Al-Qaeda Suspects Sue Boeing

[Matt Molnar]

World Tribune:

Al Qaida suspects sue Boeing, with ACLU's help

WASHINGTON — Boeing has been sued by suspected Al Qaida operatives transported by the CIA to Arab countries for interrogation and torture.

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a federal lawsuit against Boeing subsidiary Jeppesen Dataplan on behalf of three Al Qaida suspects transported by the CIA under the so-called "extraordinary rendition program."

The suit charged that Jeppesen helped the CIA transport the three plaintiffs to secret locations in Egypt and Morocco, where the company knew they would undergo torture, Middle East Newsline reported.

"American corporations should not be profiting from a CIA rendition program that is unlawful and contrary to core American values," ACLU executive director Anthony Romero said. "Corporations that choose to participate in such activity can and should be held legally accountable." More...

[T-Bird76]

The ACLU's motto should be "The ACLU destroying America, a little bit everyday."

[moose135]

Maybe you should find out a little about the ACLU before making a statement like that.

From their website:

The mission of the ACLU is to preserve all of these protections and guarantees:

* Your First Amendment rights-freedom of speech, association and assembly. Freedom of the press, and freedom of religion supported by the strict separation of church and state.
* Your right to equal protection under the law - equal treatment regardless of race, sex, religion or national origin.
* Your right to due process - fair treatment by the government whenever the loss of your liberty or property is at stake.
* Your right to privacy - freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into your personal and private affairs.

We work also to extend rights to segments of our population that have traditionally been denied their rights, including Native Americans and other people of color; lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people; women; mental-health patients; prisoners; people with disabilities; and the poor.

If the rights of society's most vulnerable members are denied, everybody's rights are imperiled.

Oh, and by the way, I'm proud to be a member.

[nwafan20]

The ACLU is a good for nothing organization. I can say they have personally affected me, but that story is for another time my friends...

[T-Bird76]

John the ACLU is supporting three Al Qaida members, there's not much more you need to know about this organization. I guess they should add to their mission.

"We work also to extend rights to segments of our population that have traditionally been denied their rights, including Native Americans and other people of color; lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people; women; mental-health patients; prisoners; people with disabilities, the poor, and enemies of the United States.

Common simply because you support them you can't agree with this. Why do any of us even care that these pigs will be tortured? I support any method our gov't wants to use if it leads to stopping an attack on this nation. Do you think they care about torturing us? NO they don't, perhaps the ALCU can sue Binladen while they’re at it. They don't deserve any rights nor should they be granted any.

These are enemies of our nation who want to destroy us, it’s that simple and there's no debate. But the ACLU is standing up for them? Give me a god dam break it’s a slap in the face to every American who was killed on 9/11 and every solider that has died in operations against terror across the globe.

[nwafan20]

it’s a slap in the face to every American who was killed on 9/11 and every solider that has died in operations against terror across the globe.

Amen!

[moose135]

Let's see, if I can remember way back to my American history classes, I think in this country you are innocent until proven guilty. The people involved in this suit were suspected of involvement with Al-Qaeda, and were detained and tortured apparently in the hopes they would provide information.

One of those in the lawsuit was a German citizen, born in Kuwait, detained in Eastern Europe because he had the same name as a suspected Al-Qaeda terrorist. He was then turned over to the CIA, who flew him Afghanistan and held him for 5 months before releasing him, without so much as an apology. Oops! Is this really the behavior you want from your government? It sure as hell isn't what I want from mine.

When we throw out the rule of law that has guided this nation for over 200 years, we start on a road to ruin. I fully support finding and punishing those behind the attacks of 9/11 - I'm still waiting for this Administration to do that, by the way. But using 9/11 as a catch-all reason to invade countries, violate human rights, and torture or kill people, that is a slap in the face of those who died protecting our rights and freedoms.

[T-Bird76]

John the fact is the CIA isn't simply picking up anyone off the street and flying him or her to some remote place for a chat over some coffee and donuts. These people are suspected of involvement in planning attacks against the U.S and the interests of the U.S. Why is the ACLU suing Boeing and not the Gov't that turned him over? How is he U.S at fault here? We were given someone that an allied Gov't SAID is a suspected terrorist. Are we supposed to spend a month or two investigating him and give him the chance to hide out? I’m sure there’s more to this story then “oh we mixed up his name.” If he were for real the same people suing would be saying our Gov't doesn't do enough.

The question remains are you willing to take a chance and use due process on suspected enemies of the state and risk releasing someone who could have provided us with valuable information in this war? I'm not.

When you break down what we are going through is pretty simple, it’s our way of life vs. their way of life. We can't sit back and waste anytime on second-guessing our decisions. As for the rule of law that has governed our nation for the past 200 years, lets get real here, we've done what we've needed to do to spread out way of life from coast to coast and around the globe. We'd be having a similar debate over Indian land if this were 130 years ago. So lets not kid us as to what we are doing and have done in the name of the American way of life.

[T-Bird76]

I think in this country you are innocent until proven guilty.

