After September 11, 2001, U.S. officials authorized the cruel treatment and torture of prisoners held in Afghanistan, Iraq, Guantanamo, and the CIA's secret prisons overseas.

This database documents the U.S. government's official experiment with torture. At present, the database contains well over 100,000 pages of government documents obtained primarily through Freedom of Information Act litigation and requests filed by the ACLU, and through litigation of Salim v. Mitchell, a lawsuit brought by the ACLU on behalf of the survivors and the family of a dead victim of the CIA torture program. To learn more about the database, please read the About and Search Help pages. If you're a developer, you can also access this data through our API.

Search Result (6709)

RelevanceDateRelease Date
May 06, 2004 | ACLU-RDI 3598
This email is from Amy E. McKee and is a request to the recipients Joel Danies, Jeffrey DeLaurentis and others, to provide Felice Gaer with the attached document (not provided herein) entitled "final detainees points for Felice Gaer".
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Amy E. McKee
Joel Danies | Jeffrey DeLaurentis
June 21, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3599
DOS Cable from the Kuwait Embassy to Secretary of State, Colin L. Powell, regarding a Kuwaiti citizen(s) being held by the Coalition in Iraq.
Nov. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, Frank C. Urbancic, Jr., Natalie E. Brown
July 15, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3600
DOS Cable discusses the transfer for release of detainees at Guantanamo Bay (GTMO). It states that the detainee's host governments are willing to accept the nationals. The names and countries of the detainees are listed, but redacted.
Nov. 23, 2004
Cable
Stephanie T. Williams, James A. McAtamney, Elizabeth H. Richard, Ronald W. Miller, Frank E. Schmelzer , Karen L. Hecker, Carol T. Santos, JoAnn J. Dolan
May 10, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3601
DOS Letter to U.S. Representative, Ike Skelton, regarding the International Committee of the Red Cross' (ICRC) report, which contains allegations of detainee mistreatment in Iraq.
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Donald H. Rumsfeld, Condoleeza Rice, Isaac Newton Skelton IV, Colin L. Powell, George W. Bush, P. Michael McKinley, William E. Landfair, Paul V. Kelly, Elizabeth H. Richard
Jan. 07, 2002 | ACLU-RDI 3602
Letter and fax cover sheet from Amnesty International's Program Director, Susan Lee, to Colin L. Powell. The letter refers to another letter that discusses the treatment of Al-Qaeda and Taliban suspects in U.S. custody in Afghanistan [that letter ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, Frank E. Schmelzer
Dec. 03, 2001 | ACLU-RDI 3603
Letter from John Walker Lindh's attorney, James J. Brosnahan, requesting information on the location of his client, detained enemy combatant, John Walker Lindh. Mr. Brosnahan states in his letter that he needs the appropriate government official ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Colin L. Powell, John D. Ashcroft, Donald H. Rumsfeld, George J. Tenet, Robert M. McNamara, Jr.
John Walker Lindh
Mar. 13, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3604
In response to allegations made by non-governmental agencies, the IACHR issued to the DOS a Request for Precautionary Measures, asking that U.S. to have the legal status of Guantanamo detainees determined by a competent tribunal, and also ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Notes
Mary P. Stickles, Francis M. Gaffney, Frank E. Schmelzer
DOS | ACLU-RDI 3605
Memo states that a number of non-governmental agencies filed a petition before the IACHR, in which they alleged that the U.S. violated international law by mistreating Guantanamo detainees. In response to the allegations, the IACHR issued to the ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Non-legal Memo
William Howard Taft, IV | Otto J. Reich | Roger F. Noriega
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, William Howard Taft, IV, Otto J. Reich, Roger F. Noriega, Frank E. Schmelzer , Mary P. Stickles
May 14, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3606
DOS Action Slip has a post it message that reads: “S/WCI is the appropriate office for Guantanamo letters, Jeff Kern 78089”
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Jeffrey Kern
DOS | ACLU-RDI 3607
No relevant text.
June 18, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3608
No relevant text.
Jan. 30, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3609
No relevant text
Feb. 15, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3610
No relevant text.
Jan. 14, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3611
No relevant text.
June 24, 2005 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3612
No relevant text.
DOS | ACLU-RDI 3613
No relevant text.
July 22, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3614
No relevant text.
Nov. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell, Frank E. Schmelzer
DOS | ACLU-RDI 3615
No relevant text.
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Other
July 30, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3616
No relevant text.
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Frank E. Schmelzer
Dec. 11, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3617
No relevant text.
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Frank E. Schmelzer
DOS | ACLU-RDI 3618
Photographs are indiscernible.
Nov. 23, 2004
Photograph
Frank E. Schmelzer
May 10, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3619
This DOS Cable appears to be a cover sheet for an attached document. [Attached document is not included].
