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Home Front: WoT
ACLU: German Suing CIA Barred From U.S.
2005-12-09
WASHINGTON (AP) - Lawyers asked the Bush administration on Thursday why a German citizen, taken prisoner by the CIA in a case of mistaken identity in 2004, was not allowed into the United States last weekend. Khaled al-Masri was seeking entry to publicize the lawsuit he filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va., against former CIA Director George Tenet and 10 ``John Doe'' CIA employees involved in his abduction to Afghanistan.

In letters to the U.S. government, the American Civil Liberties Union also asked whether Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice apologized to the German government during her trip to Berlin this week. ``Was an official apology made, and if so would Secretary Rice be willing to make a similar apology directly to the victim?'' asked Ann Beeson, the ACLU's associate legal director.
In one word? No.
Al-Masri was thrown into the CIA's ``rendition'' program for terror suspects, beaten and held in a cell for four months, the last two while U.S. officials debated how to handle his release after discovering he was the person he said he was. The CIA had suspected he was an associate of the Sept. 11 conspirators, a man with a similar name.
Posted by:Steve White

#9  and his attorney
Posted by: Frank G   2005-12-09 19:54  

#8  Just shoot him and pay is wife off. It will be cheaper.
Posted by: Mahou Sensei Negi-bozu   2005-12-09 19:36  

#7  Looks like the lawsuit was filed Tuesday. Hafta state a cause of action when you file, and I'd bet the ATCA forms the basis of some or all of his claims. Standing may be an issue, but if he claims abuse at the hands of US agents -- regardless of his citizenship or the location -- that's prolly good enough to get in the door. And I don't see why it can't be litigated in his absence. I'm sure the ACLU cares more about eroding US security in any way possible than they do about the specific fate of Herr Al-Masri, but getting him into the country would further that as well.
Posted by: ST   2005-12-09 09:41  

#6  ST, wouldn't the Alien Tort Claims Act only come into play when the case goes to court (assuming he gets permission to sue)? Right now he's only publicizing the case.
Posted by: Desert Blondie   2005-12-09 07:16  

#5  Lol, ST. A fine Bavarian, spiral-sliced? And yep, you're right - some "judicial" politician will be located who can fuzzy-up some wheretofore's 'n howsoever's and declare this Muzzy Deutschlander has US standing.
Posted by: .com   2005-12-09 04:46  

#4  Agreed on all points, .com -- I'm jus' sayin, the Supreme Cow doesn't like snatch'n'grabs abroad, and executive branch be damned, often rules in favor of douchebags like this more often than not. Access to justice, notice & opportunity to be heard, yada yada. Hamdi is an especially outrageous example. Anyway, I'm sure the ACLU's next move will be to forum-shop till they find a judge who says we have to let plaintiffs in. OWG and tranzis already run the show. If some State seditionist doesn't let him in, I'm sure a judicial one will. Meanwhile, you could always send this hapless "German man" a nice Christmas ham!
Posted by: ST   2005-12-09 04:31  

#3  Assuming for just a second that some State Dept seditionist doesn't figure out how to screw us and let this clown in...

We don't need a national security basis to deny entry - it's still our country and he's obviously not welcome. I don't much care for Tenet, I think he's about the biggest flop as CIA #1 since its founding, but fuck it - this guy's a tool of the wankers. Neener-neener twit. Put on yer best lederhosen and yodel in Arabic, bitch.

When the ACLU and AlG finally get their OWG Socialist Miracle, then they can pontificate about who gets into the US and who doesn't. I'm hoping we can "cure" the ACLU's current ills by more, um, "direct" means than employing a bunch of opposing lawyers. That's much too civil. AlG and all of the Tranzis can kiss my very hairy American ass, methinks. They've meddled enough, already.
Posted by: .com   2005-12-09 02:57  

#2  If there's no national security basis to bar him, I think Supreme Court decisions on the Alien Tort Claims Act may require the US to permit his presence as a plaintiff. Happily, those same decisions ought to give the government a slam-dunk defense. If I recall correctly, constitutional protections do not apply to foreigners for acts committed by US agents on foreign soil.
Posted by: ST   2005-12-09 01:14  

#1  If somebody was suing me.. why would I want them to just wander about in my house?
Posted by: 3dc   2005-12-09 00:28  

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