Suspected enemies of the state are guilty until proven innocent. These guys weren't even American nor were they taken into custody in the U.S, so those laws do not apply.

[USAF Pilot 07]

The ACLU is very good in theory, they just go too far in certain instances, such as this one, which ultimately destroys a lot of their credibility among a majority of Americans.

The ACLU helps Americans everyday in all types of situations with generally positive and just outcomes. It's just these extreme cases that gives them a very bad name.

We had the president of the ACLU come speak to us at the Academy a few years back. She was a well-spoken, nice seeming lady, but left many of us (granted a primarily conservative audience) with the feeling that while an organization that will step in and protect individuals' rights is necessary, some of the cases they took seemed to lack just a little of that whole "common sense" aspect.

[tipek]

I think in this country you are innocent until proven guilty.

Suspected enemies of the state are guilty until proven innocent. These guys weren't even American nor were they taken into custody in the U.S, so those laws do not apply.

But Geneva Convention rules apply. In this case I agree with John but I think that ACLU is pure crap.

Tommy, I think that we would be much safer in America if 300 000 US soldiers protected us here and not invading Iraq.

And here is my shot taken month ago of soldiers killed by Bush family.


Rafal

[T-Bird76]

So Rafal you want the war to be on our soil? That doesn't sound like a very good plan to me. Also why would you say Bush's family killed those soldiers? I'm sorry but that is just wrong and disgusting, you're implying his wife and girls killed them. If you going to make the statement correctly its the Polices of our govt in their belief that our involvement in Iraq caused their death. The last I checked the Dems voted for the Iraq funding bill. Btw the war on terror isn't centered in just Iraq.

[PhilDernerJr]

Misplaced blame.

Why do people not understand that whether we were in Iraq or not, that Muslim extremists would still be out to kill us WHEREVER we are?!

Your positng of that photo and your Bush reference is extremely insulting to all those who proudly give their lives for the freedom of hte Iraqi people and the protection of Americans from terror.

If I was among those in that cemetary, I'd do backflips in my grave after reading that post.

[tipek]

I'm not saying that its better to have war on US soil. I am against the war in general.
Ok, I should be more specific saying about Bush family. Papa Bush and Bush Jr are the people that I'm talking about.
I know that war on terror isn't going only in Iraq. But which country will be invaded by US next? Iran?
You are absolutely right saying that policies of our government have been part of death cause.
But you know what, we've lost more soldiers under both Bushes presidency than under any other president (of course excluding WWII and Vietnam fiasco). This war is more personal than fighting terror.

Phil,

Thats my point. No matter if they fight in Iraq, Afganistan or elsewhere, there always will be some extrimist fighting for his cause. Then why they don't focus on protecting Americans on American soil?


US soldiers that died in Iraq didn't give their lives for freedom of Iraqi people. In my opinion your line is very insulting to American soldiers that were burried in Arlington. I thought that Bush Jr sent US soldiers to Iraq to protect American people from weapon of mass destruction. Oh, wait a minute. They didn't find anything so it would look very stupid so Bush have changed his slogan from protecting US people from Iraqi nukes, to fighting for Iraqi freedom. And you can't deny it. There is video on youtube from March 23rd 2002 where Bush Jr gave speach that he will invade Iraq to destroy weapon of mass destruction. Then halfway of the clip you will see his second speach (forgot from what date) that US soldiers will fight for democracy in Iraq. WTF.

There is many more things that US gov should consider priority.
- Is it nice that US heros sleep in military hospitals with rats?
- Captured Afgani POW's have better conditions in Guantanamo Bay
- Tsunami that hit Asia few years back. US did a lot to help those people. I aplaud to them for being so kind and generous to the survivors. By now you probably know when I'm going with this.
- Yes, Katrina. Where did that happened? Half way across the world? Not really, it was right here.

You would look different on this war if you saw 4 funerals each hour, 10 hours a day, 7 days a week. Right now, average waiting time for funeral at Arlington is 6 weeks. Doesn't this send any message to people?

BTW - When I took this picture I was paying a visit to a family member :(

Rafal

[nwafan20]

US soldiers that died in Iraq didn't give their lives for freedom of Iraqi people.

That's a bunch of crap.

You know what, I have several family members over there right now. They are fighting for the freedom of all Iraqis. You know what? The Iraqis are grateful for all we have done.

You go live in a country ruled by a dictator that would feed you into wood chippers feet first as your whole family is forced to watch, Or getting your tongue cut off for speaking out against the government and tell me that you wouldn't be grateful for a country to liberate you from that sort of evil. My cousin IS fighting for the freedom of Iraqis. So don't disrespect him, or anyone else by saying that.

My cousin watched as his best friend was BLOWN INTO PIECES by a IED. Do you know what my cousin did after that? He signed up for a second term in Iraq because he saw the good we were doing over there. Every day he his putting his life on the line (he is on a bomb defusing squad) so you can make these sort of comments. Be glad you live in America and you can enjoy the freedom to say remarks like that.