CIA briefed 68 lawmakers on inquire module

David Alexander WASHINGTON Tue Feb 23, 2010 11:48pm EST Related News Bush lawyers criticized on interrogation adviceFri, Feb 19 2010

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - CIA officials briefed at least 68 U.S. lawmakers between 2001 and 2007 on enhanced interrogation methods like simulated drowning that were being considered or used against captured al Qaeda members, according to declassified documents released on Tuesday.

The once-secret CIA papers, obtained in a lawsuit by the conservative legal foundation Judicial Watch, shed new light on which lawmakers knew the details of the controversial interrogation program and when.

Human rights groups have argued the harsh interrogation methods were forms of torture and violated U.S. obligations under the Geneva Conventions on treatment of war prisoners. President Barack Obama banned the techniques shortly after taking office in January 2009.

The declassified memos show the program began after the capture of al Qaeda lieutenant Abu Zubaydah, a Saudi-born Palestinian who was the group"s operations director, in the city of Faisalabad in central Pakistan in March 2002.

In a statement to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence dated April 12, 2007, then-CIA director Michael Hayden said the agency decided new "techniques" were needed because "Abu Zubaydah was withholding information that could help us track down al Qaeda leaders and prevent attacks."

The CIA briefed lawmakers as it began seeking expanded authority for the interrogation program. Current House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, then minority whip, attended a briefing on Abu Zubaydah"s interrogation April 24, 2002, along with seven other members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the documents show.

The CIA did not begin using the interrogation techniques until after receiving legal guidance from the Department of Justice in August 2002.

Pelosi, who became House Democratic leader in late 2002, said at a news conference in April last year that she was never told at the time that simulated drowning -- or waterboarding -- and other harsh interrogation techniques were being used. She said she was only told the CIA had legal opinions that approved harsh interrogation methods.

Hayden, in his 2007 statement for the Senate Select Committee, said as the CIA began implementing the interrogation program in 2002 "the majority and minority leaders of the Senate, the speaker, and the minority leader of the House, and the chairs and ranking members of the intelligence committees were fully briefed on the interrogation procedures."

INFORMATION CHAIN

Documents obtained by Judicial Watch indicate 68 lawmakers were briefed on the interrogation program between 2001 and 2007.

After the interrogation program began, Abu Zubaydah become "one of our most important sources of intelligence on al Qaeda," helping U.S. authorities identify alleged al Qaeda operative Jose Padilla and others, according to Hayden"s statement, marked "TOP SECRET."

Early in his detention, Abu Zubaydah identified Khalid Sheikh Mohammed as the mastermind of the September 11 attacks, Hayden"s statement says. Until that time, it says, Mohammed "did not even appear in our chart of key al Qaeda members and associates."

According to the statement, Sheikh Mohammed also provided information about another al Qaeda operative, Majid Khan, who, in turn, identified another operative named "Zubair" who was captured in June 2003.

Zubair later provided information that led to the arrest of Jamaah Islamiya leader and al Qaeda"s South Asia representative Hambali, Hayden said.

The memos show that lawmakers were told as far back as July 13, 2004, that Mohammed had been subjected to waterboarding 183 times.

CIA Inspector General John Helgerson, briefing Reps. Porter Goss and Jane Harman, said "three people had been interrogated with the waterboard," a CIA memo on the meeting states.

"On one, the IG felt that it had been used excessively, beyond what the IG thought was the agreement with DOJ (Department of Justice). Khalid Sheikh Mohammed got 183 applications (redacted)," it says.

(Additional reporting by Adam Entous; Editing by Doina Chiacu)

FA postpones track for new arch senior manager Football

Matt Hughes, Deputy Football Correspondent & , : {}

The FA will delay appointing a permanent chief executive until Englands bid to host the 2018 World Cup is voted on in December.

England is the favourite to be awarded the tournament by Fifas executive committee, but the FA is anxious to avoid diverting time and energy from the bid to search for a new leader after Ian Watmores resignation on Monday.

The decision to postpone the hunt for Watmores successor will lead to fears that the organisation could be rudderless during one of the most important periods in its history, although the FA board acted swiftly yesterday by appointing Alex Horne as acting chief executive. The FAs chief operating officer has held his post since before Watmores arrival as a replacement for Brian Barwick last year.