Nov. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Apr. 01, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3620
This DOS Cable discusses a visit to a detention facility in Afghanistan. It explains that there was a previous issue at the facility of overcrowding and lack of resources, but that the current climate is better. Also, the cable notes that the ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Cable
Robert P. Finn, Colin L. Powell, Laura E. Kennedy , Franklin Pierce Huddle, Jr., Ryan C. Crocker, John Edward Herbst, Donald H. Rumsfeld, Zalmay Mamozy Khalilzad
Isolation
Feb. 25, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3621
State Department memo discussing a recent petition filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) against the U.S.. The CCR's petition alleges that the U.S. government's treatment ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Otto J. Reich | Roger F. Noriega
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, Otto J. Reich, Roger F. Noriega, Frank E. Schmelzer
May 11, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3622
DOS Note cover sheet with handwritten notation sent from Jack Straw to Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, Condoleeza Rice and George Tenet are CC'd. No other relevant text.
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Donald H. Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, Jack Straw, Condoleeza Rice, George J. Tenet, Frank E. Schmelzer
June 25, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3623
Note states that UK Parliament will issue a report on detainees in Afghanistan, Guantanamo and Iraq, discussing the participation of British intelligence and military officers in interrogations. The report will note that interviews with UK ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Notes
Pierre-Richard Prosper
Pierre-Richard Prosper, William Howard Taft, IV, Joseph A. Ereli, Beth Jones, Frank E. Schmelzer , Tony Blair
Environmental manipulation, Hooding/Goggling
June 07, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3624
Translation of a news article, discussing the death of a detainee, Egyptian national, Mohamed Abdel Moneim Al-Azmeerly.
Nov. 23, 2004
Other
Mohamed Abdel Moneim Al-Azmeerly
Jan. 22, 2002 | ACLU-RDI 3625
DOS cover sheet, states that a letter to Donald Rumsfeld requesting permission for an Amnesty delegation to visit the Guantanamo base in Cuba is attached.
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Donald H. Rumsfeld
Javier Zuniga, Donald H. Rumsfeld, Frank E. Schmelzer
Feb. 08, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3626
This document appears to be a cover sheet to a document entitled the Harty-Biegun Memo. [Memo/document is not included].
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Frank E. Schmelzer , Saadia Sarkis, Maura A. Harty, Stephen E. Biegun
Feb. 08, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3627
This appears to be a cover sheet from the Office of the Secretary of State, a cover sheet for an attached Action Memo. [Action Memo is not included].
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Rena Bitter, Lori McLean, Tom Kelsey, Frank E. Schmelzer , Saadia Sarkis, Colin L. Powell
DOS | ACLU-RDI 3628
Note cover sheet with handwritten notation. No relevant text.
Nov. 23, 2004
Notes
Colin L. Powell
William Howard Taft, IV
William Howard Taft, IV, Frank E. Schmelzer , Colin L. Powell
Oct. 03, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3629
DOS cover sheet from Amnesty International, Irene Khan, requesting to have the document passed along to Colin Powell.
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Colin L. Powell
Jan. 18, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3630
Memo from the Executive Secretariat summarizing different news and events taking place throughout the Middle East, January 17, 2002.
Nov. 23, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Frank E. Schmelzer
May 14, 2003 | ACLU-RDI 3631
Letter from Amnesty International's Noa Kleinman, expressing concern over the non-disclosure of names/country of origin of thirteen Guantanamo detainees who were transferred for release. The letter urges the disclosure of the information. The ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Colin L. Powell, Frank E. Schmelzer
Omar Ahmed Khadr
Isolation
May 14, 2003 | ACLU-RDI 3632
Letter from Amnesty International's Noa Kleinman, expressing concern over the non-disclosure of names/country of origin of thirteen Guantanamo detainees who were transferred for release. The letter urges the disclosure of the information. The ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
George W. Bush, Frank E. Schmelzer
Omar Ahmed Khadr
Isolation
Jan. 18, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3633
DOS Memo summarizes various events that have occurred around the world, including news that the International Committee of the Red Cross' has commenced to meet with detainees at Guantanamo. [Contents redacted].
