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
Mar. 18, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4326
This DOS cable is to provide guidance in addressing questions concerning the treatment of detainees under U.S. control. The cable states that the U.S. Anticipates Receiving Questions About Torture During the Current Session of the Commission on ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
Nov. 12, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4323
State Department cable providing an update on world events. The main point covered concerns an arms smuggling investigation in Bulgaria concerning prohibited weapons being shipped to Iraq and how this might impact Bulgaria's application to NATO. ...
Dec. 20, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4324
State Department cable for reporters questions on mtters such as: i) Israel/Palestinians: Upcoming Quartet Meeting; ii) Violence in the Mid-East Region; iii) Algeria; and iv) Access to Guantanamo Detainees. On the Guantanamo detainee issue the ...
Mar. 21, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4322
State Department cable concerning the procedures for U.S. Military commissions that may be established to try suspected Taliban and Al-Qaeda terrrorists. This State Department cable provides talking points for US mission & Embassy officials to ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, George W. Bush
Feb. 08, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4320
State Department cable discussing a European Parliament Plenary Session of Feb. 4-7, 2002. "Reaffirming the European Parliament's solidarity with the U.S. in the fight against terrorism and recognizing that the detainees do not fall within the ...
Feb. 08, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4321
State Department cable stating that the Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters are enemy combatants and will not be afforded the Geneva Conventions, but will be treated humanely and in accordance with the principles of the Geneva Convention. "The U.S. is ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
George W. Bush, Colin L. Powell
Jan. 22, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4319
State Department cable from the U.S. Mission in Strasburg. Details meeting between U.S. Congressman James F. Sensenbrenner, Jr., with officials of the Council of Europe regarding law enforcement issues related to the war on terrorism, notably ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Pierre-Richard Prosper
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, Pierre-Richard Prosper, Frank James Sensenbrenner, Jr.
May 07, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4317
Email from Katherine MGorove to Vernell Staten and Mark P. Lagon re: Time Sensitive Request: PA Tasking. Partially redacted; involves setting up a meeting to discuss the OHCHR to release a report on human rights in Iraq.
Dec. 17, 2004
Email
Katherine M. Gorove
Mark P. Lagon | Vernell Staten
Katherine M. Gorove, Mark P. Lagon, Robert K. Harris, Steven A. Solomon, Edward R. Cummings, Michael T. Peay, Michael G. Kozak
Jan. 16, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4318
State Department cable updating diplomatic posts and providing talking points on a variety of subjects that may be inquired about, such as: i) Fugitive Christian Longo being captured in Mexico; ii) U.S. Venezuela relations; iii) War on Terror; ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Richard A. Boucher
Aug. 05, 2004 | Non-US | ACLU-RDI 4315
Email from David P. Stewart to James Hergan, Ronald J. Bettauer, Gilda M. Brancato and Others re: Lawyers Against Torture. Email states that some of the recipients' good friends are signatories of a Lawyers Against Torture statement.
Dec. 17, 2004
Email
David P. Stewart
Christopher N. Camponovo | Ronald J. Bettauer | Katherine M. Gorove | Gilda M. Brancado | Samuel M. Witten | Jonathan B. Schwartz | James Hergen
Christopher N. Camponovo, James G. Hergen , Ronald J. Bettauer, Robert K. Harris, Gilda M. Brancato, Katherine M. Gorove, Samuel M. Witten, Jonathan B. Schwartz, Wynne M. Teel , Richard G. Olson, Michael G. Kozak, Michael J. Dennis