This article belongs to And That's the Way It Is column.
While the former Australian Liberal Government has always claimed that it knew nothing of allegations of the torture of Australians David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib at Guantanamo Bay, it now turns out that both the then Attorney General, Philip Ruddock as well as then Prime Minister, John Howard, were fully briefed as to the methods of interrogation of both men by CIA operatives.
Still classified document shows that both Howard and Ruddock received fortnightly briefings from the then US Government through both the CIA in the US and via the ONA (Office of National Assessment) in Australia.
The documents contain details as to what was said, the methods that were used, giving dates, times and locations.
It now also appears that, during some of the 'interviews', Australian intelligence operatives were present.
Members of the Howard Government have repeatedly denied that they knew of the methods used by the CIA in relation towards Guantanamo Bay detainees, also denying that they were receiving regular updates.
The documents also show that the UK Government received the same regular updates in relation to its citizens.
The conclusion that is able to legitimately be drawn is that the Howard Government was fully aware and supportive of CIA illegalities and fully supportive of interrogation methods used by operatives employed by the Bush administration, despite the fact that both the Australian and US Governments knew that what they were doing was illegal.
The revelations only confirm my view that Bush, Cheeney, Rice, Blair and Howard have a substantial case to answer in terms of them appearing before the International Criminal Court, (ICC), should that ever take place.
My name is Henk Luf.
And That's The Way It is.
"
It now also appears that, during some of the 'interviews', Australian intelligence operatives were present.The documents contain details as to what was said, the methods that were used, giving dates, times and locations.
It now also appears that, during some of the 'interviews', Australian intelligence operatives were present.
Members of the Howard Government have repeatedly denied that they knew of the methods used by the CIA in relation towards Guantanamo Bay detainees, also denying that they were receiving regular updates.
The documents also show that the UK Government received the same regular updates in relation to its citizens.
"
Still classified document shows that both Howard and Ruddock received fortnightly briefings from the then US Government...The conclusion that is able to legitimately be drawn is that the Howard Government was fully aware and supportive of CIA illegalities and fully supportive of interrogation methods used by operatives employed by the Bush administration, despite the fact that both the Australian and US Governments knew that what they were doing was illegal.
The revelations only confirm my view that Bush, Cheeney, Rice, Blair and Howard have a substantial case to answer in terms of them appearing before the International Criminal Court, (ICC), should that ever take place.
My name is Henk Luf.
And That's The Way It is.
|
Some of our content may be related to gambling.    |