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
Feb. 04, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4204
State department cable stating that the Speaker of the House of Commons found that Defense Minister Art Eggleton misled Parliament about when he learned that Canadian Special Forces captured Al-Qaida terrorists and turned them over to the U.S.. ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Peter W. Mason, Colin L. Powell, Sharon E. Ahmad, Condoleeza Rice
Feb. 07, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4205
State Department cable focusing on Comments by Mary Robinson, UN high commisoner for Human Rights, about the nexis of poverty and human rights in Brazil.
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
Sharon E. Ahmad
Jan. 24, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4201
Cable is a forwarding of a request from the Chairman-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to visit and examine the detainees in the custody of the U.S.
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
Mirta Alvarez, Kevin Edward Moley, Colin L. Powell
Jan. 24, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4202
This State Department cable provides Washington with a round-up of a press briefing held in China where Chinese government officials were questioned about world affairs. Al-Qaeda's role with Chinese separatists; Pakistan; and the Middle East ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, George W. Bush
Feb. 01, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4203
State Department cable discusses a request made by members of the Italian Senate Foreign Affairs Committee have asked for a general debate on the status of the Al-Qaida and Taliban detainees at Guantanamo.
Jan. 22, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4199
Cable discusses the U.S. government's support of peace efforts in Colombia, a helicopter accident in Colombia and the treatment of detainees in Guantanamo.
Jan. 23, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4200
Cable discusses the U.S. government's knowledge of Vladimiros Montesinos' actions/dealings in Peru and a notice to U.S. citizens in Venezuela. Also, there is a brief discussion on the treatment of detainees in Guantanamo.
Dec. 19, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4197
Emails discuss the death of two detainees at the Bagram Detention Facility in Iraq. The first detainee died of a pulmonary embolism on December 3, 2002, the second died on December 10, 2002 of a heart attack.
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
Steven A. Solomon
Kevin Edward Moley | James B. Foley | Michael T. Peay | Jeffrey DeLaurentis | Piper A. Campbell | Joel Danies | Richard Aker
Dan Hetlage, Steven A. Solomon, Kevin Edward Moley, James B. Foley, Michael T. Peay, Jeffrey DeLaurentis, Piper Anne Wind Campbell, Joel D. Danies, Richard Aker, William Howard Taft, IV, Joshua L. Dorosin, Todd F. Buchwald, Andre M. Surena, Gilda M. Brancato, Edward R. Cummings, Steven Boltz, Henry A. Waxman, Ronald W. Miller, Eliana Davidson, Ted Wadsworth, Mustafa Popal, Stephanie A. Barna, Jeffrey Casler, Barbara Burfeind, Charles A. Allen, Charles L. Daris
Jan. 17, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4198
Cable is a message from the President expressing the U.S. government's concern about the economic crisis Argentina is currently facing. The President also stated that the U.S. stands ready to assist/support Argentina. Also, a press guidance is ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
George W. Bush, Sharon E. Ahmad
June 24, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4195
Memo is a press guidance that discusses the State Department's release and withholding of documents/memos.
Dec. 30, 2004
Non-legal Memo
George W. Bush, Charles L. Daris
Feb. 08, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4196
DOS Daily Press Briefing Index. Lists topics to be discussed included, Terrorism- Detainees at Guantanamo/Geneva Convention/International International Committee for the Red Cross/Australia situation.
Dec. 30, 2004
Chart/List
Richard Boucher
Richard A. Boucher, Beth Jones, Charles L. Daris
Apr. 11, 2003 | Non-US | ACLU-RDI 4193
Press release from the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding the "chaos" in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq. The ICRC urgently appeals to the Coalition forces and all other persons in authority to do everything possible to protect ...
May 13, 2004 | ACLU-RDI 4194
Memo includes excerpts from an ICRC press statement on the U.S. government's detention policies. The ICRC's President asked the U.S. to institute due legal process and to make significant changes for the more than 600 detainees being held in ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Charles L. Daris, Margaret J. Pollack, Carol T. Santos
Mar. 24, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4190
This press guidance sets forth the rights of POWs under the Geneva convention.
