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)

State Department cable concerning a meeting with Saudi officials where they discussed Iraq; the Guantanamo detainees; and Kuwaitis streaming in to Saudi Arabia. The Saudis expressed concern over the occupation of Iraq because Iraqi sovereignty is ...
State department cable concerning a visit to Stockholm by Amb. Pierre-Richard Prosper. Amb. Prosper met with senior Swedish officials and refuted arguments that U.S. acting outside international law because the detainees are unlawful or illegal ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Pierre-Richard Prosper
State department cable with a response to the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights issuing of a report critical of the U.S. in its handling of terror suspects, specifically keeping detainees at Guantanamo. The response is in the name ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
State Department cable to U.S. Missions and Embassies with talking points on the humanitarian situation in Iraq. The cable details the efforts the U.S. has made to ensure that civilians are not adversely impacted and that all persons are treated ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
All REDACTED
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Kevin Edward Moley
State Department cable with talking points for Sec. of State Powell's presentation remarks to the UN Commissioner for Human Rights and Permanent Council Meeting in response to the comments of the EU Foreign Minister concerning the U.S. dentention ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
DOS Cable re: International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) Delivers a Verbal Request to Visit Guantanamo Detainees. The cable is completly redacted.
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Pierre-Richard Prosper, Steven A. Solomon
DOS Cable re: International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) Delivers a Verbal Note on "Rights and Duties of the U.S. as an Occupying Power. the cable is mostly redacted.
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
State Department cable describing a meeting Ambassador Pierre-Richard Prosper had with an Ambassador of another country on May 7, 2003. The Ambassador for the foreign government requested that his citizens be released from Guantanamo, and Amb. ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, Pierre-Richard Prosper, Ronald W. Miller, JoAnn J. Dolan
State Department Cable Subject: Reaction to U.S. Draft Transfer Agreement on Guantanamo Detainees. The cable is entirely redacted.
State Department cable summarizing a meeting between Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Rich Greene and Principal International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) officials in preparation for June 3-4 ICRC donor support group. Issues discussed ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Richard L. Greene, Kevin Edward Moley
State Department cable with a Letter from the Secretary of State Powell to a UK Member of Parliament concerning the Detention of two (2) UK citizens at Guantanamo. Sec. Powell's response gives assurances that the detainees at Guantanamo are being ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
State Department cable summarizing the deliberations by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) which led to the passing of a resolution calling for improved treatment of prisoners in Afghanistan and Guantanamo. The meeting was ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
State Department cable with talking points in response to statements and/or on the rules relating to military judicial commissions and the rule of law in the U.S. at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. It is pointed out that ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
State Department talking points on 1) Isreal/Palestinians: Roadmap Progress; 2) Iraq: World Bank loans for reconstruction; 3) Iraq: Appointment of governing council President, return of Iraqi refugees, Amnesty International report on internal ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
State Department talking points on 1) Isreal/Palestinians: Roadmap Progress; 2) Iraq: World Bank loans for reconstruction; 3) Iraq: Appointment of governing council President, return of Iraqi refugees, Amnesty International report on internal ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
State Department cable with talking points on responding to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention opinion concerning the detention of four (4) specific persons held at Guantanamo. The U.S. respectfully disagreed with the characterization of ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
Khaled Ben Mustafa, Nizar Sassi, Mourad Benchellali, Ahmad Abd al Rahman Ahmad
State Department cable with a letter from Ambassador Pierre-Richard Prosper on behalf of Sec. Powell. The letter states that the men are being held in accordance with the law of war for illegal enemy combatants, but that they are being treated ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
George W. Bush, Colin L. Powell, Pierre-Richard Prosper
State Department cable providing a letter to be delivered to attorneys representing family members of certain persons being held at Guantanamo as Enemy Combatants. The letter states that the U.S. is not providing specific information on ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
State Department talking points to present at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe meeting in Vienna. The points being made cover many world issues such as human trafficking and combating anti-Semitism and greater cooperation ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
State Department talking points to present to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe concerning human rights and combatting terrorism in The Hague. The presentation focused on military commissions and Taliban and Al-Qaeda ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
State Department cable providing talking points and summarizes discussion from September 18, 2003 Human Rights and Terrorism Meeting at The Hague. The summary includes a "surprising defense of the U.S. policies in the war against terror noting ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
State Department cable summarizes discussion at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe meeting on Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) dedicated to rule-of-law issues. The US took "substantial criticism" for its ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
State Department cable to Washington describing a letter left off at the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey by a human rights group written to President Bush with accusations of human rights violations and actions in contradiction to the Geneva ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
George W. Bush, Colin L. Powell
State Department cable from Washington to a U.S. Embassy acknowledging receipt of a diplomatic note concerning certain Guantanamo Detainees. The cable states "The national[s] at Guantanamo is being held as ' an enemy combatant[s] and are being ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Ronald W. Miller
State Department cable with a letter from Sec. Powell's response to inquiry regarding the welfare of two men detaineed at Guantanamo Bay. The points Sec. Powell makes concerning the proposed trial of any accused held at Guantanamo are: there is a ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
State Department cable to Washington summarizing a November, 2003 meeting between six (6) members of Congress and ten (10) members of the European Parliament. Topics included Iraq, the War on Terror, and Guantanamo.
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
State Department cable from Brussels Mission to Washington summarizing the results of the European Council meeting. The European Parliament adopted non-binding resolution lauding the capture of Saddam Hussein and called for a return of ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
Letter from Margaret P. Grafeld, DOS to Amrit Singh, ACLU re: the ACLU's FOIA Request. Letter states that the document production requested is being complied with in some parts and denied or withheld in part.
Dec. 23, 2004
Letter, Judicial
Margaret P. Grafeld
Margaret P. Grafeld

