William Fisher

One of the Arab world’s most widely respected non-governmental organizations is charging that at least 14 Middle East and North African governments are systematically violating the civil liberties of their citizens – and most of them are close U.S. allies in the war on terror. In a report to the United Nations Human Rights Council, … Continue reading “Arab Govts Ever More Draconian, Group Says”

One of the nation’s most respected counterterrorism experts is predicting that Congress will take action to rein in the "unchecked power" of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to spy on U.S. citizens without court approval – and then forbid them from publicly protesting the violation of their civil liberties. He is Mike German, a 16-year … Continue reading “Reforms Failed to Curb FBI Spying”

At a pretrial hearing at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, next month, the Pentagon will take its first public step toward a military commission trial for Osama bin Laden’s alleged driver and bodyguard. And one of the witnesses for the defense will be the military’s former chief prosecutor. He is Col. Morris Davis, now head of the … Continue reading “Former Gitmo Prosecutor to Testify for Defense”

Media critics, foreign policy experts, and human rights advocates are charging that questions asked by the moderators of the televised debates among U.S. presidential hopefuls have frequently been trivial and designed to produce conflict to boost ratings, while ignoring many of the most pressing issues facing the United States. Danny Schechter, editor of MediaChannel.org, a … Continue reading “We Don’t Do Torture – Especially in Debates”

U.S. President George W. Bush appeared headed toward another train wreck with Congress as he carried out his threat to veto an intelligence bill that would have banned the Central Intelligence Agency from using waterboarding and other "enhanced interrogation techniques" in questioning terrorism suspects. The bill, passed by both the House of Representatives and the … Continue reading “Just Waterboarding Under the Bridge”

Former senior intelligence officials are disputing claims by the George W. Bush administration that the failure of Congress to pass a new foreign surveillance law is jeopardizing the country’s national security. In a letter to Admiral Mike McConnell, the director of national intelligence, the officials say "the intelligence community currently has the tools it needs … Continue reading “Bush, Congress Wrangle Over Domestic Spying”

As the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency acknowledged it had erroneously denied using British territory to transport victims of "extraordinary rendition," a federal court bowed to pressure from the George W. Bush administration to dismiss a case against a Boeing subsidiary being sued for providing the aircraft that carried the suspected terrorists. The U.S. and British … Continue reading “Renditions Clothed in State Secrets Mantle”

As the U.S. moves toward holding death-sentence trials for six Guantánamo Bay detainees alleged to have plotted the Sept. 11 attacks, legal scholars and human rights advocates are questioning not only the six-year-long process and timing of the charges, but also whether the accused could ever receive fair trials. On Feb. 11, charges were issued … Continue reading “Experts Doubt Fair Trials for Gitmo Suspects”

President George W. Bush’s critics are charging that he is attempting to use a “backdoor signing statement” to thwart Congress’ desire to lift the veil of secrecy that has shrouded the U.S. government for the past seven years. In August 2007, Congress passed the Open Government Act. The measure established a new Office of Government … Continue reading “Bush’s Budget Sidelines Transparency”