Dec. 30, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Charles L. Daris
Mar. 27, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4191
Memo, among other things, describes the U.S. government's application of the Geneva Convention with respect to the War on Terrorism and differentiates the U.S. government's treatment of detainees from the Iraq's treatment of American detainees.
Dec. 30, 2004
Non-legal Memo
JoAnn J. Dolan | Ronald W. Miller
JoAnn J. Dolan, Ronald W. Miller, William Howard Taft, IV, James H. Thessin, Edward R. Cummings, Gregory W. Sullivan, Rhonda H. Shore, Charles L. Daris
Apr. 11, 2003 | Non-US | ACLU-RDI 4192
ICRC press release announcing its renewed assurance of its highest consideration for the Permanent Mission of the U.S.
Dec. 30, 2004
Other
Charles L. Daris
July 12, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4188
Fax cover letter. [Text is illegible].
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Steven A. Solomon, Charles L. Daris
Mar. 20, 2003 | Non-US | ACLU-RDI 4189
Press release/declaration by International Committee of the Red Cross' President, Jakob Kellenberger regarding the ICRC's position on the Iraq crisis. Mr. Kellenberger reminds the U.S., Iraq and the U.K. of their obligations under the Geneva ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Other
Charles L. Daris
Feb. 08, 2002 | ACLU-RDI 4186
Includes ICRC position on POW status of detainees in Guantanamo
Feb. 11, 2002 | ACLU-RDI 4187
State Department memo is a press guidance/talking points from the DOS discussing the reasons why the U.S. will not release the ICRC's report on the treatment of Guantanamo detainees.
Dec. 30, 2004
Non-legal Memo
David W. Bowker | Edward R. Cummings
Charles L. Daris, David W. Bowker, Edward R. Cummings
Feb. 07, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4184
The memo appears to be the Press Secretary's talking points for a press statement. The statement appears to address the President's stance on treating detainees according to the principles of the Geneva Convention.
Dec. 30, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Ari Fleischer
George W. Bush, Ari Fleischer, Charles L. Daris
Aug. 02, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4185
State Department cover sheet for routing and transmittal from the U.S. Mission Geneva
Oct. 11, 2001 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4181
Letter from the Committee against Torture discussing a request from the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The High Commissioner asked the Committee to ensure that the human rights mandate is maintained with high visibility in light of various ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Charles L. Daris
Feb. 06, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4182
No relevant text.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Steven A. Solomon
Marianne J. Hata | Edward R. Cummings
Charles L. Daris, Steven A. Solomon, Marianne J. Hata , Edward R. Cummings
DOS | ACLU-RDI 4183
Fax Cover Sheet from Steven A. Solomon regarding the Geneva Conventions.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Steven A. Solomon
Steven A. Solomon, Charles L. Daris
Oct. 21, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4179
Email provides a brief report of the October 20, 2003 Inter-American Commission on Human Rights hearing on detainees at Guantanamo.
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
Robert K. Harris
William Howard Taft, IV | Samuel M. Witten | James H. Thessin | Edward R. Cummings | JoAnn J. Dolan | Joshua L. Dorosin | Thomas A. Johnson | Peter M. McKiinley | Elizabeth H. Richard | Margaret J. Pollack | Carrie Santos | Lorne W. Craner
Harry R. Melone, Robert K. Harris, William Howard Taft, IV, Samuel M. Witten, James H. Thessin, Edward R. Cummings, JoAnn J. Dolan, Joshua L. Dorosin, Thomas A. Johnson, Lorne Craner, Michael G. Kozak, Carol T. Santos, Margaret J. Pollack, Lynn M. Sicade, Christopher N. Camponovo, Harry R. Melone
Dec. 29, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4180
Letter from Margaret P. Grafeld, DOS to Amrit Singh, ACLU re: the ACLU's FOIA Request. The letter states that the document production requested is being complied with in some parts and denied or withheld in part.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter, Judicial
Margaret P. Grafeld
Margaret P. Grafeld
Mar. 10, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4177
Emails discuss correspondence on a Guantanamo matter.
