CIA Nominee Vows No 'Extraordinary Rendition'
By VOA News
05 February 2009
President Barack Obama's nominee to run the Central Intelligence Agency says the administration will not conduct "extraordinary rendition," as was allowed under former President George W. Bush.
Leon Panetta testified at his confirmation hearing Thursday before the Senate Intelligence Committee.
The practice of "extraordinary rendition" involves the secret transfer of foreign terrorism suspects to a third country for interrogation.
The Bush administration faced intense criticism from lawmakers, human rights groups and foreign governments over the practice. Critics alleged prisoners were deliberately sent to places where they would be subject to torture, outside of the confines of the U.S. judicial system.
Bush administration officials had said the U.S. does not conduct or condone torture.
Panetta is a former congressman and was White House chief of staff to then-President Bill Clinton. He is highly respected for his executive and organizational skills, but lacks experience in intelligence matters.
Panetta is expected to easily win confirmation from the Democratic-controlled Senate.
In announcing the nomination in January, Mr. Obama noted the importance of all 16 U.S. intelligence agencies working together as the nation faces unconventional security threats, including from terror networks and failed states. He also reiterated that under his administration, the United States will not torture, and that it will abide by the Geneva Conventions.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