Nov. 23, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Frank E. Schmelzer
June 17, 2002 | ACLU-RDI 3634
Letters sent from various individuals at Amnesty International to George W. Bush and Colin L. Powell requesting proper treatment of detainees at Guantanamo and in Afghanistan. The main theme of the letters is the US' violation of international ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Colin L. Powell, George W. Bush, Frank E. Schmelzer , Donald H. Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, Jack Straw, John Winston Howard
Bisher Amin Khalil al Rawi, Jamil El Banna, Moazzam Begg, David Hicks, Feroz Ali Abassi
July 20, 2003 | ACLU-RDI 3635
Letter from a British Citizen denouncing the President's November 13, 2001 Military Order: Detention, Treatment, and Trial of Certain Non-Citizens in the War on Terrorism. The letter also expresses the author's regret that six detainees, ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Colin L. Powell | George W. Bush
Colin L. Powell, George W. Bush, Frank E. Schmelzer
David Hicks, Moazzam Begg, Feroz Ali Abassi
July 30, 2003 | ACLU-RDI 3636
Letter from a non-government official denouncing the President's November 13, 2001 Military Order: Detention, Treatment, and Trial of Certain Non-Citizens in the War on Terrorism. The letter also expresses the author's concern that six detainees, ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
George W. Bush | Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, George W. Bush, Frank E. Schmelzer
Feroz Ali Abassi, Moazzam Begg, David Hicks
July 25, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3637
Letter from an activist denouncing the President's November 13, 2001 Military Order: Detention, Treatment, and Trial of Certain Non-Citizens in the War on Terrorism. The letter also expresses the author's regret that six detainees, including, ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Colin L. Powell, Frank E. Schmelzer
Feroz Ali Abassi, Moazzam Begg, David Hicks
Dec. 12, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3638
Letter from DOS in response to the recipient's previous letter expressing concern over the US' treatment of juvenile detainees. The letter from Pierre-Richard Prosper states that the "the United States . . . is treating young enemy combatants in ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Pierre-Richard Prosper
Pierre-Richard Prosper
Dec. 10, 2003 | ACLU-RDI 3639
Letter to Colin Powell expressing concern over the detention of children, including Omar Khadr, at Guantanamo Bay.
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, Frank E. Schmelzer
Omar Ahmed Khadr
Feb. 23, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3640
This is a letter from Pierre-Richard Prosper, Ambassador-At-Large for War Crimes Issues, to Tausif Paracha regarding the Treatment of detainees in Afghanistan. In the letter Amb. Prosper states: Let me assure you... President Bush has affirmed on ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Pierre-Richard Prosper
Tausif Paracha
George W. Bush, Pierre-Richard Prosper, Colin L. Powell
May 18, 2004 | ACLU-RDI 3641
Fax from International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) discussing a recent case of abuse at Abu Ghraib. The letter discusses a recent visit by, (ICRC) Preseident Kellenberger, and an upcoming ICRC report on U.S. detention in Guantanamo and Iraq.
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
John A. Buche
Colin L. Powell, Paul Wolfowitz, John Allen Buche
May 06, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3642
DOS Press Release asking if the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) has access to detainees in Iraq, including detainees at Abu Ghraib, the answer is yes. The ICRC has also expressed its concerns with detainee abuse and made ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Richard A. Boucher, Frank E. Schmelzer , P. Michael McKinley, Jonathan S. Carpenter
Apr. 04, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3643
DOS Cable, the subject reads: Ambassador Prosper discusses detainee issues with ICRC president Kellenberger. [There is no other discernible information].
Nov. 23, 2004
Cable
Pierre-Richard Prosper, Richard A. Boucher, Mitchell B. Reiss, Frank E. Schmelzer
May 26, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3644
DOS Cable/letter from Colin L. Powell to ICRC President requesting access to the ICRC's confidential reports on visits to detention facilities in Iraq, Guantanamo and Afghanistan. The letter states that the reports will be disseminated, in strict ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, Simone Whittemore, William Howard Taft, IV, Ronald W. Miller, JoAnn J. Dolan, Frank E. Schmelzer
June 04, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3645
No relevant text.
Nov. 23, 2004
Cable
Richard A. Boucher, Frank E. Schmelzer , Mitchell B. Reiss, Jonathan S. Carpenter, Zalmay Mamozy Khalilzad, William B. Taylor
May 11, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3646
DOS Memo from Arthur E. Dewey to Sec. Powell requesting an meeting with ICRC President, Jakob Kellenberger on either May 27 or 28. The purpose of the meeting is to exchange views on key humanitarian issues relating to detainees in Iraq.
Nov. 23, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Richard L. Greene
Colin L. Powell
Daniel B. Smith, Richard L. Greene, Arthur E. Dewey , Frank E. Schmelzer , Condoleeza Rice, Paula J. Dobriansky, William Howard Taft, IV, Donald H. Rumsfeld, P. Michael McKinley, Jonathan S. Carpenter, JoAnn J. Dolan, Ronald W. Miller, Colin L. Powell
Dec. 11, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3647
DOS Memo from Arthur E. Dewey to Sec. Powell requesting an meeting with ICRC President, Jakob Kellenberger on either January 12-16. The purpose of the meeting is to exchange views on key humanitarian issues relating to detainees in Iraq.
Nov. 23, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Arthur E. Dewey
Colin L. Powell
Daniel B. Smith, Arthur E. Dewey , Condoleeza Rice, Paula J. Dobriansky, William Howard Taft, IV, Paul Wolfowitz, P. Michael McKinley, Carol T. Santos, John Allen Buche, Colin L. Powell