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
Katherine M. Gorove
James H. Thessin | David A. Kaye | Joshua L. Dorosin | JoAnn J. Dolan | Samuel M. Witten
Katherine M. Gorove, James H. Thessin, David A. Kaye, Joshua L. Dorosin, JoAnn J. Dolan, Samuel M. Witten, Roger F. Noriega, Harry R. Melone, Mary P. Stickles, Andre M. Surena, Catherine Mary Malin
July 28, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4178
Most of the emails are completely redacted. The emails that are not redacted, discuss the U.S. government's grant of protection to anti-Tehran groups in Iraq.
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
Ted A. Borek
Joshua L. Dorosin | Eric J. Pelofsky | James H. Thessin | David S. Newman | Michael J. Dennis | Corin R. Stone | Charles E. Tucker
Aaron W. Jost, Amanda C. Pilz, Rhonda H. Shore, Gregory W. Sullivan, Hillary Mann, Brian T. Neubert, Scott W. Busby, Geoffrey D. Miller
May 06, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4174
Emails refer to a document that apparently discusses Iraq prison sovereignty.
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
Jonathan B. Schwartz
James H. Thessin
Jonathan B. Schwartz, James H. Thessin, Ted A. Borek, Edward R. Cummings, Todd F. Buchwald, Michael J. Dennis, Rhonda H. Shore, Brook E. Milton, Katherine L. Starr, Jonathan S. Carpenter, Charles W. Dunne, Hillary Mann, Jarrett Basedow, Newell Highsmith, Peter F. Mulrean , Peggy Hoyle, Damon A. Terrill, Christina A. Sanford , Harry R. Melone
May 07, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4176
Emails discuss talking points for use by the U.S. expert on the Committee Against Torture, discussing what the U.S. will say in response to prisoner abuses in Iraq. Talking points included.
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
Robert K. Harris
William Howard Taft, IV | James H. Thessin | Samuel M. Witten
Robert K. Harris, William Howard Taft, IV, James H. Thessin, Samuel M. Witten, Katherine M. Gorove, Jeffrey DeLaurentis, Elizabeth H. Richard, JoAnn J. Dolan, Edward R. Cummings, Aaron W. Jost, Mark P. Lagon, Elizabeth L. Riley, Anne R. Sorensen, Donald H. Rumsfeld, George W. Bush, Charles A. Allen, Patrick Rowan
Mar. 05, 2002 | ACLU-RDI 4172
Letter from The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to an unnamed "Commission". The letter states "Enclosed please find Observations to Precautionary Measures. In addition, the following individuals and institutions would like to join as ...
Feb. 27, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4173
Emails refer to a document apparently described as or entitled Jul 1 info paper. [Document is not included].