Alex has taken over and the new arrangements are in place, Lord Triesman, the FAs independent chairman, said. Theres no desire to spend a huge amount of time searching, but we will want to replace the CEO.

Related LinksWatmore driven out by enemies withinWho will want to pick up the poisoned chalice at the Football Association?Leaked e-mail sparks FA crisis

I want to make sure that when the board is slightly reconfigured, that it has the chief executive that it wants. It would be very discourteous for the new board not to have that opportunity. Its not a question of delaying, just working to a timetable that gets the right result.

Triesman paid tribute to Watmore, whose biggest achievement during his nine-month tenure was to secure the future of the National Football Centre in Burton upon Trent, although the reasons behind his abrupt departure remain a bit of a mystery at the FA. Some FA insiders have privately accused Watmore of impatience in attempting to drive through radical reforms to the sports governance, while others have questioned his stomach for the battle for power with the Premier League.

Ian feels he was unable to make the progress he would like as quickly as he would have liked to make it, Triesman said. But I feel Ian is the best person to express his reasons for leaving.

Hes driven through and had the key role in the National Football Centre. He has big accomplishments to his name and in due time he would have had many more.

In a statement the FA denied that the Premier League had effectively blocked Watmores proposals for reform. The board strongly believe that the FA and all of English footballs stakeholders are strong and capable enough of changing and developing the game under their own authority, it read.

The board will always try to act in ways that are right for the game and are clear that the professional game has not blocked proposals for change. Additionally, the board does not accept that Ians departure is down to any one individual or any personality clash with Ian.

Malaysian king wins insult fit opposite teenager indication wife

Times Online & , : {}

A Malaysian king was awarded 6 million ringgit (1.2 million) in indemnification progressing currently in a insult fit opposite his teenage wife, who indicted him of passionate and earthy abuse after journey home to Indonesia.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court awarded the total to Tengku Fakhry Ismail Petra, but he is not expected to embrace any remuneration unless he initiates authorised record in Indonesia opposite his wife, who has so far refused to lapse or recognize justice rulings done opposite her in Malaysia.

The stately liaison flush last May when Manohara Odelia Pinot, a obvious socialite in Indonesia, left Mr Fakhry in what she claimed was a thespian shun from a road house whilst concomitant her husband"s family on a outing to Singapore. Ms Manohara tied together the king from Malaysia"s northern Kelantan state in 2008 after she incited 16.

Ms Manohara and her mom told Indonesian media that Mr Fakhry, 32, hold her serf and treated with colour her as a sex slave. She additionally done striking allegations of earthy woe during their marriage.

Related LinksThe prince, the indication and the tactful fracasBombs force United diversion to be cancelled

The king subsequently filed a insult fit opposite Ms Manohara and her mother, both of whom refused to attest in the hearings. The High Court ruled in Mr Fakhry"s foster in Nov and voiced the remuneration endowment progressing currently after Ms Manohara unsuccessful to designate lawyers in Malaysia to paint her.

Mr Fakhry, the son of the Sultan of the Malaysian state of Kelantan, had filed a 105 million ringgit (18 million) insult explain opposite Ms Manohara, an American-Indonesian model, whom he tied together last year.

The princes fit indicted Ms Manohara and her mother, Daisy Fajarina, of fabricating the accusations out of annoy ... encouraged by a enterprise of monetary gains.

Indonesian laws cannot enforce Ms Manohara to mind Malaysian justice verdicts, so Mr Fakhry plans to record a identical fit opposite Ms Manohara and her mom in Jakarta, pronounced the prince"s lawyer, Mohamad Haaziq Pillay.

We will go in to the lion"s basement to take on the lion, Mohamad Haaziq said. It is usually a make a difference of time.

hair wig

Khyra Ishaq: sealed afar but food and punished with a cane

Helen Nugent & , : {}

When neighbours saw the face of a small lady at a room window they thought small of it. She gazed down silently. She didnt call and she didnt cry. Now residents in Handsworth, Birmingham, are assured that Khyra Ishaq was sealed in the room but food.

A integrate of days after paramedics found her svelte body, the plant of a despotic low mark system of administration meted out by her mom and her partner.

