Extraordinary Rendition

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes the issue of extraordinary renditions used by the U.S. and the CIA to fight the War on Terror. The paper describes three types of rendition and traces the history of their use by the U.S. government from its early days to the present. The paper then contrasts the points of view of the U.S. government and human rights groups on the issue. The paper also discusses the weaknesses of this process and concludes that whether or not one agrees with the policy of renditions, it is evident that extraordinary renditions have served to weaken international law.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Types of Rendition
History of Rendition in the United States
The U.S. View Point on Extraordinary Rendition
The 'Down Side' of Extraordinary Rendition
Mistakes are Common
Ceding the High Moral Ground
Dubious Intelligence-Gathering through Torture
Effect on International Law
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"In May 2004, five months after his detention, el-Masri was released after the Americans realized that he had been mistakenly identified as a terrorist because an al-Qaeda terrorist had a similar name. The manner of his release (he was blindfolded and handcuffed and let out on a lonely road in Albania) and the subsequent treatment of his lawsuit by the US courts (dismissal on the basis of national security) have received widespread condemnation from human right organizations. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) helped el-Masri to file lawsuit in a US court against his illegal detention in December 2005."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Begg, Moazzam. "Rendition: Tortured Truth." New Statesman 26 June 2006: 19.
• "Below the radar: Secret flights to torture and 'disappearance.'" Amnesty International Report. April 5, 2006. February 5, 2008 <http://www.amnesty.org/en/alfresco_asset/5d82f002-a2d8-11dc-8d74-6f45f39984e5/amr510512006en.html>
• Charter, David. "Britain accused on secret CIA flights." Times Online. November 29, 2006. February 5, 2008. <http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article653418.ece>
• "Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment." Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. 1987. February 5, 2008. <http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/h_cat39.htm>
• Fisher, Louis. "Invoking Inherent Powers: A Primer." Presidential Studies Quarterly 37.1 (2007): 1+.

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