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
Todd F. Buchwald
Joshua L. Dorosin | James H. Thessin | William R. Gade | Hal H. Dronberger
William R. Gade, Joshua L. Dorosin, Todd F. Buchwald, James H. Thessin, Harry R. Melone, Hal H. Dronberger
Feb. 25, 2002 | ACLU-RDI 4171
Letter from The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights re: Observations to Precautionary Measures filed on Behalf of Guantanamo Detainees
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
George W. Bush, Donald H. Rumsfeld
Dec. 28, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4169
Letter from Margaret P. Grafeld, DOS to Amrit Singh, ACLU re: the ACLU's FOIA Request. The letter states that the document production requested is being complied with in some parts and denied or withheld in part.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter, Judicial
Margaret P. Grafeld
Margaret P. Grafeld
Mar. 12, 2002 | Non-US | ACLU-RDI 4170
Letter from OAS/Inter-Commission on Human Rights to Colin L. Powell requesting precautionary measures for detainees in Guantanamo. The letter states that 254 detainees were brought to Camp X-ray on or about Jan 11, 2002 from Afghanistan, Mr. ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Juan Mendez
Colin L. Powell | Roger F. Noriega
Colin L. Powell, Roger F. Noriega, Harry R. Melone
July 26, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4167
Emails discuss and include various news articles, one Reuters article is entitled: "US grants protection for anti-Tehran group in Iraq." The articles report that the United States gave 3,800 Iranian rebels at the Ashraf base in Iraq protected ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
Philo L. Dibble
Rhonda Shore | Joshua L. Dorosin | David C. Ng | Aaron W. Jost | Richard G. Olson | Paul R. Sutphin | Richard Schlicher | Jason E. Bruder | Deborah K. Jones
Geoffrey D. Miller, Joseph A. Ereli, George W. Bush, Rhonda H. Shore, Aaron W. Jost, Richard G. Olson, Paul R. Sutphin, David M. Satterfield, Ronald L. Schlicher , Philo L. Dibble, Rhonda H. Shore, Jason E. Bruder , Deborah K. Jones, Harry R. Melone
Sept. 01, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4168
The original email includes a Reuters news article entitled: "Pentagon Opposes Independent Prison Abuse Probe." The article reports that the Pentagon opposed calls from human rights groups for an independent investigation of detainee abuse.
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
Robert K. Harris
JoAnn J. Dolan | Joshua L. Dorosin | Edward R. Cummings | Samuel M. Witten
Robert K. Harris, JoAnn J. Dolan, Edward R. Cummings, Samuel M. Witten, Thomas Malionek, Lois L. Allder, John I. Blanck, Jr., Daphne W. Cook, Robert E. Dalton, Michael J. Dennis, Avril Haines, Rebecca M. Ingber, Michael T. Peay, Monica J. Tillery, Harry R. Melone
July 26, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4165
Every email except for the original email is redacted. The original email appears to be talking points regarding the grant of 'protective person' status to "MEK."
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
Aaron W. Jost
Rhonda Shore | Paul R. Sutphin | Joseph A. Ereli
Rhonda H. Shore, Edgar J. Vasquez, Ted A. Borek, Joshua L. Dorosin, Edward R. Cummings, David S. Newman , Richard G. Olson, Aaron W. Jost, Joseph A. Ereli, Paul R. Sutphin, Julie M. Reside, Ronald L. Schlicher , Elizabeth L. Dibble, David M. Satterfield, David J. Greene , Harry R. Melone
July 26, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4166
Emails between Joseph Ereli and Rhonda Shore re: 07-26-04 Taken Questions from Daily Press Briefing. The initial email from Edgar Vasques has the list of Q's asked at the daily press briefing. Mr. Ereli's email has the comment "ok, but today's ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
Joseph A. Ereli
Rhonda H. Shore
Joseph A. Ereli, Rhonda H. Shore, Joshua L. Dorosin, Edgar J. Vasquez, Julie M. Reside
Aug. 18, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4162
Cover sheet for memo to Condoleeza Rice and Richard L. Armitage, the cover sheet asks Armitage-Rice to coordinate the state's response to the attached/enclosed memo. [Memo is not included].
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Saadia Sarkis
Condoleeza Rice | Richard L. Armitage
Daniel B. Smith, Saadia Sarkis, Condoleeza Rice, Harry R. Melone, Richard Lee Armitage
Sept. 13, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4163
Email discusses using an informal approach with Matt Waxman in order to have him provide a briefing on U.S. detainee policy in Afghanistan to Mahmoud Cherif Bassiouni.
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
Molly C. Phee
Yvette M. Wong | Mark P. Lagon | Brigid R. Weiller
Matthew C. Waxman, Molly C. Phee, Joshua L. Dorosin, Monica J. Tillery, Yvette M. Wong, Mark P. Lagon, Brigid R. Weiller, Harry R. Melone, Lynn M. Sicade
Sept. 01, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4164
No relevant text.
