Newly Released Memo Inadvertently Reveals CIA Held (and Abused) Missing Prisoner

[deminks]

http://www.propublica.org/article/newly-released-olc-memo-inadvertently-reveals-missing-detainee-0416?ref=fp1

Among the OLC memos released today <1>, one appears to inadvertently reveal that a top al-Qaida suspect captured in northern Iraq in January 2004 was held by the CIA in a secret prison.

After Hassan Ghul was arrested in early 2004, President Bush told reporters <2>: "Just last week we made further progress in making America more secure when a fellow named Hassan Ghul was captured in Iraq. Hassan Ghul reported directly to Khalid Sheik Mohammad, who was the mastermind of the September 11 attacks. He was captured in Iraq, where he was helping al Qaeda to put pressure on our troops."

Military officials and former CIA director George Tenet described Ghul as an al-Qaida facilitator <3> who delivered money and messages to top leaders.

The U.S. government never publicly discussed Ghul again.

The 9/11 Commission report <4> said Ghul was in "U.S. custody." But the government itself never discussed Ghul’s whereabouts. And the CIA has never acknowledged holding Ghul.

via TPM:

What Did The CIA Do With Hassan Ghul?
Torture Memo Inadvertently Refers to Missing Ghost Detainee ... CIA Declines To Comment

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/

[Solly Mack]

1. K&R