Today, President Barack Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act, which, despite including some important changes to the military commissions at Guantánamo, are still a far cry from restoring U.S. credibility when it comes to due process and international law. In a press release, the ACLU called on the Obama administration to "shut down for good" the commissions, "as they remain a second class system of justice that cannot shed the shameful legacy of Guantánamo and all it stands for."

"These are now President Obama's military commissions," said Vince Warren, Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights. "He owns them and all of the problems that come with them, and their inevitable failure will scar his legacy and embolden our critics in the world. Military commissions are an unnecessary, jury-rigged creation, second-rate in comparison to our legal system. Obama is tinkering with the Constitution for no good reason."

http://www.alternet.org/rights/143570/lawyer%3A_cia_kept_prisoners_alive_to_keep_torturing_them/

meanwhile, in "aussietonyland" .....

The government wants allegations that it was complicit in the torture by the US of Britons held as terrorism suspects to be heard in secret.

In documents seen by the Guardian, lawyers for the government argue it must be allowed to present evidence to the high court with the public excluded, otherwise Britain's relations with other countries and its national security could be damaged. The government also wants its evidence kept secret from defence lawyers.

Lawyers for seven men who are now all back in the UK after the US released them without charge will tomorrow go to the high court in London to fight the government's attempt, which they say is designed to cover the embarrassment of ministers and the security services.

The attempt to have unprecedented secret hearings comes as part of a case brought by four British residents and three UK citizens who were held in Guantánamo Bay. They are suing and allege the government and the security services were complicit in their rendition, unlawful detention and torture.

In documents presented as part of its case, the government has admitted:

• One Briton, Martin Mubanga, was repeatedly interviewed by security service officers while "restrained with plastic leg cuffs";
• That the British security services provided questions to be put to the detainees by others during interrogation sessions. The detainees maintain the questioning followed ill-treatment.

The case is being brought against the domestic security service, MI5, the foreign intelligence service, MI6, the home and foreign offices and the attorney general.

The seven men bringing the lawsuit include Binyam Mohamed, who says he was tortured with the knowledge of the British security and intelligence agencies. In a separate but parallel case, the high court is locked in a fierce row with David Miliband, the foreign secretary, over his refusal to disclose CIA information.

Earlier this month, two senior judges dismissed the foreign secretary's claims that disclosing evidence of unlawful treatment would harm national security and threaten the UK's vital intelligence-sharing arrangements with the US. Miliband is appealing against the ruling.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/26/guantanamo-torture-claims-court-case