International, Military, Politics, Society

Libyan Rebels Claim To Find Evidence That CIA Helped Capture Libyan Dissidents and Used Regime For Renditions and Torture

With increasing reports that the Libyan rebel forces include extreme Islamic elements and ties with Al Qaeda, a new press report is not going to help matters in the creation of the first new government vis-a-vis the United States. Rebels say that they have discovered documents in intelligence files that show that the U.S. and Britain helped capture and turn over dissidents to the regime. The papers also reportedly show that the CIA used the regime in rendition cases where suspects were handed over to be tortured.

The rebels say that they found hundreds of letters between the CIA and MI6 and the former intelligence chief for Gaddafi — some beginning affectionately with “Dear Moussa.”

Among the people tortured was Abdel Hakim Belhadj, who said he was captured and first tortured by the CIA and then turned over to the Libyan for torture. He is now the military commander of Tripoli in the new government.

Source: Reuters

38 thoughts on “Libyan Rebels Claim To Find Evidence That CIA Helped Capture Libyan Dissidents and Used Regime For Renditions and Torture”

  2. As others, not surprised.

    It wasn’t for nothing that Bush took Libya off the “terrorist” nation list. Libya’s “co-operation” in rendering was probably one of the reasons. I shudder to think what other disgusting interactions between Bush’s CIA and Libya’s torturers they’ll uncover, but uncover they must.

  3. Blouise,,,, I’m surprised you, like our investigating anything that has to do, or might have to do with torture by Americans. To quote a famous American we need to look forward and not backwards….

  4. I keep looking but I can’t find anything about the names of the officials from the CIA attached to those two CIA documents from 2004.

    From the documents:

    “Please be advised that we must be assured that al-Sadiq (nom de guerre) will be treated humanely and that his human rights will be respected.”

    Yet al-Sadiq (real name is Abdel-Hakim Belhaj) claims that the CIA tortured him in a secret prison and then returned him to Libya.

    If we had some names we could start an investigation … maybe even some prosecutions.

  7. Well, color me shocked that at some point in time American foriegn policy was based on who was willing to “play ball.” I mean, it’s not like we have ANY recent cases of us “having” to invade countries that we supported the dictator we overthrew.

    Also, Torture is morally reprehensible and highly illegal. No matter how high the orders went. Oh, and the same goes for not prosecuting tortures and their superiors.

  9. This doesn’t surprise me one bit…

    And I’ll keep sayin’ it… Someone needs to look at what’s going on domestically…

    (The Reuter’s link seems to be a dead one… Is anyone else having trouble accessing it?)

  10. The existence of Belhadj will provide a perfect pretext for the CIA/NATO/other murderous forces of the West to justify an invasion/coup/manufactured insurrection in Libya when the latest regime gets uncooperative about handing over the oil to the “right” people. The excuse will be “we had to do it to stop the spread of al Qaeda.” Even though the CIA/NATO/etc. helped put him there (literally and figuratively.)

  14. “Two documents from March 2004 appear to be American correspondence to Libyan officials to arrange Belhaj’s rendition.” (http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/09/libyan_intelligence_documents.html)

    Thank you to all the dumb shits in the CIA who followed the Bush/Cheney order to torture … figured torturing was going to restore the manhood you lost on 9/11 when you failed utterly in protecting the nation? … guess what … it didn’t and now we’re paying again.

    I can’t believe this utterly worthless organization still exists.

  16. AY– I don’t think Cheney is highly enough evolved to admit he did anything wrong.

  17. Well, I for one would think that would be the best angle….then it would only be seen as a general solicitation…the offer could be withdrawn at anytime…even after it was accepted…and of course Gene you know its against the law to ask someone to aid or assist in breaking a law….

    I think the more specific you are…then the more liability you expose yourself too….But then again…I can’t wait for the Cheney deathbed book….where he tells all…and asks people to forgive him…just call it an Atwater moment….

  18. Everyone knows it’s bad manners to start a letter asking someone to torture and break laws international and domestic with “To Whom It May Concern”.

  20. Among the people tortured was Abdel Hakim Belhadj, who said he was captured and first tortured by the CIA and then turned over to the Libyan for torture. He is now the military commander of Tripoli in the new government.

    I wonder if Bush or Cheney wishes to speak with him….I don’t suppose he’ll be a US or Britain ally for long….

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