US, UK on Collision Course Over Detainee Court Cases

Secretary of State Hilary Clinton is pressing the UK to protect US detention and torture secrets, but British courts may have the last word as two major torture cases move ahead.

The Telegraph reports that Secretary of State Clinton told UK Foreign Secretary David Milliband that Washington intended to cut off security cooperation between the two allies if information pertaining to the alleged torture and detention of UK national Binyam Mohamed were made public during court proceedings.

Mohamed has brought suit against a UK aviation services firm reportedly employed by CIA in connection to his torture and detention allegations. Another former detainee, Mohamed Saad Iqbal Madni, has also brought suit in the UK, alleging that the UK government was complicit in his torture and detention.

The UK judiciary, like its US counterpart, is independent. Washington's efforts to suppress court cases under consideration in independent foreign courts are a source of friction and could fail and undo the Bush and Obama administration's policy of suppressing courtroom discovery of detention and torture information.

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Comments

[OliverTwist]

The US continues its depraved and criminal actions under President Obama.

Too bad.

[altohone]

Clinton issuing threats to protect Cheney, Rummy and Yoo?
America's image?

Continuing policies?


I assumed these would be what President Clinton would have done, but now she's speaking for Obama, and that is very sad.

Apparently, suppression of the truth is still US policy.
I don't remember that part of the campaign platform.

Strange too that such a threat would go to Britain when other allies have done far worse.
Let's hope UK judges aren't complicit like so many here.