Throughout the trial, jurors listened unfortunate sum of the last weeks of the immature girls life, and how amicable services unsuccessful to recognize the earnest of the situation. Social workers were refused entrance to the home by an assertive Angela Gordon, not odd in the margin of kid protection. But notwithstanding saying Khyra 3 months prior to her death, they saw no means for alarm.

Until her relatives matrimony failed, Khyra appeared to live a normal and happy family life. Photos of her taken prior to Gordon and Junaid Abuhamza became a integrate in 2007 show a full of health lady with a big smile. However, in Dec of that year hold up altered dramatically.

Related LinksMother guilty of very hungry daughter to deathFire bosses hold over fire that killed four100-year-old lady stabbed to genocide at home

Khyra was private from propagandize and Gordon, who left propagandize at sixteen and was twice divorced, refused to confess visitors, together with teachers and amicable workers.

Behind sealed doors 6 young kids were solemnly being carnivorous by dual adults who confirmed a entirely stocked kitchen for themselves. On the singular occasions that Khyra and her siblings were fed, they were since dry bread or porridge, in one common bowl, that they had to eat with their hands on the floor. If the young kids were held hidden food, they were punished with apprehension knocked about with a cane, or done to mount outward in the cold or over-eat until they were sick.

Only when Khyra was hours from genocide did her mom call for help. When paramedics arrived at the residence at 5.45am on May 17, 2008, they detected a lady so malnourished that she had lost 40 per cent of her physique weight. She was, according to Timothy Raggatt, QC, for the prosecution, utterly literally skin and bone. She died shortly after being certified to Birmingham Childrens hospital.

Although Khyra in the future succumbed to an infection, she had no healthy underlying health issues prior to her death. Her physique was marked down to such a pitiable condition that it could conflict no kind of disease at all, Mr Raggatt told the court. Khyra weighed only 2st 9lb at the point of her death.

Two of the alternative young kids vital at the residence were found to be in a state of acute, serious and dangerous malnutrition, carnivorous to a point where their lives were at risk. All 6 young kids had suffered a postulated debate of cruelty and violence.

Khyras father, Ishaq Abu-Zaire, 37, pronounced he last saw his young kids in Jan 2007. After that, Gordon barred entrance to the house. If I could spin behind the time I would pound the doorway down and take my young kids behind by force, he pronounced in an talk prior to the verdict. But I didnt wish to go to prison and be prevented from saying my children.

An exploration by the internal Safeguarding Children Board pronounced that it as well wished it could spin behind the time and convince friends and neighbours who had concerns to come brazen with the information. Of the 90 witnesses to give evidence, the house believed that thirty could have done a disproportion if they had taken movement or alerted the authorities. Safeguarding young kids is everybodys business, it concluded.

hair wig

West Ham striker Carlton Cole in rumpus with fan after Wolves defeat

Bystaff 848AM GMT twenty-four March 2010

Confrontation Carlton Cole was dragged afar from West Ham fans by group partner Benni McCarthy Photo GETTY IMAGES

Police and stewards reportedly became concerned following West Ham"s 3-1 improved by Wolves at Upton park, whilst Benni McCarthy saw his set upon partner dragged afar by his team-mates.

"I thought Coley knew the man at initial as they were vocalization normally," pronounced the South African. "Eventually I saw a little alternative players go behind out and draw towards him inside.

Zola West Ham fans should collect on me not players West Ham 1 Wolves 3 West Ham v Wolves compare preview Zola stays ease for West Ham Wenger we can win the pretension Arsenal 2 West Ham 0

"Maybe what went on got to him and he reacted the wrong way."

Goals from Kevin Doyle, Ronald Zubar and Matthew Jarvis cursed the London bar to a fifth uninterrupted improved last night, withdrawal them 3 points on top of the relegation zone.

The loss has put increasing disbelief on Gianfranco Zola"s destiny in assign of the club, quite in perspective of the actuality that the stream owners, David Sullivan and David Gold, did not designate the Italian.

By his own admittance, Zola pronounced his destiny was out of his hands.

"The owners can do whatever they feel is the right thing to do," he said. "I try to do my work as most appropriate I can each singular day. If that"s not great sufficient - not deliberate great sufficient - I have no time or enterprise to live worrying about things.