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
Edward R. Cummings
Steven A. Solomon | JoAnn J. Dolan | Joshua L. Dorosin
Monica J. Tillery, Edward R. Cummings, Steven A. Solomon, Joshua L. Dorosin, Harry R. Melone
Oct. 23, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4159
Emails refer to a draft cable. [The more recent email is redacted; document is not included].
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
JoAnn J. Dolan
Joshua L. Dorosin | Edward R. Cummings
JoAnn J. Dolan, Joshua L. Dorosin, Edward R. Cummings, Ronald W. Miller, Eliana Davidson, Ross Hyams, David L. Scott, Geeta Pasi, Bridget A. Brink, Sharon E. Ahmad, Monica J. Tillery
Sept. 13, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4160
Emails mention a discussion that took place in New York concerning the status of a detainee. [Redactions in document make it difficult to read].
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
JoAnn J. Dolan
Pierre-Richard Prosper | Ronald W. Miller | William Howard Taft, IV | Brian H. Leventhal | Edward R. Cummings | Joshua L. Dorosin | Andre M. Surena | Katherine M. Gorove | Todd F. Buchwald
Monica J. Tillery, JoAnn J. Dolan, Sharon E. Ahmad, Pierre-Richard Prosper, Ronald W. Miller, William Howard Taft, IV, Brian H. Leventhal, Edward R. Cummings, Joshua L. Dorosin, Andre M. Surena, Katherine M. Gorove, Todd F. Buchwald, Henry Bisharat
DOS | ACLU-RDI 4161
Letter from Margaret P. Grafeld, DOS to Amrit Singh, ACLU re: the ACLU's FOIA Request. The letter states that the document production requested is being complied with in some parts and denied or withheld in part.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter, Judicial
Margaret P. Grafeld
Margaret P. Grafeld
July 16, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4158
Emails discuss a visit by an unknown individual and a Baltimore Sun article entitled "Pentagon Says It's Hiding No One From Red Cross." The more recent email is redacted. The news article reports that the Pentagon denies hiding imprisoned ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
JoAnn J. Dolan
William Howard Taft, IV | James H. Thessin | Edward R. Cummings | Steven A. Solomon | Joshua L. Dorosin | Robert E. Dalton | Lois Allder | Michael T. Peay | Daphne Cook | Rebecca M. Ingber | Avril D. Haines
JoAnn J. Dolan, William Howard Taft, IV, James H. Thessin, Steven A. Solomon, Edward R. Cummings, Joshua L. Dorosin, L.R. Lohman, Thomas Malionek, Daphne W. Cook, Lois L. Allder, John I. Blanck, Jr., Sharon E. Ahmad, Michael J. Dennis, Robert E. Dalton, Michael T. Peay, Avril Haines, Rebecca M. Ingber, Donald H. Rumsfeld, Lawrence Di Rita
May 11, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4155
Emails appear to discuss revisions to a document, the document may discuss the Geneva Conventions in Iraq. [Document is not included].
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
JoAnn J. Dolan
Edward R. Cummings | Joshua L. Dorosin
Sharon E. Ahmad, Monica J. Tillery, JoAnn J. Dolan, Edward R. Cummings, Joshua L. Dorosin
June 03, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4156
Emails discuss and refer to Questions and Answers: Armitage hearings.
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
JoAnn J. Dolan
Edward R. Cummings | Joshua L. Dorosin
JoAnn J. Dolan, Edward R. Cummings, Joshua L. Dorosin, Steven A. Solomon, Sharon E. Ahmad
Aug. 27, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4157
Email mentions an International Committee of the Red Cross package.
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
JoAnn J. Dolan
Joshua L. Dorosin
Monica J. Tillery, Sharon E. Ahmad, Joshua L. Dorosin, JoAnn J. Dolan