op-Ed column for the New York Times, has published…


The qualities that are needed in a new CIA Director, Part I (with video links to Feinstein Senate speech and Brennan rebuttal)

(Developing story–check back for updates over the next few days) John Brennan’s battle with the Senate Intelligence Committee over the Torture Report Given his past…


On floor of Senate, Senator Feinstein speaks of grave constitutional violations by CIA (with video link)

(Developing) See: Corine Lesnes (Washington), “Menacée par un rapport sur la torture, la CIA soupçonnée de piratage du Sénat américain, Le Monde, 12 mars 2012…


The Carolyn Krass nomination to be General Counsel at the CIA, secret legal justifications and memos, and democratic government under the rule of law

Should the President of the United States be able to conduct secret operations and activities without revealing to Congressional oversight committes the legal memoranda on…


Europe’s cowardice, and the urgent need to build a coalition of NATO members for military action in Syria

Developing story Europe’s memory and that of its politicians has proved quite short when considering whether to support an American military response to Bashar al-Assad’s…


Extraordinary rendition in Italy: Inside details revealed in 2003 CIA Milan abduction of Osama Mustapha Hassan Nasr

See Jonathan S. Landay (McClatchy Washington Bureau), “U.S. allowed Italian kidnap prosecution to shield higher-ups, ex-CIA officer says,” McClatchy, July 27, 2013. Greg Miller, “Ex-CIA…


“The Disposition Matrix”: Is Obama laying the foundations of a future totalitarian state? (Updated July 27, 2013)

A recent article in The Guardian on Obama’s kill lists and the now highly bureacratized killing machine used to extirpate individuals on the lists, highlights…


Senate confirms John Brennan as CIA Director—with tally and breakdown of vote

The United States confirmed the nomination of John Brennan to be Director of Central Intelligence on Thursday afternoon, March 7, 2013, by a vote of…


UPDATE (MARCH 6) WITH LINKS TO SENATOR RAND PAUL FILIBUSTER; REPRISE: Secret Laws, the John Brennan vote, and the rule of law

SENATOR RAND PAUL FILIBUSTER UPDATE At 12:39 a.m. EST, Senator Rand Paul concluded a filibuster on the floor of the U.S. Senate that lasted more…


The vote on John Brennan’s confirmation to be CIA Director: Opinion and Commentary

Recent Commentary and Opinion “It is not going too far to say that American foreign policy has become completely subservient to tactical domestic political considerations.”…