Obama Watch: Civil Liberties

On May 30, 2007, the ACLU filed a lawsuit on behalf of three men against Jeppesen Dataplan, Inc.  These three men report having been abducted by the CIA, transported secretly and against their will, and tortured while being interrogated.  This government program is called "extraordinary rendition."  Jeppesen Dataplan Inc. is a (San Jose-based) subsidiary of the large aviation and aeronautics corporation Boeing, Inc. 

"Jeppesen's services have been crucial to the functioning of the government's extraordinary rendition program," said Steven Watt, a staff attorney for the ACLU's Human Rights Program. "Without the participation of companies like Jeppesen, the program could not have gotten off the ground."

In September of 2008, the Bush administration threw the case out of court because of issues of national security.  Like that.  With a snap of the fingers, the government decided Jeppesen could not be legally held responsible for participating in torture.  The ACLU appealed and today, Obama's Department of Justice got to decide what to do about the five plaintiffs (two more were added to the original three).

What happened?

“Is there anything material that has happened” that might have caused the Justice Department to shift its views, asked Judge Mary M. Schroeder, an appointee of President Jimmy Carter, coyly referring to the recent election.

“No, your honor,” Mr. Letter replied.

Judge Schroeder asked, “The change in administration has no bearing?”

Once more, he said, “No, Your Honor.” The position he was taking in court on behalf of the government had been “thoroughly vetted with the appropriate officials within the new administration,” and “these are the authorized positions,” he said.

No change.

If you want to read about why it's so heinous that Obama is continuing this state secrets privilege, I suggest you read Glenn Greenwald's recent post or watch the video below.

In his Inaugural Speech, one of Obama's most hailed lines was:

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.

Our ideals are the upholding of liberty for all people.  We signed the United Nations Convention on Torture which includes the following clause:

2. No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political in stability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture.

Appalled, I wrote a missive to the Obama Administration asking why they upheld the Bush position and that I was "heartbroken."  You can too.  I'm not sure if it'll help.  But it's our duty as democratic citizens to say something.  Meanwhile... keep hoping. Hope.  Change.  And we'll keep writing.