"Worry doesn"t assistance me do a improved job.

"We attempted but in a really disorganized approach - it"s unpleasant for me - it"s my avocation to scold that and I take full responsibility."

Manchester Citys problems lower with anathema for Emmanuel Adebayor Manchester City

James Ducker, Northern Football Correspondent & , : {}

Manchester Citys troubles mounted last night when Emmanuel Adebayor was criminialized for 4 matches by the FA after the striker motionless not to interest opposite his red label during the clubs FA Cup exit at the hands of Stoke City.

Adebayor was sent off for aroused control after conflict Ryan Shawcross, the Stoke defender, usually next the chin with a flailing arm in the fifth-round replay better at the Britannia Stadium on Wednesday.

Although technically vocalization it was the Togo strikers initial red label this season, he was since an one more one-game anathema on tip of the imperative three-match cessation since this was the second arise in that he has been found guilty of aroused conduct.

Adebayor was criminialized for 3 matches after a plea on Robin outpost Persie that left his former Arsenal team-mate with facial wounds during Citys 4-2 Barclays Premier League win at the City of Manchester Stadium last September.

Related LinksAdebayor sees red as Man City crumbleAdebayor sets up feat on City lapse Adebayor strike by stand in FA assign

The situation was longed for by Mark Clattenburg, the referee, but the ruling physique took retrospective movement after reviewing video footage.

Adebayor will miss the joining diversion opposite Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tomorrow lunchtime, as well as the matches afar to Sunderland and Fulham and at home to Wigan Athletic.

Having returned to movement usually not long ago after being postulated a duration of merciful leave in the arise of the militant conflict on the Togo group train en track to the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola last month, the timing of the cessation is of good regard to City, generally with such an critical run of games to come.

With Patrick Vieira, the midfield player, completing his own cessation for aroused control opposite Chelsea, Adebayors deficiency will leave Roberto Mancini short of options opposite the joining leaders, nonetheless the physical education instructor will be buoyed by the lapse of Carlos Tvez, his heading goalscorer.

The Argentina striker has longed for Citys past 4 matches, nothing of that they have won, after returning home in the arise of the beforehand bieing born of his second daughter, but he was due to land in England at 7.30 this sunrise and is approaching to lead the conflict opposite Chelsea.

Toyota forced to palm over stop predicament documents

Robert Lea and Leo Lewis & , : {}

Toyota is underneath rapist review in the United States after a sovereign grand jury released a summons to force the car organisation to give up papers relating to the stop crisis.

Last night the House Energy and Commerce Committee wrote to Jim Lentz, Toyotas head of US sales, accusing the association of creation dubious open statements about the new recalls and observant that it had resisted the probability that defects could means remarkable increase in speed in the vehicles.

The developments came usually a day prior to Akio Toyoda, the groups president, is due to crop up prior to a Congressional committee, his initial coming in the US given the stop charge blew up.

The direct for the Japanese association to palm over papers relating to poor accelerator pedals on multiform models and inadequate braking in the Prius hybrid, came among apart revelations that Toyota had attempted formerly to understanding with issues of accelerators and vulnerable motorist building mats, on the cheap.

Related LinksToyota "struck understanding to hindrance US investigations"Toyota arch to face US Congress over stop

Toyota, that has slumped in to predicament after the stop of 8.5 million vehicles worldwide, reliable it has perceived a summons from a New York grand jury and a ask for one more support connected with avowal policies from the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

The summons follows an review by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in to either car reserve law has been disregarded or either Toyota has done fake statements. The SEC has been questioning either Toyotas problems have been dealt with sufficient in batch sell filings.

A serve row is brewing as it emerged Toyota management team claimed to have saved $100 million in an progressing try to transparent up accelerator complaints over really bad propitious motorist building mats a complaint that might have led to deadly accidents involving Toyota drivers.

It has emerged that in an inner presentation, Toyotas reserve multiplication boasted that it had struck a winning understanding with American highway reserve regulators that saved the association $100 million and avoided a dear and annoying car recall. Toyota was authorised to lift out a most cheaper apparatus stop to reinstate building mats on usually 55,000 cars.