Extraordinary rendition

Extraordinary rendition is a term heart all over the news today.

After consistently denying that Britain had any role in America’s controversial “extraordinary rendition” flights, the government on Thursday admitted that two such flights did land on U.K. territory in 2002 for refueling. Foreign Secretary David Miliband apologized to MPs for the previous denials but insisted that they were made in “good faith.”

What is extraordinary rendition?

Human rights groups charge that extraordinary rendition is a violation of Article 3[2] of the United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT), because suspects are taken to countries where torture during interrogation remains common, thus circumventing the protections the captives would enjoy in the United States or other nations who abide by the terms of UNCAT.

Its legality remains highly controversial, as the United States outlaws the use of torture (at least they claim they do) and the U.S. Constitution guarantees due process. Rendered suspects are denied due process because they are arrested without charges and deprived of legal counsel.

Although the procedure was developed by CIA officials in the mid-1990s who were trying to track down and dismantle militant Islamic organizations in the Middle East, particularly Al Qaeda.

However, does it make it right?

Let's pay more attention to what our government is doing, openly and secretly!