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. 22, 2004
Letter, Judicial
Margaret P. Grafeld
Margaret P. Grafeld
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. 20, 2004
Letter, Judicial
Margaret P. Grafeld
Margaret P. Grafeld
State Department cable concerning implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1483. The cable contains the speech about the resolution.
Dec. 20, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
State Department cable concerning Israel/Palestinian issues, i.e the Gaza Strip; Allegations of Abuse at Guantanamo; and The way forward for Iraq. The cable also stats that on April, 26, 2004 a government of Bahrain delegation visited Guantanamo ...
Dec. 20, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
State Department cable concerning several press reports focusing on the situation in Iraq and Saudi Araiba. International media attention focused on human rights issues, specifically Abu Graib and the killing of civilians in U.S. air strikes and ...
Dec. 20, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
George W. Bush, Colin L. Powell
State Department cable detailing a Jan. 18 meeting between Amb. Propser and others with coordination Amg. Khaled Maghamis, Deputy Attorney General Sultan Bou Jarwa and Kuwait University Law Professor Dr. Mohammed Buzubar, all three who are ...
Dec. 20, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, Pierre-Richard Prosper
State Department cable concerning the reaction by Turkish officials and the Turkish press and NGOs to the allegations of abuse at Abu Ghraib Prison. The Turkish officials were not publically critical, but the press was running articles and ...
Dec. 20, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
State Department cable concerning Sec. of State Powell's meeting with the Pakistani Foreign Minister Kasuri to discuss India, Afghanistan, Iraq and the United Nations Security Council. The cable is mostly redacted, but includes a discussion on ...
Dec. 20, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
State Department cable concerning the efforts to repatriate Iranian Mujaheddin E-Khalk members back to Iran. The Mujaheddin E-Khalk members infiltrated Iraq and threatened the peace and stability of the country, but approx. 3,800 of Mujaheddin ...
Dec. 20, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell

Letter from Margaret P. Grafeld, DOS to Amrit Singh, ACLU re: the ACLU's FOIA Request. Letter states that the document production requested is being complied with in some parts and denied or withheld in part.

Dec. 18, 2004
Letter, Judicial
Margaret P. Grafeld
Margaret P. Grafeld
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. 17, 2004
Letter, Judicial
Margaret P. Grafeld
Margaret P. Grafeld
State Department email from Diane McBride to Denise Wright concerning an upcomming meeting with International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) President Kellenberger. The email mentions two attachments, not included.
Dec. 17, 2004
Email
Diane McBride
Denise I. Wright
Diane McBride
DOS Cover Sheet re: Routing and Transmittal Slip
Email from Ronald Miller to Jeremy Caddel and ohers re: Revised BM for S - GTMO Detainees." No attachments included.
Email between Ronald Miller and Jeremy Caddel concerning media attention surrounding the transfer of Danish and UK detainees from Guantanamo. Mr. Miller states that "the UK detainees are really in a different category from the Danish detainee and ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Email
Ronald W. Miller
Ronald W. Miller, Henry Bisharat
Email from Ronald Miller to Jeremy Caddel re Afghan detainees. "S siad to make it happen as DoD has planned."
Dec. 17, 2004
Email
Ronald W. Miller
Jeremy D. Caddel
Ronald W. Miller
Email string between Carol Santos, Cheryl Parker, Jeremy Caddel and Others concerning "Memo to S about concerns raised by ICRC on U.S. detention practices" in Afghanistan and elsewhere. The comments from Ms. Parker are "PDAS Michele Sison clears ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Email
Cheryl L. Parker
Carol T. Santos | Jeremy D. Caddel | Patricia M. Haslach | Timothy E. Wilder
Carol T. Santos, Cheryl L. Parker
Email string between Carol Santos, Cheryl Parker, Jeremy Caddel, et al., re memo to S about concerns raised by ICRC on US detention practices in Afghanistan and elsewhere. Ms. Santos commets are "Dear Colleagues: Please clear on the attached memo ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Email
Cheryl L. Parker
Carol T. Santos
Cheryl L. Parker, Carol T. Santos
State Department memo on an upcoming visit by the Swedish Prime Minister. The memo provides background to assist the President in preparing for this meeting.
Dec. 17, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Henry Bisharat
Colin L. Powell
George W. Bush, Colin L. Powell, Henry Bisharat, Bridget A. Brink, Heather A. Conley
DOS interagency delivery checklist for the appropriate handling and delivery of attached documents re: Principals Committee Meeting on Detainees.
Email from Sara Stryker to Jeremy Caddel re: Excerpt from Secretary's Walk-out with Haitian Interim Prime Minister. Sec. Powell received questions on the 60 Minutes segment on the Abu Ghraib prison abuse; Iraqi security; and the return of Iraqi ...